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Original poster

Joseph's last thread? Here's hoping...

847 replies

Trazzletoes · 17/09/2013 20:47

My now 4 year old DS, Joseph, was diagnosed with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma last October. It's a particularly aggressive cancer with an 80% relapse rate. Long-term survival statistics are not great.

Joe has had 8 cycles of chemotherapy, an operation to remove the main tumour, stem cell harvest, high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant as his bone marrow was destroyed, 3 weeks of radiotherapy and now 5 1/2 months of differentiation therapy and imunotherapy.

In April we learned he had relapsed and so had a 5% chance of ultimately surviving. Then, the relapse spontaneously un-relapsed but we don't know for certain what this means for his future. Whether its good or bad news.

He remains bright and cheery and gorgeous throughout.

OP posts:
CrazyThursday · 03/12/2013 21:37

Wow that looked like a fab party - and the kids looked delighted and happy and smiley. I'm so glad that joe was wel enough to go too. I hope that's set the scene for a happy healthy Christmas for you all.

kohl · 05/12/2013 11:08

Just thinking of you all in the run up to Christmas, and hope it's a peaceful and happy time for you.

Original poster
Trazzletoes · 08/12/2013 08:06

It's the last day of treatment today. Fingers tightly crossed it's the last day of treatment ever... I just desperately hope it has worked.

Scans start tomorrow and are spread over the next fortnight. Am terrified.

We feel so incredibly lucky that he has even got this far. So many children don't. And Joe oughtn't.

I've started dreaming about his funeral again though and we had a moment the other day - we were listening to some music and a song came on and suddenly DH and I were crying. I guess we could both imagine it being played at his funeral. I am just so scared now. I feel like I'm walking along a cliff that could give way at any second. I just want the cancer out of him.

OP posts:
RubyrooUK · 08/12/2013 08:17

Trazzles, I will be wishing with every particle of my being that Joe's last day of treatment goes well for you and that horrible thoughts like his funeral stay only a bad dream. X

PacificDogwood · 08/12/2013 08:30

Trazzle [hugs]

I am wishing you the results you are hoping for with all my heart.
Isn't the subconscious a strange thing?! I hope you live to never see Joe's funeral.

ancientbuchanan · 08/12/2013 08:39

Trazzle,

Thinking of you, praying for you, off to light a candle for you.

FeastOfPhteven · 08/12/2013 08:40

Keeping every finger and toe crossed that this is the last treatment. Such a brave amazing boy.

CelticPromise · 08/12/2013 08:41

I will say a prayer for positive scans and a joyful Christmas for the Trazzle family. Your little boy is amazing.

Badvocatyuletide · 08/12/2013 08:56

Trazzles...as ever I don't know what to say in the face of what joe and you and your family have been and are still going through.
But I think of you all so often, and pray for you.
Thinking of you all over the next 2 weeks xxxx

SarahJinx · 08/12/2013 08:58

Ah Trazzles, praying hard for you and e beautiful, brave Joe.

ToffeeWhirl · 08/12/2013 09:13

I wish you strength, Trazzles. It's unbelievable what you have to go through. I just hope you have good news by Christmas. xx

MelanieRavenswood · 08/12/2013 10:33

Hoping, wishing, crossing everything. Xx

saffronwblue · 08/12/2013 10:36

Everything crossed and light splodging for Joe.

onedev · 08/12/2013 11:32

As the others have said - everything crossed & wishing you the best of luck & that it truly is the most magical Christmas ever.

ajandjjmum · 08/12/2013 13:41

Joining in the prayers for Joe and all of you. x

Fivemoreminutesmummy · 08/12/2013 15:19

Not posted for a long time but still thinking of you and joe and hoping so much that you get good news.

NomDeClavier · 08/12/2013 15:25

Still thinking of you and splodging away here too. Fingers crossed that the scans go well and you get positive results.

barefootcook · 08/12/2013 19:30

Am thinking and praying for you both at the moment. I hope the last day of treatment goes well and your two weeks of tests bring perfect results.xxx

Ragusa · 08/12/2013 19:56

Was thinking of you and Joe while putting up Christmas tree this afternoon.

Everything crossed for good results and a properish Christmas for you this year. xxx

ClockWatchingLady · 08/12/2013 20:09

Another member of the MN Trazzleteam here, thinking of you all (every day, but today especially) with everything crossable crossed.
X

kohl · 08/12/2013 20:36

Everything crossed, you remain in my prayers, especially in the next fortnight.X

cupcakeicing · 08/12/2013 20:47

Been following thread too, Trazzle. All the best wishes in the world to you for the next couple of weeks.

toffeelolly · 08/12/2013 21:18

Trazzle will be thinking of your little man over the next couple of weeks. We are all praying.xx

bobkate · 08/12/2013 22:18

Everything will be crossed and doubley crossed for you and the gorgeous Joe. I hope today's last treatment went ok and my goodness I am wishing and hoping for good scan results and mustering as many positive thoughts as possible for you all. Splodging and splodging and splodging huge, fat, enormous splodges xx

minmooch · 09/12/2013 08:16

Sending you tons and tons of love. I cried buckets at the end of my DS's original planned treatment - through relief, fear, the unknown, happiness.

I hope, hope, hope that you get good news from these scans xxxxxxxxx