Well hello Blog :o)

Lots to tell you, as it's been a busy few weeks! Cerys had her bone marrow aspiration done a couple of weeks ago, which unfortunatley showed there was a deterioration, although not a massive difference. We went back to the hospital yesterday, and basically, they've decided to do the Transplant sooner rather than later. There's a few reasons for this. Firstly, she's still quite healthy now, even though her marrow is showing signs of stress, and the fact she's healthy means she'll be stronger and more receptive to treatment. Also, she's young, it won't disrupt her schooling too much, and at the moment she's taking it all in her stride, and has accepted it all. So, before we DO find something nasty in the marrow, we're going to fix it, so it works by itself!!!

It's probably going ot move quickly, and the next step now will be for her to have a central line inserted so they can administer medicine, and take blood without have to put a pin in her every time its needed. They are also going to do a biopsy on her ovaries, as it's quite likely she'll be left sterile after the treatment is finished, so we're going to look at options relating to that with a surgeon from the Women's Hospital. When the central line is healed, she'll start a single dose of Chemotherapy, and a short course of Radiotherapy, which will kill off the existing marrow she has. During this time, Jon will be sent to the Royal in Liverpool to have some of his bone marrow removed, and that'll be processed ready for the transplant to take place.

So then we transplant!!! The side effects aren't going to be plesant, and we are going to be in isolation for approximately four weeks if she responds well to the transplant and doesn't pick up any infections of course, then we may be allowed home, with strict limitations of course. And the idea then is we'll expose her gradually to the outside world I suppose!! She'll be off school for six months hopefully, and I've told work I'll be off for six months too, so fingers crossed by Christmas, we'll be on the home stretch, and just looking forward.

Apart from that we've not much to report!!! I need to get things ready for Iwan's birthday tomorrow now. Can hardly believe he's three already!!! We're having a small party at school for him, and the lot of us are off to the safari park on Sunday, so will have loads of pics hopefully!! I have loads of work to do before finishing for Cerys's treatment too, so can't promise to do this more regularly, but the isolation unit at the hospital allow internet access, so I'm sure when we're looking for things to pass the day, I'll be doing daily updates! Maybe using it as therpy too, as well as keeping people updated.

I have rambled enough for now, and you know me, I can ramble all night if I'm left to it! I will keep you posted, but right now, my Jimjams are calling!!!
Speak soon,
Mel
XXX

We are here!!!!

Gosh its been a while since I updated this! Apologies to those waiting for news, it's actually blissful that we don't have too much to report, YEY!!!!!

Right, Cerys first? We had a decent appointment with Alder Hey recently. Her levels are continuing to do as they have done, and they are happy to keep monitoring her and topping her up as and when she needs it. She had another transfusion at the beginning of Febuary, but they are going to do another aspiration on the Marrow on the 18th March, and I think we'll have a better idea of any deterioration then. As long as she hasn't deteriorated quite drastically, I think they are happy to delay the transplant for a while. We have also found that Jon is a match for her tissue type, and apparently this is very very rare, so we have ourselves a little miracle!! It means that when the time does come and she needs the stem cells, then Jon can be the one to donate. She's keeping well really, she only had one unit the last time they transfused, so is going to need another soon, but touch wood, she is keeping free from bugs and infections by some small miracle. Here she is after a pamper session she had as a treat after the latest pin-cushion-ing at the hospital.

Right, some pics for you.... We had snow, but not too much (enough really in my opinion ;) )The kids loved it, but Iwan conceeded and wore his gloves for once!!


This is a pic of the day of the Wales V England match, which we won just in case you didn't know hehehehe

Iwan is in his big-boy bed now, an eneventful occassion, didn't batter an eyelid!!! But it does mean he can get at his toys in the morning without waking me up, so it's this kind of thing that greets me in the morning now!!!

SO that's it really, won't bore you with the small details!!! Carolyn is having the bungalow re-wired, and walls demolished, so she is living in a bit of a mess, MUST take some pics for you. Everyone else is keeping well, we must arrange a get together soon?

Hope all is well, take care
xxx
Mel