Joe vs. The Cancer

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

My 3 year old DS, Joseph was diagnosed with the cancer Neuroblastoma in October.

Survival rates are approximately 1 in 3.

He's coming to the end of chemo and so far, chemo is kicking cancer's butt. 3 cheers.

[NorksAreTinselly]

And stop being Mardy mrtrazzle and guzzle a chocolate :)

That sitting room floor, right in front of you, THAT is what the love of vipers looks like.
Pretty, isn't it? :)

[TeaAndTinselMakeChristmasShine]

[OscarPistoriusBitontheside]

Go Joe Go! Kick cancers arse all the way down the street and kick it to the kerb!

[TeaAndTinselMakeChristmasShine]

[GlitterySparklyBaublesOfDoom]

Absolutely bloody blinking brilliant!! I am so, so happy for you and your family. Cyber hugs all round!!

I am also sending a cyber hug to the paediactric oncology team at LGI as they treated DS and they are just the best!!!! We are 17 years on and they still feel like family to us. Well we see them once a year

And I seem to have something in my eye too...

[BuffyFairy]

It was so lovely to see you today Trazzle. Joe was absolutely brilliant, so much fun and the cheekiest smile ever and I had the best snuggles with your beautiful dd. I hope she's ok.

We got home at 10 but have only just got my magic no sleeping baby girl to bed and thought it too late to text.

Glad you like the hamper and hope you like the presents. I was very worried you'd tell me off surely your DH knows that there's no way you'd have let us if you knew.

Massive thanks to the amazing mumsnetters who made helped me. I do have photos and will upload to my profile tomorrow.

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

Sadly DD is quite poorly. Won't settle, high temp... Got DS' blood results back this evening and he hasn't got enough white blood cells to fight off an infection. Desperately hoping he doesn't catch anything off her as DB and DN arrive from the US on Thursday for a long weekend.

And really pissed off with people who send their children to nursery or school while still sick. DD has been permanently sick since September and it is really making life fucking hard.

[Zhx3]

Hi Trazzle,
Just signing in to wish you and Joe all the very best of luck. I'll be willing him on from the sidelines x

[BuffyFairy]

Oh your poor DD, I hope she gets better quickly and fingers crossed Joe doesn't catch anything and gets to meet Santa on Friday.

I feel your pain re childcare illness, my DD has been ill so much since she started at childcare. The last 2 weeks are the first I haven't had to take time off work since I've been back. Have probably jinxed myself there. Of course, I don't have a sick DC to worry about.

Hugs x

[toomuch2young]

Morning splodges trazzlefamily
Hope Dd is feeling better very soon and praying Joe doesn't catch anything and you can all have a lovely weekend with the family.

[tholeon]

Thanks Buffy for sorting hamper! yay!

Really sorry about your dd. There might be less germs in a smaller childcare environment like a childminders? But that would mean uprooting her/ finding somewhere new and I am sure that is the last thing you need x

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

Yes, we'd moved Joe to a nursery from a childminder as the location is much more convenient and its cheaper too. Childminder spaces are like gold dust round here and they have to be very close geographically as I have to get a certain train in the morning. Also we thought Joe would benefit from a larger environment at this stage. Bless him, he's quite shy.

[girlsyearapart]

First time posting but most definitely not first time thinking of you.

Go Joe you are a superstar!

Wrt childcare illness- my friend is a year 2 teacher & has a child in her class with leukaemia who is currently being phased into school slowly.

All parents are aware of the risks to her if she is exposed to another child's illness but still someone sent their child in with suspected hand foot & mouth & a temperature.

Some people are SO selfish.

[Fivemoreminutesmummy]

Yaah! Glad you like it! Thanks to Buffy for organising. Hope your DD feels better soon.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes]

I feel your pain re nursery illness, my DS was permanently sick in his first autumn in nursery. I know it's not much consolation now but it has stood him in good stead later on, this is his 5th year at school and he's only been off sick three times, got to his 3rd year before having a day off.

[dikkertjedap]

Surprise - also lots of thanks to Buffy for organising it all!

Hope your poor DD gets better soon and fingers crossed that Joe doesn't get it.
Unfortunately, many ill children are sent to school and illness spreads rapidly in a school (nursery) environment, lots of kids in relatively small space using same toys/books etc without things being cleaned often enough, not enough hand washing, usually no handkerchiefs and insufficient boxes of tissues. I have never been ill as often since I started working as a primary school teacher (so all that boosting off the immune system is a bit of a red herring, I am an adult and still get exposed to many new viruses as there are so many).

