Thank you to all the blood donors
Discussion
Thank you 
Yes, need to check with the mods on whether I can request sponsorship on here directly, rather than just doing it; clearly PM-ing me is one way and I can send out the link... not set it up yet however, on the list for this weekend, along with getting some proper trainers!
Great idea for changing his impression of the hospital as well, mind you he's usually pretty confident we're off to B&Q (same route!) initially, then gets mighty miffed when we take an earlier turn off the roundabout - talking to GOSH at some stage about what they've done with other little people in similar situations, they'd mentioned it before (and Mrs SWH reminded me about it).
Once it's been a few months we'll try him on a non-contact style visit to the dentist as well, see if he's up for a ride in the chair.
Yes, need to check with the mods on whether I can request sponsorship on here directly, rather than just doing it; clearly PM-ing me is one way and I can send out the link... not set it up yet however, on the list for this weekend, along with getting some proper trainers!
Great idea for changing his impression of the hospital as well, mind you he's usually pretty confident we're off to B&Q (same route!) initially, then gets mighty miffed when we take an earlier turn off the roundabout - talking to GOSH at some stage about what they've done with other little people in similar situations, they'd mentioned it before (and Mrs SWH reminded me about it).
Once it's been a few months we'll try him on a non-contact style visit to the dentist as well, see if he's up for a ride in the chair.
SWH said:
Right, here we go..... at Eastbourne DGH waiting for SWH Jnr's final immunoglobulin treatment.
Let's hope the cannulation is swift and the faffing about is kept to a minimum
Hell, I just came across this thread again. Can't beleive how long this has been going on. The poor little bugger must be terrified of hospitals, nurses, needles, the lot. Let's hope the cannulation is swift and the faffing about is kept to a minimum
I've tried to give blood before but got rejected, due to tattoos, piercings, sexual 'history', medical history, travel history etc.
Let us know what happens about the sponsorship thing, can't imagine the mods would disallow it here.
Now for a full update from Monday’s final treatment… always takes a day or two to settle in I find.
Took a long time to get started, but when it did it all progressed in quick succession. The initial observations (weight, temperature, pulse/oxygen saturation) were as unpopular as ever, but eventually done; then a long old wait for the registrar, or a consultant, to be available to pop SWH Jnr’s cannula in, clearly we have them queuing up to do that delightful job! The registrar had to dash to a resuscitation, on the scale of things, far more important, and no, not the sort of thing you ask how it went really.
Eventually all available and midazolam was suitably spat back out again… SWH Jnr distinctly un-keen on taking it, as you’d expect, but did manage to at least swallow some of it this time – spaced him out a tiny bit, probably not enough, but better than none at all.
Made it into the treatment room with minimal stress… thankfully we had an organised nurse again, and she’d made sure they were aware he was having a blood test done as well, and not just having the cannula put in…. anyway, so ensued the regular torture procedure, me holding him down, lots of screaming/crying and shouts of, "No!" or "up on Mummy/Daddy" or "….had enough" ….the list goes on; first attempt failed, so onto the other foot and success, cannula in, blood test sample out, flushed, bandaged up and, as the little chap puts it, "all done, well done everybody."
I’ve described this procedure enough times I guess, but there really is no way of conveying quite what it feels like to have to hold down your own child while it’s being done… ghastly as it is, I’d not want anyone else to be doing it, I figure that if he’s hearing me calmly telling him it’s going to be ok (despite pretty much bear-hugging him to the treatment bed) and I’m effectively blocking the doctor/nurse from talking to him, it goes at least some way to reducing the trauma of the whole situation. I hope it does anyway, not sure there’s a 'best practice' method for all of this… well, not one that’s practical to follow. Suffice to say, he was covered in sweat afterwards, told me he was a, “very brave boy” and I think I let out only one tear during the procedure – stiff upper lip and all that, none of this continental style showing of emotions – thankfully I’m able to rationally process the whole thing in my head later on.
Immunoglobulin was soon hooked up, and at room temperature too (that’s the organised nurse again!), and many a DVD was watched, lunch consumed, and a generally restless and quite bored toddler coped admirably – I guess we were done by mid afternoon, cannula out, plaster on, and a swift exit (we’re good at that part now!).
