Back into the Swing of it.

Fran has started back regularly at Great Ormond Street for her next batch of intensive treatment. The first couple of weeks went well, then last week she got an ear infection which, fortunately has been treated with oral antibiotics (no in-patient time!!). She was back at GOS on Tuesday and is on steroids again for a week, the dosage is fine for her so she's not having the stomach problems of a couple of weeks ago.

It has been a tough week for us all, Francesca has really struggled and has been quite down. Her legs hurt along with her tummy and this week she has just been saying that she feels unwell meaning I have to carry her a lot. It is to be expected so we're not worried about it. Her blood counts are coming down as we want but the good news is that her red count has stayed reasonably high so we've not had to have any transfusions thus far!

Today (Saturday) she seems a lot better. She'll finish her steroids in a couple of days time (thank goodness) and then we'll be back to GOS on the 7th August.

We had a little birthday party celebration for our friends and young Miss Francesca was the baker in charge of making the cakes. Despite her general discomfort she seemed to enjoy it.

It has to be said that Fran really has embraced her understanding of Leukaemia. Last week I told her that one of her friends couldn't come round to play as they were quite poorly her response - "Well Mummy they might have a cold, but I've got Leukaemia!!!!" - Taking it to the max, that's my girl!!!!!

Here we go again!

Francesca started her new block of intensive treatment last Tuesday at GOS. This is almost a repeat of the first 8 weeks. On Tuesday she had bone marrow taken and a lumber for chemo followed by another chemotherapy drug through her central line during which she coped really well. Wednesday bought about more chemo at Lewisham hospital and the start of steroids (7 day course). The steroid dosage made her really poorly with stomach cramps and lack of energy, poor Fran was up from about 2am each night in pain and didn't really get any more sleep after that. I spoke to GOS and on Friday night they lowered the dose, yesterday she was still feeling really rough but, the good news is that today she is back to normal! We always knew that going back into the intensive treatment was going to be a shock and we really had forgotten how hard it hits her.

Fran is due to go to GOS most Tuesday's for her treatment over the next period but these may be delayed due to transfusions etc. Fingers crossed she will continue to respond well to all the chemo and take it in her incredible stride.

Stuart and I had a good conversation with her consultant on Tuesday and he is still really positive about how well Fran's doing so although it is going to be really hard work over the summer months we know that the treatment is doing what it needs to and that our beautiful girl will be absolutely fine.

Other lovely news is that A. Anne and A. James got engaged a couple of weeks ago and young miss Francesca was the one to do the asking for James. All very romantic and great fun - Fran's very much looking forward to being a bridesmaid next September!!!!

Photo's here are of Fran with her Uncle Steve who came to stay last week - she loves him very much! Plus Francesca at the park this morning.