OVERWHELMED

Emily is one loved little girl here in Dunedin.
There are cancer awareness campaigns happening at the moment, and some Dunedin Locals have decided to go bald for our little Emily!!!!
Last year, after the garage sale that Robyn organised, so much support was coming in that Robyn decided to create a trust fund for Emily! Now a lovely lady called Debbie, and I have just heard of a couple more people, are going to shave their heads to support Emi!
Wow, it is just amazing, I dont know what to say, I feel so lucky to be given the chance to do the best we can in the years ahead for Emily's health and education , and I am gobsmacked at how kind these 'strangers' are!
Brendan (hubby) and his workmate have decided to go ahead and shave their heads too, for the leukemia and blood foundation.

but also, I know i have said it before, thankyou to all who have supported us throughout the last 8 months, it brings hope and warmth to know there are wonderful people everywhere in new zealand,who do care.

Home at last!!

This is it, we are home! Emily had her last lot of chemo, that went for a week, and then they sent us home for her to count recover,(as ronald Mcdonald House still closed due to quake, and hosp pretty empty too, think they trying to send as many people away as possible). Dunedin hospital are taking over the rest (which should only involve transfusions and blood tests etc)
I didn't have the internet on for a while, which is why I havnt posted sooner.
Emily is doin really well. She is still neutropeanic but her counts should be up in a month or so. When they do come up, I can't wait to get her out to all the normal things like playgroups, swimming, socalising etc
She will need to have her hickman line surgically removed, which will probably happen in 2 months.
I have been busy as trying to catch up with everyone, Emily's early intervention team etc. It will be good to get a plan for her intervention set in place.
So the chemo is all over, finally. We did it, or, rather, Emily did it!
Emily will have regular blood tests, and I think it is after 3 years, she gets the all clear! so, fingers crossed...
But I feel she will be fine now. The people at choc did the trick with their 'jungle juice' however nasty it was.

Glad to be alive. Not glad to be in Chch

Emily and I are fine and well, -we were sitting beside the avon river at the park at the time of the quake. lucky. As for the hospital and ronald Mcdonald house, I do not know what is going to happen yet.
 We were allowed into Ronald Mcdonald House for 5 minutes today to grab some belongings, so I just got a few things, I was shocked at the state of the inside of the building, Our bedroom seems to be on a slope now so I do not know if we will be allowed back.
I am waiting to see what will happen with Emily, as she is due to start chemo next week. I have no idea if she will have her treatment here or in auckland or?
There was no room for Emily and I at the hospital, so Luckily I have been taken in by my Dad's lovely relations (whom I have never met before now). I am glad to be out of the city centre.
The people at Ronalds have been great and I know they are devestated, as it is so uncertain as to what will happen to Ronald McDonald House and the families staying there.
I told my hubby today to come up cause I need him,so he will come up tomorrow.
We are just so thankful to be safe and well, and i feel for all those who are going through such a traumatic time.

Here we are, only two more treatments to go and it is 'home james' ! woohoo.
Emily should have started chemo last week, but her neutrophils do not want to rise, they are still sitting at 0.6 and have to be 1 before chemo, After all the treatment she has had so far, the bone marrow is taking longer and longer each time to recover.
Today Emily had a bone marrow sample taken. They found it tricky this time and had to have three tries at it, and still only got a tiny amount of bone marrow. They say it is because she has had so many treatments and her marrow will still be suppressed, and she has soft bones now as well. Poor bub.
But Emi has been very well, she has not needed antibiotics this time during her neutropeania. (which is amazing, she is very healthy - must be mums good milk eh,  ha)
We are staying at ronald house for the time being untill she is ready for round number 5 ( probably by the end of the week).
It has been sooooo good staying out of hospital though, real food, privacy, freedom to explore the outside. we have spent most of the time in the park, Emily loves being outside - I don't think there is a tree left where we havent sat for an afternoon.
Emily is gaining weight a little bit because of her night feeds, and she is slowly starting to eat a tiny amount at most mealtimes.
Since we have been staying out of hospital, Emily has seen a few other children around, ( although has not been able to play with them) but she is quite interested. Can't wait untill we get home, I will be taking her out to socalise as much as I can.
Emi's new tricks are clapping hands on command, waving, and turning herself around on the floor whilst sitting. Still no signs of crawling yet, but she hopefully will one day..