….and that’s it, the last one
Blood test results confirmed his Hb at 13.7 again, which is great. The platelet count was slightly high (548 for those interested) but that’s more likely due to the cough he had earlier in the week, now pretty much gone.
So, where do we go from here then?
Next stage is an appointment with the consultant at GOSH on the 25th Nov…. at that point we’ll know more about what they need to keep an eye on long term. I’m assuming he’ll need regular-ish blood tests for a while, say for 6mths or something, to see how he progresses now he’s no longer being updated with antibodies each month, then probably a follow up appointment. We also need to get them to check his legs are growing properly, as the inside of each knee appears to have quite a pronounced bump, rather than appearing straight… doesn’t appear tender, and he’s grown very fast since coming off the steroids, so just need to get someone experienced to check them out, if only to have a benchmark for comparison at a later date.
Lengthy update, as befits the final monthly immunoglobulin treatment I think…. the sense of relief that that part of this is over is, well, rather good… although there is of course a little uncertainty as to what’s next, as you’d expect; I think that’s just natural concern and the fact that while Haemolytic Anaemia has known treatments, the variety SWH Jnr had was ultra rare – 4th childhood case GOSH had ever heard of, and the first one in this country.
So, keep positive, many reasons to do so too…. SWH Jnr is bombing about totally wired for the week (usual reaction) and will come back down to normal by the weekend with a bit of luck, and is a cheeky, happy little chap. Mrs SWH is over the moon his monthly treatments are now done, and we’re happy the next stage (GOSH appointment) is in the pipeline. SWH Jnr 2… well, he’s 7mths old now, in 12-18mth clothes and pretty much sitting up now…. another massive cheeky chap in the making by the looks of it too.
As for me… keeping it all together, yep, as ever… this isn’t something you’d ever expect to have to go through, and one of those occasions you really just have to get on with it, question everything, and look out for your own a bit. I guess this is the sort of thing which can easily lead you down the route of abject depression, and all the nasties which can go with it; but that’s not a route I’ll be letting things go, and I think I’m fairly good at recognising if that were the case. Talking about it lots (constructively…!) we’ve always been good at doing; and training for the marathon should be a good focus, and a helpful method for placing things in the past, and looking forward – blimey, yes, starting a new job seems to be doing that as well… month in now, and commuting to London 5 days a week (on the sodding train) certainly keeps me out of trouble as well!
More to follow as things progress, and I’ll set up the donations page for me torturing myself over 26 miles of London tarmac in April to raise a wedge of cash for GOSH as well – I’ll probably chance posting that on here too, can easily remove it if anyone worries.
Took a long time to get started, but when it did it all progressed in quick succession. The initial observations (weight, temperature, pulse/oxygen saturation) were as unpopular as ever, but eventually done; then a long old wait for the registrar, or a consultant, to be available to pop SWH Jnr’s cannula in, clearly we have them queuing up to do that delightful job! The registrar had to dash to a resuscitation, on the scale of things, far more important, and no, not the sort of thing you ask how it went really.
Eventually all available and midazolam was suitably spat back out again… SWH Jnr distinctly un-keen on taking it, as you’d expect, but did manage to at least swallow some of it this time – spaced him out a tiny bit, probably not enough, but better than none at all.
Made it into the treatment room with minimal stress… thankfully we had an organised nurse again, and she’d made sure they were aware he was having a blood test done as well, and not just having the cannula put in…. anyway, so ensued the regular torture procedure, me holding him down, lots of screaming/crying and shouts of, "No!" or "up on Mummy/Daddy" or "….had enough" ….the list goes on; first attempt failed, so onto the other foot and success, cannula in, blood test sample out, flushed, bandaged up and, as the little chap puts it, "all done, well done everybody."
