Some Good News!

Francesca came out of Lewisham hospital on Saturday; they weren't able to find out what had caused her infection but she kept her temperature down and was able to be discharged which was great - she was getting really bored and ready to come home.

On Tuesday Stuart, Fran, Charlie and I went up to Great Ormond Street to meet with Francesca's consultant to decide whether Fran would continue in the MRD trial. After a good chat with Nick we were keen to continue as there would be a possibility that Francesca, once randomised through a computer, might be able to drop her last intensive block of treatment (it is completely random and utterly 50/50). There is good evidence to show that in Francesca's situation it is not always necessary to have the last intensive block as it doesn't change the outcome. There is always a risk of relapse with this illness but we are confident that the trial will not effect that. So, Fran's details were all put into the system and we were informed on Tuesday evening that she has been selected to drop her last intensive and will now be on maintenance for the remainder of her therapy. We are thrilled.

It is important to remember though that she still has a lot of treatment to go, this result however means that Francesca should be able to get back to 'normal' with nursery and activities.

One other thing that we needed to talk to Nick about was replacing Fran's central line. It is fair to say that she has had a tough time with it and many of her infections have been line related. She will need one operation to remove the contaminated line and then, a few weeks later another op to replace it. The procedure takes place at GOS and won't be terribly nice for Francesca, we hope that it will happen in the next month and to get a date next week.

Young Miss F went back to nursery yesterday and had a fantastic time, she sang all the way there such was her excitement. We hope that she'll get to spend as much time as possible at nursery before starting reception in January.

This weekend will be Fran's 4th Birthday party. We deferred last month as we thought she might be too poorly from the intensive chemo - she is really excited at the prospect of all her friends together at her house - wish me luck!!!

The photo's above is of Fran with her friend Tegan at home this week. Below are of Charlie and Fran with their Nana last weekend after we got back from the hospital and of Francesca in her hospital room.