If a childminder is not an option, would a (temporary) au pair be an option? She would be able to look after both DD and Joe until Joe is strong enough to deal with the flood of bugs in preschool/primary school.

If an au pair is an option, pm me and I can bring you in touch with the families where I get my au pairs from (which are simply brilliant) and it won't cost you anything in agency fees/searching etc. and I can personally vouch for how good they are.

Also, you may want to get Vicks First Defence Hand Foam, it is different from normal hand gel as it puts a small film on your hand and will keep killing bacteria/viruses for up to four hours after application (as long as you don't wash hands in between, after hand washing need to reapply). Maybe an idea to put on dd's hands before she goes to nursery to give her extra protection. Deters putting hands in mouth as it tastes foul.

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

Well here we are again. Joel's temperature was threatening all day, despite him throwing himself around like a proper little boy... At tea time he had a temperature of 38 degrees an hour apart so we had to take him to hospital.

We already knew he was unlikely to fight off an infection but they checked his bloods anyway and confirmed it so he is in now until Monday.

To say I'm gutted is an understatement. I knew it was going to happen but still... I really wanted to take Joe to meet Santa on Friday. I've never taken him before and to be honest, I'm scared I'm never going to get that chance now. I wanted to take him with his one and only cousin and now I can't and I'm really really sad.

I'm worried that the ward staff will insist on Joe's isolation so his cousin won't actually be able to be in the same room as him. They have never met and thus could be their only chance. We won't be able to go to the states for years ( wont be able to afford the medical insurance) and I don't know when my DB might come back across.

At least DD seems to be feeling better so I'm hoping to get her back to nursery tomorrow.

DCat had an operation today too. It was the cutest but most heartbreaking thing watching Joe calming her down in her cat basket beforehand and telling her what was going to happen and that it would be alright because she could have a ham sandwich when she woke up. I was fighting back tears.

Christmas just seems so fucking pointless this year.

How's had a good go at decorating our tree though. It looks like Christmas has been sick on it

[WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes]

Oh Trazzle - that's so sad about Santa. I know it's not the same but have you seen the website Portable North Pole where Santa sends a personalised video message to children? You could get set that up for your DCs, it is pretty impressive.

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

Oh yes I have! Good plan! I might be able to take J to the real thing next week but he is going to feel poorly after the chemo so won't enjoy it as much I don't think. We'll see...

I've ordered some letters from Santa via the nspcc as well so hopefully that will bring a smile to his face. He's asked Santa for some films to watch at home and some cars. Here's hoping Santa delivers

[TeaAndTinselMakeChristmasShine]

That's rubbish. I'm so sorry. About the infection, the Santa trip, the meeting of the cousin, your worries about only chance. And how sad you are.



It's just shit and no words are adequate.

Impressed you got the tree up despite all of that. And your boy sounds like a complete darling, looking out for the cat.

[TeaAndTinselMakeChristmasShine]

Could Santa visit him?

[BeginningtoffeealotlikeXmas]

That's a brilliant idea about the Portable North Pole, WhoKnows. Trazzle - I did it for DS2 when he was a bit younger and he loved it.

Am so sorry Joe is back in hospital again and may miss Santa and his cousin. It's so unfair.

Sweet Joe to be so kind to DCat before her operation .

Am not getting on here as much as before, but still thinking of you often.

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

trazzle i send you lots of xmas love and best wishes. i hope joe gets well and out of hospital soon so he can see santa.

DS was in hospital over xmas a few years ago now, and santa visited the kids. It was made lovely for them.

im sure he will be out by then, but sending lots of love and special xmas wishes. He sounds like he is doing so well, as are you. best wishes for a lovely xmas.

[tholeon]

Oh sweetie. Yes I was wondering/ hoping whether Santa could visit him in hospital. Virtual hug x

[dikkertjedap]

to hear that Joe is back in hospital. It is so hard, especially at this time of the year, with everybody being cheerful etc and with all the worries you face. I really really hope that Joe feels sufficiently better to meet his cousin and doesn't have to be in isolation.

I totally understand that Christmas can feel very pointless, however, I am sure that Joe and his little sister will still love it and it means they have something to look forward to.