I’ve described this procedure enough times I guess, but there really is no way of conveying quite what it feels like to have to hold down your own child while it’s being done… ghastly as it is, I’d not want anyone else to be doing it, I figure that if he’s hearing me calmly telling him it’s going to be ok (despite pretty much bear-hugging him to the treatment bed) and I’m effectively blocking the doctor/nurse from talking to him, it goes at least some way to reducing the trauma of the whole situation. I hope it does anyway, not sure there’s a 'best practice' method for all of this… well, not one that’s practical to follow. Suffice to say, he was covered in sweat afterwards, told me he was a, “very brave boy” and I think I let out only one tear during the procedure – stiff upper lip and all that, none of this continental style showing of emotions – thankfully I’m able to rationally process the whole thing in my head later on.
Immunoglobulin was soon hooked up, and at room temperature too (that’s the organised nurse again!), and many a DVD was watched, lunch consumed, and a generally restless and quite bored toddler coped admirably – I guess we were done by mid afternoon, cannula out, plaster on, and a swift exit (we’re good at that part now!).
….and that’s it, the last one
Blood test results confirmed his Hb at 13.7 again, which is great. The platelet count was slightly high (548 for those interested) but that’s more likely due to the cough he had earlier in the week, now pretty much gone.
So, where do we go from here then?
Next stage is an appointment with the consultant at GOSH on the 25th Nov…. at that point we’ll know more about what they need to keep an eye on long term. I’m assuming he’ll need regular-ish blood tests for a while, say for 6mths or something, to see how he progresses now he’s no longer being updated with antibodies each month, then probably a follow up appointment. We also need to get them to check his legs are growing properly, as the inside of each knee appears to have quite a pronounced bump, rather than appearing straight… doesn’t appear tender, and he’s grown very fast since coming off the steroids, so just need to get someone experienced to check them out, if only to have a benchmark for comparison at a later date.
Lengthy update, as befits the final monthly immunoglobulin treatment I think…. the sense of relief that that part of this is over is, well, rather good… although there is of course a little uncertainty as to what’s next, as you’d expect; I think that’s just natural concern and the fact that while Haemolytic Anaemia has known treatments, the variety SWH Jnr had was ultra rare – 4th childhood case GOSH had ever heard of, and the first one in this country.
So, keep positive, many reasons to do so too…. SWH Jnr is bombing about totally wired for the week (usual reaction) and will come back down to normal by the weekend with a bit of luck, and is a cheeky, happy little chap. Mrs SWH is over the moon his monthly treatments are now done, and we’re happy the next stage (GOSH appointment) is in the pipeline. SWH Jnr 2… well, he’s 7mths old now, in 12-18mth clothes and pretty much sitting up now…. another massive cheeky chap in the making by the looks of it too.
As for me… keeping it all together, yep, as ever… this isn’t something you’d ever expect to have to go through, and one of those occasions you really just have to get on with it, question everything, and look out for your own a bit. I guess this is the sort of thing which can easily lead you down the route of abject depression, and all the nasties which can go with it; but that’s not a route I’ll be letting things go, and I think I’m fairly good at recognising if that were the case. Talking about it lots (constructively…!) we’ve always been good at doing; and training for the marathon should be a good focus, and a helpful method for placing things in the past, and looking forward – blimey, yes, starting a new job seems to be doing that as well… month in now, and commuting to London 5 days a week (on the sodding train) certainly keeps me out of trouble as well!
More to follow as things progress, and I’ll set up the donations page for me torturing myself over 26 miles of London tarmac in April to raise a wedge of cash for GOSH as well – I’ll probably chance posting that on here too, can easily remove it if anyone worries.
I must congratulate you mate, as you're made of far sterner stuff than me. I doubt I could hold my own little 'un down while she screamed for help and someone else tortured her. I'd crumble and fall by the wayside, a sodden mess. 
I'd glad all this suffering is over, and I'm sure the young 'un will thrive now.
I'd glad all this suffering is over, and I'm sure the young 'un will thrive now.
Thank you, just about keeping it together
A quick one for today... Consultant appointment at GOSH this morning, was expecting ongoing follow up blood tests and all the merry hell that brings, and....
....the next follow up with GOSH is in December....
