Home sweet home

This morning Kal had a CT scan on his arms for his surgeon to look at before his next appointment.He wants the measurements of both humerus bones to work out when he needs an adjustment done.After that was finished Shay headed to the starlight room to spend the day with another of her favourite captains,captain casual.She has a few faves and it was a sad day for Shay yesterday as probably her all time favourite captain,captain meercat had her last day as a captain.Shay shed a few tears but i can tell you captain struggled also.They all just love Shaylie and I have no doubt they'll miss her as much as she will miss them.We dropped into Camperdown ward to say goodbye to the nurses and it was definitely a funny feeling to say goodbye.It was definitely the hardest time in my life but strangely enough very rewarding at the same time.Things happened that I wish I could forget but I'll take a lot of very fond memories from our time in Sydney.I was fortunate to meet some wonderful people and have made some life long friends out of this experience.We plan on catching up with a few later in the year.At around 3pm we started our journey home and the mixed feelings remained I think because i know that there's still a lot left to do for a while to come yet.

After we arrived home this evening we had family come over for a celebratory dinner. We had a few pizza's and everyone got to spend some time with Kal at home.We'll take a bit to get settled back in and then it'll be time for us to start getting back to normal.We will be taking time out at some stage to go for a holiday somewhere nice. I can't wait for that.

Out of hospital

Yesterday we had an unexpected visit from Melanie Curtis and her family.Mel is young girl we met that had the same type of cancer as Kallan about 6-7yrs ago.She's kept in touch with us all the way through and was in town having scans and dropped in to see him.To give you an idea of what lies ahead for Kallan,as mentioned Mel had her cancer 6-7yrs ago and she still has one more scan to go until she is fully and officially clear.Add to that the continued surgical procedures on his arm it starts to make you realise that we've got a lot more visits yet.But that's OK we're just so happy to know that it will just be visits and not long term stays.That part is over baby(sorry I've been watching Austin Powers).

This morning we had another surprise when the Doctor said his levels were down to 120 and he could go.The normal target is 100 but they weren't going to leave him in with it being that close.He really got it out of his system fast this time around.A coincidence maybe since it was his last one,I think not.He has been quite emotional this afternoon as he comes to the realisation of what he has achieved.Thank you to everyone who has supported us and kept up with his blog.All the comments are fantastic and the last lot of comments were particularly touching.Thank you

Chemo,a thing of the past

Today was a huge day for Kal and now I can finally say that his chemo is now officially all over.I can hardly believe it and i don't think it's truly sunk in yet.Although when it was finished he turned to me and said "that's it I've done it,I've beaten cancer".If I didn't have a tear in my eye before that i definitely had one after it.I know I've said it before but I just have to say how proud i am of him.It's an amazing achievement and one he should be so proud of.It's something he can remember and always draw on this experience for the rest of his life.Although his chemo has finished he needs to stay in hospital as normal to get the drug out of his system.Sunday looks like being the day he'll get out and I'd love to have a little something for him as a celebration.Just as it looked like his last chemo would be a breeze he did get sick later in the night.He was given some anti nausea drugs and I gave him a long shower and it seemed to do the trick.He seemed pretty comfortable watching tele and went off to sleep with no problem.

Kal well....but Shay not so

Last night Mum was kind enough to offer to let me stay down with Shay and she would stay up with Kal.Turns out it was a good thing because at around 12:30-1am Shay fell ill.She woke with bad pains in the stomach and after trying to do a number two she threw up.After staying with her all night and being at risk of catching whatever it was that made Shaylie so sick I felt it was a good idea to stay away from Kal.It felt so strange to be down here and yet be away from Kal the whole day.I eventually went up to see him at dinner time and like the champion he is he fully understood why i couldn't come up.The latest on the situation is that they will be stopping his antibiotics tonight and will start chemo sometime in the morning.We had a nice little moment tonight when we talked about this being his last chemo and about our whole journey.Very touching actually.

Today also happened to be Mum's birthday.I know I've said it before but I think I would've definitely lost the plot if it hadn't been for her.I know it was my decision to stay with him the whole way through but I'll be the first to admit that it all got too much on more than one occasion and Mum was there to take a bit of the load off me.I know that numerous times people here at the house have commented on how wonderful she is.If only they new how wonderful.I love you heaps Mum and thanks again for everything.

No fever today

Today was a pretty good day today with no temperatures and a visit from his Mum.One of his doctors came to see us today and said that they may start chemo tomorrow as his blood cultures have shown no infection but they want to check his latest ones and make sure his blood pressure remains stable.So far so good as far as that is concerned.He did have a little bit of an unpleasant experience today though.Because he had a cough when he was admitted to hospital he had to have a suction tube put up his nose to get a sample of what was up there to make sure he has nothing nasty that he could pass on.Although he told the nurse that it was no use because he didn't have any boogers the nurse went ahead anyway.Thankfully it came back negative.When i say a tube put in his nose i don't mean just a little bit up there i mean a good 3 inches of tube up his nose.As you good well imagine he was none too impressed with that.Tomorrow we'll just wait for the doctor to come and see us and see what there plans are.Fingers crossed he'll have his chemo and then his chemo will be all over.

