We were uncertain until the last moment but we were able to pack ourselves up and head off to North Devon via my mum in Bristol for our long awaited holiday.
On the Monday we arrived at our Hotel, The Saunton Sands Nr Braunton (above). It was wonderful. Overlooking a fantastic stretch of sandy beach favoured by surfers we found we had an amazing family suite with an amazing view – Francesca and Charlie thought it was fantastic!
The Hotel had both an indoor and outdoor pool along with playroom, terrace, great food, terrace etc etc....... heaven! Fran and Charlie could hardly contain themselves and once we had checked in the first port of call was of course the pool (no, not the bar for me!!!)!!
North Devon is absolutely beautiful, we found a couple of wonderful beaches where the children rock pooled, built sand palaces and ate sandy bbq food! Without a doubt Charlie’s favourite times were on the beach rock pooling – he had no fear whatsoever, even when falling and getting soaked!
We had the best weather that only changed on Thursday when it became overcast but, even then it was perfect as Francesca’s skin really needed a break from the sun (she has become photo sensitive and only has to smile at the sun to become red!!). So, on Thursday Fran had her special treat.... horse riding!!!! I had found local stables and booked her in and to say that ‘Murphy’ her white pony was the highlight of Fran’s holiday would be a gross understatement!!! She smiled and chatted and chatted and smiled the whole time to the point that the lady leading her needed to remind her to in fact hold on!!!
Friday took us back to Bristol after the most wonderful holiday. The first break since diagnosis that hasn’t been cancelled due to illness.
THANK YOU to all those people who gave their money so very generously to enable us to have such a lovely break. Thank you to Phyllis for unashamedly approaching people and taking their money (I think she asked but you can’t be too sure with that young lady!) We don’t know who you are at all but hope that you will, by reading this, know what a special time we had which without your kindness would not have happened. Thank you.
So, last Friday we returned to mum’s to spend a couple of nights. Charlie had been running a temperature and by the evening was miserable and complaining of a sore neck – Calpol ensued but despite that he had a bad febrile convulsion (he went blue). We were worried but didn’t take him to A&E as he came round and seemed relatively perky, plus he has had a few of these episodes. Saturday morning though we felt he should be checked out so off we pottered. He as fine however, we had suspected that he might have had Chicken Pox on holiday and they agreed that this may have been the case and with that in mind they wanted Francesca to have a blood test to check her immunity to Chicken Pox (she was immune when she was diagnosed but a couple of spots had appeared on her hand).
Sunday we arrived home and the nurses took blood from Francesca – by this stage more spots had appeared on her hands and by Monday morning Stuart and I were sufficiently concerned that she may have Chicken Pox to call GOS then go to Lewisham Hospital – where we are now!
Whilst not covered in spots, she is very very uncomfortable – her blood results who that the chemo has wiped out her previous immunity to CP so they have started her on IV anti-viral’s three times a day.
She is feeling pretty terrible at the moment and her chemo for this month is cancelled. She’ll be in for 7 – 10 days then onto oral medicines at home. Chicken Pox can be really serious for children with cancer so we are glad she is where she is for the moment.
Obviously it has not been the best end to our holiday but at least she was well when we were away and as a family we all have the most wonderful memories of uninterrupted quality family time with lots of fun, sunshine and laughter. We met lovely people, stayed in a lovely hotel and experience our own special family time.
I’ll keep you posted on Fran – enjoy the pictures