.......2012
SWH Jnr is properly in remission; need to keep an eye on any proper lethargy, yellowing eyes etc, and have direct access to the ward at the DGH in Eastbourne if needed. A small chance it can all return, which would require a repeat of the steroids then Rituximab, but even just knowing what the treatment would be is almost a relief. Has happened in a small number of cases, but all have still properly recovered.
Over the moon.... err, doesn't come close to describing it!
Proper full scale report of the appointment on another occasion; I'll just leave you with a picture of our happy little chap, from back in September, leaving all this mayhem behind...
A quick one for today... Consultant appointment at GOSH this morning, was expecting ongoing follow up blood tests and all the merry hell that brings, and....
....the next follow up with GOSH is in December....
.......2012
SWH Jnr is properly in remission; need to keep an eye on any proper lethargy, yellowing eyes etc, and have direct access to the ward at the DGH in Eastbourne if needed. A small chance it can all return, which would require a repeat of the steroids then Rituximab, but even just knowing what the treatment would be is almost a relief. Has happened in a small number of cases, but all have still properly recovered.
Over the moon.... err, doesn't come close to describing it!
Proper full scale report of the appointment on another occasion; I'll just leave you with a picture of our happy little chap, from back in September, leaving all this mayhem behind...
So, that last GOSH trip then, in the tradition of most of my previous posts, here's the full run down... (sorry, it's really really long actually, I'd advise a coffee/beer...!)
Early start, all in the car and away around 0630... surprisingly busy, when I commuted by car I was an hour and a half earlier, probably explains it. Anyway, thrummed our way into London in the Silver Swedish Barge, over the Thames and a queue or two, and parked up outside GOSH.
Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 headed in to acquire breakfast, and SWH 2 had had somewhat of a dirty protest at the end of the journey (he is only 8mths old!) so needed a clean up, to say the least!... SWH Jnr and I parked the car up behind GOSH and did quite a significant thing... the little chap walked all the way from the car to the hospital entrance, holding my hand, over the road, up the pavement, had a quick 'oooh' at a Bentley (good chap!) and a Honda Fireblade parking up too - may not seem all that special (the walking quarter of a mile part, not the vehicles!) but trust me, walking your well recovered son through the doors of the hospital which fixed him is a moment I won't forget.
Had a spot of breakfast, and then had plenty of time to play with, we'd got there nice and early, being generally organised to the point of obsession(!)... so Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 headed off to get him a new outfit (yes, it was that dirty a protest earlier!) and SWH Jnr and I had 20mins to play in the small park at the end of Great Ormond St. - not the massive one the other side, just a small one with a statue and loads of trees.
Well, lots of leaves, a 2yr old going slightly hyper after a sugary breakfast (and why not!), spent the full 20mins chasing pigeons and kicking leaves, great stuff. Time was up, and spot of toddler negotiation brings us back to the hospital and up to the ward... he's fine being on the ward, and they're running a bit late (given the cases the consultant sees, that's fine!) and Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 are back up with us as well. SWH Jnr spending the time demolishing most of the toys in the waiting area.
Time for the appointment, and well... all four of us got into the room, then SWH Jnr went into meltdown, poor chap, I guess he assumed it was cannula time and he was about to spend the rest of the day on a bed, having drugs pumped into him, making him feel crap... and fair enough really... I had to take him out in fact, totally off the ward, and it took the whole 25min appointment to calm him down - proper shaking, crying, screaming - actually it felt bloody horrible having upset him that much... final calmness returned us to the door of the room, clearly we weren't going in of course, to meet Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 (now asleep!) coming out - announcing that... well, you know, no more tests, no more needles, no more anything... do you think kids pick up on a sense of relief... you bet, I think he was just as ecstatic as we were.
A spot of Yo! Sushi action for lunch... instant food is popular with toddlers, as is raw fish, both of them seem to love that in fact, much to the delight of the chefs in there I have to say.
Home later, via the now traditional route of an Ikea Croydon stop, meatballs to eat, and failure to escape IKEA spending less than £100....! Oh well, won't be needing to get lightbulbs again for ages(!)
So... is that it?
