Zoe: New Horizons

Sonny has finished his radiotherapy. The celebrations had to be put on hold as he had to hot foot it to The Whittington for a blood transfusion but who knows... this could be the last one? Its been a gruelling few weeks with the symptoms of his cancer now being overtaken by the side effects of the radiotherapy which may well last for another few weeks. We'd hoped he'd be feeling much better at this stage but he's not really and he's feeling very down in the mouth :( We've been going for lovely walks in the sunshine to cheer ourselves up and it works I tells ya.  

For those of you not from London Village, UCH is the small green tower block above Sonny head. 

Sonny & Ruby: Happy 70th Birthday Da!

Gavin: Just giving

We've never wanted this blog to be about forcing charity down people's throats and, about a year ago I took the decision not to publicise my Sister's Marathon on here because I thought that this would be over in a few months and despite her huge undertaking of running 26 miles, it didn't really matter as she'd manage it no problem and boys that are only weeks away from getting better don't need charity do they, right?
Wrong. It's difficult to describe the feelings you have when the Anthony Nolan Trust sit you in a room and explain that they're doing everything they can to find a donor but there's no guarantee. It's probably harder to be on the ward with the parents who didn't find a donor to be honest.
Andy Bamford is the Managing Director of ThirtyThree in Bristol and Richard Clark is the Finance Director in London. Both are running the Marathon on behalf of Anthony Nolan and you can donate to either of them here:
http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/andybamford
http://www.justgiving.com/Richard-Clark3
I think it's appropriate now to say please give generously. Although give more to Clarky as at least he'll finish.

Zoe: Ohhh Matron!

Sonny's got just one week left of radiotherapy. I think they'll be pleased to see the back of us quite frankly. The hospital's Matron rang to get my side of things following a near meltdown from me on Friday. She was really lovely actually and very sympathetic to our frustration over the drama of trying to get a blood transfusion, the argy bargy over where he's going to be having his immunoglobulin and finding out from an administrator that he's got Paraflu. At least this explains the cough.  The radiotherapy is making him extraordinarily tired. I think the word is fatigued. Daily its a constant battle to get enough fluid into him but today the sun shone and that makes everyone feel better doesn't it.

Gavin: Weekend round up

Quick one tonight as all is good in Anderson Towers. Rube's is upstairs in the guest room with a chum and Sonny is in my bed with Zo as he can't be left alone while his NG tube runs overnight, so I get the delights of the IKEA duvet and Taylor Lautner posters. David left a very thought provoking comment on the blog yesterday. I hope this helps you mate... click here.

Zoe: Comic Relief

Ruby's school was closed today so she joined us for our daily schlep to UCH for radiotherapy. Both kids insisted on painting their noses red for Comic Relief. Ruby couldn't dress up as she had an audition later on in the West End (natch) but Sonny insisted on wearing pyjamas although it didn't quite have the LOL response seeing as we were in a hospital. Doh! I thought the whole thing was hilarious.

Zoe: Help

Much appreciated offers of help flood in everyday but its very difficult to think of what anyone can do. At last here is something you can all get behind from the comfort of your armchairs and it really may help. Please click on this link to help save the NHS. It really is an extraordinary concept that works incredibly hard and I can't begin to imagine the horrors we'd be facing without it.

http://www.38degrees.org.uk/NHS-petition


Thank you

Gavin: We're back

Right you lot, enough of this moping around. Sonny's coughing less, his temperature is down to 37º and more importantly we look like we've dodged the nights in hospital. Today's radiotherapy went well and I haven't said 'so what part of putting the child first do you think you're putting first at the moment?' to any knobhead doctor who's only just learnt which ear the stethoscope goes in. Yeah, like I say... we're back.

Zoe: National Census

If having to swap doughnuts for Dioralyte wasn't bad enough it was compounded by having to tick the health 'very bad' box for person 3 on the National Census today. Nuff said.

Zoe: Sniff

Sonny's got a cold. He hasn't had one for years and on top of everything else its making him feel really grotty. Although forbidden (as it masks a temperature) I managed to beg some paracetamol from our kind and practical Macmillan Nurse. I really hope he wakes up feeling a little better as he's planning a trip to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts as a little reward for scoring 100% in one of his entrance exam papers... Not only is he gorgeous but he's a genius to boot.