Monday 8th December 2008

Last week we went back to UCH for post-chemo tests, and took Sarahs bad cold with her!! Dave gave Sarah a cough which developed into a full blown cold and Wednesday morning she woke up hardly able to breathe because of a sore throat! At least we were going into hospital, so the doctors could have a look at her! By the time we eventually arrived at UCH after a terrible journey in bad traffic in an ambulance, Sarah was feeling lousy - the thought of having a canular, mixed with a bit of travel sickness from the bad driving of the ambulance driver and her cold didn't help!!On arrival, I enlisted the help of Jessie to be with Sarah while she had the canular put in, but after a few discussions, it was decided it would be fine to do the GFR Kidney test through her Hickmann Line and the chest scan didn't need any dye anyway!! As soon as she knew she didn't need any needles, she felt OK, and happily went to the playroom until the first test! Thursday, we were back for an Xray of her leg, and blood tests and in the afternoon there was a great Xmas party in the playroom laid on by Credit Suisse. The magician they had was a member of staff from the bank and he was amazing - I told him he should turn professional - I am still reliving his tricks, and the card trick where he cut open a kiwi fruit to reveal a card that sarah had signed earlier is still puzzling me!!
Came back in to UCH yet again last night to have Sarah's Hickmann Line removed at last - 7 months attached to her chest and we couldn't wait to get rid of it!! We didn't have any trouble with it compared to some but it is time to go all the same! Sarah was last on the list, so we were all ready for a long afternoon of nil by mouth and rumbling tummy, but at 1.30pm she was taken down. By 2pm she was awake and on her way back to the ward, and starving - even a general anaesthetic doesn't come between Sarah and her stomach! She has drunk, wee'd and eaten so we're good to go - just waiting for Dave to arrive to take us home, and our stays at UCH are over - just day care in future which we can handle. Got the news from the doctor last night that her chest scan is clear - so all good. Bloods are on the up, which is why she is feeling well, and the physio Julie is so pleased she is now making an effort with her exercises, and she is seeing some progress! Roll on Stanmore tomorrow and hopefully the swimming will give her strength and she will be walking by Xmas!