Temps still a problem

For the most part of the day Kal has been feeling good despite his temperature still being a bit on the high side.He was in the high 37's most of the morning and then had a few 38's in succession which prompted more blood cultures and possibly further delays in chemo.As the night went on Kal started to gradually feel worse and to make matters worse his blood pressure dropped.The doctor on duty gave him a heap of fluids in a short space of time and that seemed to improve things slightly.It's now at an acceptable level but unfortunately for Kal it means that he'll have his blood pressure taken every hour overnight.So he can expect a unsettled nights sleep but the nurse on duty can also expect some not too pleasant responses when she goes to wake him.When i spoke to his doctor this morning she told me that his chemo would probably be on Wednesday at earliest but that was before his latest temperature spike so who knows what the plans are now.All we can do is just take things as they are and hope that things turn around soon.

Still spiking temps

After a very long stint in emergency we were finally moved to a ward yesterday afternoon.They needed to get Kallan to an isolation room because he had developed a cough and with none available at the time we just had to wait it out in emergency.While in the ward last night Kal spiked a temperature again and had to have more blood cultures taken.His chemo will now definitely be put back a few days until he can keep his temp down.He will keep having antibiotics for a few days and the doctor explained to me this morning that they won't give him chemo while having antibiotics.They do it with some chemo's but with this and other one's they won't administer it until he finishes the course of antibiotics.

Not feeling the best

The last couple of days Kal has been pretty lethargic and not wanting to do much at all.I've really struggled to get him off the lounge at all and was getting a little worried.While checking his temperature regularly i found his temp hovering around 37.5 and 37.8.He's been getting down a little the last few days and earlier tonight the inevitable happened with his temp hitting 38.1.I think he's been dwelling on the fact that his temp was getting high which of course that made him feel a bit down.He developed a bit of a cough this morning but apart from that he seemed to be fine.The doctor has said that his chemo may well be put back for a few days as they wait for the results of his blood cultures.I must say that he has taken having to go up to emergency really well but i think he had an idea that it would happen so i don't think it surprised him that much.So as stands now Kal will be in for the next few days to see if there is any infection and i presume chemo will start straight after that.

Still doing well

As mentioned in the last post Kallan's levels were good and he continues to feel good.He had a pretty lazy day after his clinic visit,just watching dvd's and having a few naps.He has another clinic appointment tomorrow then we may head out to find something to do.I've even thought of going to the Tigers game tomorrow night but the weather may well intervene.I just can't have him out in the cold or wet.

I'm looking forward to Shaylie possibly coming down on the weekend and i can tell you I'm not the only one.I've had kids,starlight room captains and even nurses asking me where she is and how much they love her.She's very popular down here.

Yesterday's update

Late yesterday we got a pleasant surprise when we were told that Kal could get out.His levels were pretty low yesterday morning and the doctor asked the nurse to take bloods again in the afternoon just to see what they were.Although they were still a little high they were happy for us to go with some oral medication to be taken overnight then have bloods taken again this morning.His levels came back fine this morning but we have another appointment tomorrow just to get admission sorted for Monday as Monday is a public holiday.

I must apologise to my little niece Monica who had a birthday the other day and i forgot to mention it on the blog.Happy birthday Moni and i hope you got the whoopie cushion you wanted.I hope your other presents weren't too girlie for you.

Tuesday update

Kal continued to feel good yesterday.The only problem is that it seems his lines are playing up again.Stuff is going in fine but they're having a hard time getting any blood out.He had this problem once before but they are hoping he can hold out until chemo is finished next week.They don't want to put him under if they don't need to and with only one chemo to go it's even more reason to avoid surgery if it can be avoided.Kal got a surprise last night Nan & Pop coming down.He knew Nan was coming down but got a surprise to see Pop come down.

Long day

Kal and I left for Sydney this morning and straight back to reality by spending nearly half the day in clinic.As is always the case of a Monday it was a packed house with the waiting room literally standing room only at one point.I knew then that it was going to be a long day.When we came back this morning we walked in the house and realised that i hardly new anyone in the house anymore.Just about all the families we've met and become close to have now gone back home.Another one of my little girls went home on Friday with Angel and her mum Trish heading home to Condoblin.She was a little Angel in my eyes but if you ask her what her other name is it's "devil in disguise".I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to them so I want to wish them all the best and I hope we can catch again soon.My other little girl Georgia went home to Murrimbula a few weeks ago and is loving it so her mum tells me but still asks to see "Darrin" all the time.

Kallan was hooked up to his second to last Chemo just after 6 o'clock and was finished 4hrs later and so far he has been fine which is great.Usually if he gets sick on this it's before chemo is finished.So lets hope that he got through unscathed.It will be interesting to see how his mouth holds up considering that this chemo is one that causes the mouth sores and the one's in his mouth have not quite healed yet.But the doctors were happy to go ahead as scheduled.All I can do is keep up the mouthwashes and hope for the best.