Update #16. Home at last

Lauren's finally home after a 2 week stint in Brookman Ward - (on day leave for now, not discharged yet) to see how she manages the pain and will hopefully remain home tonight. Been a long 2 weeks. She had either: 'Paralytic Ileus' or more likely 'Toxic Megacolon' - a result of the combination of Vincristine (chemo) and the fungal drugs + others she's on for the lesion in her lung and other treatments. Basically her large bowel stopped working and whilst the neostigmine injection worked Friday 2/5/08, it's taken another week+ to get through the pain and normal processes to kick in.



Regarding the mother of all head shaves, Rob's head shave raised $5,778!!!which is a huge effort for the three charities i) Hudson Maher Foundation; ii) Leukaemia Foundation and iii) Childhood Cancer Association (see update #12 for details). Some after photos are attached for those who know Rob. Looks younger post shave!!!











So other than day visits to clinic, Lauren should be home until we go to Sydney (fingers crossed) and her follow up test for the lesion on her lung is scheduled for 19th May. So hopefully no more updates until then.....unless someone else wants to volunteer for a head shave!!!

Rgs,
K's

Update #15. Still in Hospital

Lauren's still in hospital. Last Friday she had a 'Neostigmine Injection' to get her bowel working again, which seems to have been successful. The process is slow and the pain still there for now, albeit less intensity & frequency than last week. At least she's getting some sleep now as the cramps are more spaced out. The Doc reckons she won't have the same pain in transplant as the types and amounts of pain killer used last week was stronger than they normally use in transplants.

Just a word, please don't ever send flowers to the Brookman ward as flowers carry a risk for neutropaenic (low resistence to infection) kids. Lauren's not in this state now, but others in the ward are.

The mother of all head shaves was held yesterday and we're waiting for some photos of Rob's 'shearing' to post to this blog. Not sure of final figure raised for the three charities but believe it to be over $5,000 - fantastic effort. Also the Hudson Maher Foundation website is back up & running - see update #12 for address.

Watch out for photos next update. Will let you know when Lauren is out of hospital.