37 weeks pregnant and found out on Christmas eve 3 year old daughter has Leaukemia.

[woodhj]

Still sinking in and only got out of hospital yesterday evening. Feel so scared and uneducated on a cancer that will mean so many changes for a previously happy healthy little girl. Who now will miss nursery and have so many demanding changes on her cheeky little personality.
This year was the first year she understood Christmas and awoke in hospital with drips and lumbar puncture and bone marrow holes.

Can life be any cruller

Woodhj

So sorry to hear about your DD.

Your head will be reeling at the moment but just wanted to put a couple of things on here as you'll be able to come back to them.

Sheffield kids has Ronald MacDonald parents rooms which are for parents to stay over. The ward staff should be able to point you in the right direction.

Have you got life insurance / critical illness cover? Some policies cover your children too automatically if they get ill. Might be worth checking.

I spent some time on the haematology unit at Sheffield many (many) years ago. It is a wonderful unit and offers some specialist treatments (if your DD needs it).

I don't want to sound blithe. It's going to be hard. You will be amazed by both your own and your DDs ability to deal with this.

I'm sure you'll get lots of support on here when you need it.

hugs sorry to hear about your DD how horrid timing with a new one on the way, glad you have family and friends support. No practical advise but the macmillan nurses are brilliant i am sure they will be able to assist in grants etc... as suggested xxxx Wishing her a speedy recoveryx

woodhj - sorry to hear about your little girl.

Do get in touch with a couple of the children's cancer charities who can help to support you. Sargeant Cancer Care were particularly helpful to my friend who's daughter was diagnosed with AML about 18 months ago.

On the practical side also look into claiming Disability Living Allowance to help with your extra costs. You will have to wait 3 months I think but both the charities and the ward staff will help with your claim. My dd spent a lot of her first year in hospital and it can be very costly financially.

Thinking of you. Look after yourself.

Thank you everyone i can not tell you how much stronger i feel after reading all your comments and thank you for all the useful advise that i didnt even think of x x

Thinking of you all at this extremely difficult times and sending you all love and strength x

Sorry haven't read whole thread yet- will do- but felt compelled to tell you to research stem cell storage. We did it (twice) - see cells4life. Expensive but might be helpful to DD if sibling has match!!!

Give them a ring, v helpful.

And am v sorry for you all. Xxx

Have now read and realise that someone else mentioned it. Check it out esp if you can get some financial aid from sources others have suggested.

The timing is awful but you will get through this and physically it is harder being in the final month of pregnancy with toddler than with baby and toddler so before long you'll be stronger and baby 2 will be safely here which will lessen the anxiety burdens.

Take each day as it comes and make sure the baby buys DD some nice arrival presents for her sister.

Just wanted to add my thoughts and prayers are with you and to second the recommendation to look into stem cell research - Virgin also does this.

Just talked to dh and he said that you should speak to Macmillan Cancer who should be able to advise you. You shouldn't need to pay for the service which Virgin offers - check with the hospital where you will be giving birth that they have the facility to do the procedure.

so sorry for you thinking of u and ur family x

Im so very sorry, my prayers are with you...

Posted on the other thread of the poster going through very similar, only just saw your thread.

Sending all strength. Hang in there.

I'm very sorry to hear this. I am thinking of you and your DD at this tough time.

I am sure you are feeling overwhelmed, but you will get through. My dad had a heart attack when I was 36weeks and he was taken to ICU. Whilst he was there (and whilst I was sitting next to him) he had a massive stroke which nearly killed him. I was so sad and emotional over the next few days that I did not think I would be able to cope and give birth but I did and the strength comes from somewhere. Your body will amaze you with its strength and you will get through. I wish you all the best for the birth and the coming months. I will keep my eyes out for updates.

Take care and god speed to you all.

So sorry to read this. Sending love and strength to you and your DD.

just wanted to send my thoughts and best wishes. So sorry- i can't even begin to imagie what you are going through.

bumping in case anyone else has useful info for you.

Sybilfaulty - when i was 36 weeks pregnant with DD my dad died of cancer in the spine, which paralysed him for 8 months. My mum and dad divorced when i was young and he never re-married so i sort of mothered him the older i got. He was only 54 and loved by everyone. So i know i can get baby through to full term as the loss of my dad was also horrendous. He died exactly one month to the day before DD was born.

Second baby is due on the 24th January. I was told by the same doctor who told me my dad had cancer that DD had cancer again exactly one month to the day that baby number two is due. So if baby does arrive on the 24th there are some big coincidences.

Had antenatal check today and baby is doing fine. They have offered to induce me if i need to coincide with chemo etc. I could do with going over as dd heavy month ends on the 22nd January.

Thanks everyone, cant believe its been a week since we found out and how much stronger i feel about it all x

For info.

Hi
Wanted to say how sorry I was to hear your sad news. Especially as you are going to need all your strength for the new baby. Just wanted to tell you my story and hope to offer you some support.
My son has been in and out of hospital since he was 4 1/2. He spent the whole of christmas in hospital in 2005 after contracting silent pneumonia on christmas day. And ever since then he has had terrible illness's where he has been hospitilised. Easter 2008 he contracted pnuemonia again and did not recover, so he had to have a lumbar puncture as they didnt know what was wrong. Its a terrible thing to watch your child go through, so I can really sympathise. They discovered he had septecemia and meningitus, which was devastating for us and him. But he pulled through and made a full recovery. But a year to the day he collapased and his heart stopped, we thought he had a stroke as he lost the use of his facial muscles on one side. Fortunatley he was rushed to resuss and came through. Another easter in hospital! He has sinced suffered 5 of these sezuires resulting in him being rushed ot hospital again. He has what is called difficult to control focal epilepsy and also suffers from abscences and short term memory loss, he takes lots of medication and only this christmas have we managed to gain abit of control. This is all a bi product of the meningitus. And since the meningitus he has had recurrent problems with lumps on his neck, unfortunatley since Oct he has 1 lump which just will not go away. We have been referred to a specialist and are being seen in Jan for tests. Im dreading what they may say as I always live in fear that something awful will happen again.
So basically I just wanted to let you know that although our children have different conditions I understand what it is like to watch your child go through something they should never experience at such a tender age. Sending you lots of love, hope you find the time and the strength to keep everyone posted on your situation.
Good luck and keep strong x