Kind of, I think there's going to follow a series of over cautious moments as and when the chap becomes ill with any number of 'normal' things - had a red skin rash special over the weekend, turned out to be the sleep suit thing he was in, and a touch of prickly heat we think, not sufficient to do a super worry and off to the hospital of course, but probably more concern than you'd normally have - I think we're aware we need to just think carefully, rather than having a panic (not being panic stricken types, this is ok!).
Of course there is a tiny chance it could come back - hence the instant access to the DGH in Eastbourne if needed. GOSH also advised a regular-ish appointment with a paediatrician, to just keep an eye on things, and also to help SWH Jnr get used to the fact that not everyone medical is bad (a fair point of view given the past few months)... we'll try to get this with one of the other consultants at the DGH, given SWH Jnr knows the usual one, and is certainly not ever going to let her go near him again (again, fair enough!).
Therapy... probably, well, demonstrating the hospital isn't all bad will take a while, but is easy enough. GOSH refer you back to the local counselling types, what we do about that is more up to us. SWH Jnr I think will just need some carefully orchestrated events to sort out the potential worry a hospital may hold - being a clever little chap this works both as a plus and a minus, in that he's keen to learn something different, but is also very good at remembering things - how many 2yr olds know about a 'line' that goes in your arm... still, he takes his cues from our reactions a lot, so we're doing well.
Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 - well the little little guy is much happier following a few visits to a cranial osteopath, and he was abnormally stressed about stuff, which now seems to have calmed (I can quite see why, given SWH Jnr was admitted when Mrs SWH was 34wks with SWH Jnr.2), and Mrs SWH is doing superbly - we talk about it, and not in a 'oh the world is so awful, why did it happen to our boy' manner, but constructively - well I hope it is anyway, certainly helps.
Me, well, kept it all together, it certainly hasn't been easy, and it really does re-focus what's important and what's not - to the point where I was sat at my screen at work back in the summer, looked down at the 100s of emails and thought - this just isn't important, got up, took a walk round Canary Wharf, looked up at all the buildings, had a look at a couple of boats in the deep water dock, and went and sat with a coffee for a bit...
...depression, well, it can of course go that way, but I realise that, and can do things to keep that at bay, I'm sure plenty of people wouldn't go anywhere near that far, others would be afraid to mention the 'd' word - but let's face it, if something is going to trigger it, hell, this would be just that. And no, looking at boats is just looking at boats - don't worry, re-reading that it didn't sound great(!)
Anyway, inward looking reflection aside.... I toddled back to the office and updated my CV, deciding 0% pay rises and job task changes in a direction I wasn't keen on probably were not for me.... and a coincidence for you, couple of days later, met up for a coffee with a chap who used to contract with us - now working somewhere else, good job, nice company, happened to be on a client site in the Wharf for the week... CV emailed that day, interview 2wks after, and well, the new job is pretty darn interesting really - especially after 14yrs (yes, really!) with the same employer. So, odd what can change.
Extensive update there, not used to having the time to do it (I'm away with work, surprisingly few nice cars in Milan from the small amount I've seen too!) - probably the last update for a long while - in fact, I hope never to have to write about SWH Jnr being ill ever again - however, if I need to, I will; let's just leave it with thank you yet again to anyone giving blood, the treatments he's had required many 1000s of donations... and blimey, GOSH - that is what a hospital should be like.
I'll be back, angling for some sponsorship for the marathon in April I expect... and yes, I really need to get on with the training!!
Happy times, and thanks to all
Early start, all in the car and away around 0630... surprisingly busy, when I commuted by car I was an hour and a half earlier, probably explains it. Anyway, thrummed our way into London in the Silver Swedish Barge, over the Thames and a queue or two, and parked up outside GOSH.
Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 headed in to acquire breakfast, and SWH 2 had had somewhat of a dirty protest at the end of the journey (he is only 8mths old!) so needed a clean up, to say the least!... SWH Jnr and I parked the car up behind GOSH and did quite a significant thing... the little chap walked all the way from the car to the hospital entrance, holding my hand, over the road, up the pavement, had a quick 'oooh' at a Bentley (good chap!) and a Honda Fireblade parking up too - may not seem all that special (the walking quarter of a mile part, not the vehicles!) but trust me, walking your well recovered son through the doors of the hospital which fixed him is a moment I won't forget.
Had a spot of breakfast, and then had plenty of time to play with, we'd got there nice and early, being generally organised to the point of obsession(!)... so Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 headed off to get him a new outfit (yes, it was that dirty a protest earlier!) and SWH Jnr and I had 20mins to play in the small park at the end of Great Ormond St. - not the massive one the other side, just a small one with a statue and loads of trees.
Well, lots of leaves, a 2yr old going slightly hyper after a sugary breakfast (and why not!), spent the full 20mins chasing pigeons and kicking leaves, great stuff. Time was up, and spot of toddler negotiation brings us back to the hospital and up to the ward... he's fine being on the ward, and they're running a bit late (given the cases the consultant sees, that's fine!) and Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 are back up with us as well. SWH Jnr spending the time demolishing most of the toys in the waiting area.
Time for the appointment, and well... all four of us got into the room, then SWH Jnr went into meltdown, poor chap, I guess he assumed it was cannula time and he was about to spend the rest of the day on a bed, having drugs pumped into him, making him feel crap... and fair enough really... I had to take him out in fact, totally off the ward, and it took the whole 25min appointment to calm him down - proper shaking, crying, screaming - actually it felt bloody horrible having upset him that much... final calmness returned us to the door of the room, clearly we weren't going in of course, to meet Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 (now asleep!) coming out - announcing that... well, you know, no more tests, no more needles, no more anything... do you think kids pick up on a sense of relief... you bet, I think he was just as ecstatic as we were.
A spot of Yo! Sushi action for lunch... instant food is popular with toddlers, as is raw fish, both of them seem to love that in fact, much to the delight of the chefs in there I have to say.
Home later, via the now traditional route of an Ikea Croydon stop, meatballs to eat, and failure to escape IKEA spending less than £100....! Oh well, won't be needing to get lightbulbs again for ages(!)
So... is that it?
Kind of, I think there's going to follow a series of over cautious moments as and when the chap becomes ill with any number of 'normal' things - had a red skin rash special over the weekend, turned out to be the sleep suit thing he was in, and a touch of prickly heat we think, not sufficient to do a super worry and off to the hospital of course, but probably more concern than you'd normally have - I think we're aware we need to just think carefully, rather than having a panic (not being panic stricken types, this is ok!).
Of course there is a tiny chance it could come back - hence the instant access to the DGH in Eastbourne if needed. GOSH also advised a regular-ish appointment with a paediatrician, to just keep an eye on things, and also to help SWH Jnr get used to the fact that not everyone medical is bad (a fair point of view given the past few months)... we'll try to get this with one of the other consultants at the DGH, given SWH Jnr knows the usual one, and is certainly not ever going to let her go near him again (again, fair enough!).
Therapy... probably, well, demonstrating the hospital isn't all bad will take a while, but is easy enough. GOSH refer you back to the local counselling types, what we do about that is more up to us. SWH Jnr I think will just need some carefully orchestrated events to sort out the potential worry a hospital may hold - being a clever little chap this works both as a plus and a minus, in that he's keen to learn something different, but is also very good at remembering things - how many 2yr olds know about a 'line' that goes in your arm... still, he takes his cues from our reactions a lot, so we're doing well.
Mrs SWH and SWH Jnr.2 - well the little little guy is much happier following a few visits to a cranial osteopath, and he was abnormally stressed about stuff, which now seems to have calmed (I can quite see why, given SWH Jnr was admitted when Mrs SWH was 34wks with SWH Jnr.2), and Mrs SWH is doing superbly - we talk about it, and not in a 'oh the world is so awful, why did it happen to our boy' manner, but constructively - well I hope it is anyway, certainly helps.
Me, well, kept it all together, it certainly hasn't been easy, and it really does re-focus what's important and what's not - to the point where I was sat at my screen at work back in the summer, looked down at the 100s of emails and thought - this just isn't important, got up, took a walk round Canary Wharf, looked up at all the buildings, had a look at a couple of boats in the deep water dock, and went and sat with a coffee for a bit...
...depression, well, it can of course go that way, but I realise that, and can do things to keep that at bay, I'm sure plenty of people wouldn't go anywhere near that far, others would be afraid to mention the 'd' word - but let's face it, if something is going to trigger it, hell, this would be just that. And no, looking at boats is just looking at boats - don't worry, re-reading that it didn't sound great(!)
Anyway, inward looking reflection aside.... I toddled back to the office and updated my CV, deciding 0% pay rises and job task changes in a direction I wasn't keen on probably were not for me.... and a coincidence for you, couple of days later, met up for a coffee with a chap who used to contract with us - now working somewhere else, good job, nice company, happened to be on a client site in the Wharf for the week... CV emailed that day, interview 2wks after, and well, the new job is pretty darn interesting really - especially after 14yrs (yes, really!) with the same employer. So, odd what can change.
Extensive update there, not used to having the time to do it (I'm away with work, surprisingly few nice cars in Milan from the small amount I've seen too!) - probably the last update for a long while - in fact, I hope never to have to write about SWH Jnr being ill ever again - however, if I need to, I will; let's just leave it with thank you yet again to anyone giving blood, the treatments he's had required many 1000s of donations... and blimey, GOSH - that is what a hospital should be like.
I'll be back, angling for some sponsorship for the marathon in April I expect... and yes, I really need to get on with the training!!
Happy times, and thanks to all
Well, a year ago today we took our not very well little boy to see the doctor..... and I'm very glad to say he's continuing to do just great
Amazingly his growth appears to have caught up, colds don't appear to last any longer than you'd expect and he's got remarkably few hang ups from all the treatment. Anyone medical is somewhat off his best friend list of course, and fair enough; being a clever little chap he remembers more than his fair share of things we'd rather he forgot as well.... bandages, lines, being very brave... rarely mentioned, but certainly there.
We're not overly paranoid when he gets a cold etc, but you'd expect a little over caution I think.... anyway, so far so good and he looks a hell of a lot better than he did on a blood transfusion this time last year!
Now... running the London Marathon to raise a load of cash for GOSH.... Training, training, training... it's going well, fitness appears to be there, stamina building, mileage increasing, and only 9wks to go.... ahh, ok, yes, it's a little daunting, not being much of a runner even more so! Less than 5hrs seems to be a reasonable target, doubt I'll feel that way after the 20 mile marker though!
So, time for a shameles plug for sponsorship then.... emails done, farcebook suitably updated, local paper, parish magazine, old school network...... and I've added the link to my profile on here for now, rather than sailing too close to the site rules
Thank you, as ever
Amazingly his growth appears to have caught up, colds don't appear to last any longer than you'd expect and he's got remarkably few hang ups from all the treatment. Anyone medical is somewhat off his best friend list of course, and fair enough; being a clever little chap he remembers more than his fair share of things we'd rather he forgot as well.... bandages, lines, being very brave... rarely mentioned, but certainly there.
We're not overly paranoid when he gets a cold etc, but you'd expect a little over caution I think.... anyway, so far so good and he looks a hell of a lot better than he did on a blood transfusion this time last year!
Now... running the London Marathon to raise a load of cash for GOSH.... Training, training, training... it's going well, fitness appears to be there, stamina building, mileage increasing, and only 9wks to go.... ahh, ok, yes, it's a little daunting, not being much of a runner even more so! Less than 5hrs seems to be a reasonable target, doubt I'll feel that way after the 20 mile marker though!
So, time for a shameles plug for sponsorship then.... emails done, farcebook suitably updated, local paper, parish magazine, old school network...... and I've added the link to my profile on here for now, rather than sailing too close to the site rules
Thank you, as ever
Funny how dates and events end up coinciding... a year after the little man's first night in hospital my grandmother passes away, not entirely unexpected, so a mixture of sadness and relief on that front; as Mrs SWH pointed out, that's the right way round with the oldies going first. 90 years old is pretty good going too really
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