Some Pictures

Probably the last time Barnaby asks what Daddy did at work today!



Fintan also takes in a few Zzzzzzz


Fintan sees his brothers gawping and thinks it would be rude not to join in, but it's just not quite so much fun without a TV to look at!



Just look at how well Fintan is seeing the camera in this video.
It's not all that interesting, but so heart warming and encouraging to see, it's worth the 1 min 15.

Round Four

Fintan had his 4th course of chemotherapy yesterday despite suffering another line infection. He had been due to have his chemo last Friday, but as he was still neutropenic it was delayed until his blood count had improved, however, I still did not get a day off from the hospital!

On Friday morning we noticed a now familiar red patch where his Hickman Line tracks, so I did the school run and then took Fintan to High Wycombe Hospital who confirmed that he had an infection. Fortunately, the infection was not as bad this time and he only needs oral antibiotics, which of course adds it own little problem in that Fintan requires a nose tube as he will not take medicine orally. Fintan was allowed home just in time to pick up Archie from school! However, he had pulled his nose tube out within 24 hours, so James took him back to the Hospital on Saturday afternoon for a new tube and a little more sticky tape - and it is still in place now!

As Fintan's blood had recovered, we went to the John Radcliffe in Oxford yesterday. The day went really well and Fintan seemed to tolerate the chemo better than previously. He was playful and chirpy all day and never complained. The hospital staff commented on how Fintan was filling out (is that a polite way of saying he's a fatty?!) and how well his general development was coming on. This is the first chemo where Fintan has been on solid food, but his appetite wasn't affected and he managed to eat really well all day. He is off his food today, but still smiling and making lots of noise!

Barnaby came with us on this visit and seemed to enjoy himself, especially his packed lunch which was finished by 11.00 am and dinner in the Hospital canteen - Barnaby likes his food! Archie joined us after school and helped Barnaby to test run every toy in the playroom!

Fintan's next chemo is in 3 weeks time, then he will have an eye examination at the Royal London just under 3 weeks after that, followed by his 6th and last course of chemo.

Wedding photo is a life saver

Fintan's Grandad O'Brien added this as a comment on an earlier post today. I thought you might like to read it so I have added it here. It's an extract from a newspaper article he read in the Daily Telegraph, but I also found on the Sky News website.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91251-1301810,00.html

A photograph at a family wedding saved three-year-old Sophie Ripley's life as she posed for pictures with her twin sister Molly. Their parents looking at the pictures days later noticed Sophie's left eye had a black spot.A specialist diagnosed retinoblastoma and Sophie from Shiregreen, Sheffield, had the eye removed in a life saving operation.

Reported in the "Daily Telegraph" today 22nd January 2008.

Update

Following Fintan's positive visit to the Royal London, we had been rather worried about the fact that he was still be very sick - post chemo sickness usually lasts 2 or 3 days, but 1 week after treatment Fintan was still struggling to keep his feeds down. We took him to the John Radcliffe in Oxford on Saturday 5th Jan, as they agreed that the sickness should have stopped by now. However, the doctors decided that it was just a combination of treatment, his central line infection, antibiotics and having undergone a general anaesthetic. We came home, still a little worried, but by Monday he was a different boy! He started eating, not just a few spoons of food, but 3 good meals a day; until now we had been struggling to get Fintan to eat solids, but now he can't get enough. He even had a taste of his very first ice cream today (which he stole from Mummy!)



Last weekend, my family come up from Southampton and Cornwall; it was lovely, especially as Fintan's Uncle Simon and Auntie Jo haven't seen him since he was diagnosed.

Fintan and his cousin Jess.


In the last couple of weeks, Fintan's physical developmental progress has come on by leaps and bounds. He seems to have a new found confidence and is even sitting without any support. His latest trick is dropping objects on purpose - not a lot of fun for Mummy!

Fintan was due to have some more chemotherapy tomorrow, but he has been neutropenic for a week or so (when part of his blood count is very low and makes him at risk of infection) and he hasn't recovered in time. He will have his blood count taken again on Monday and, if his blood has recovered and the doctors are happy with the results, he will have his chemo on Tuesday.

I will try not to leave it so long between posts, and I hope you all haven't been worrying too much. It's been a busy few weeks with one thing or another.

Bye for now.

We're all feeling very optimistic...

Fintan, Barnaby, Fiona and I have just got back from a visit to see Mr Hungerford at the Royal London Hospital. Fintan had his eyes examined to see how he was responding to the chemotherapy and Barnaby to ensure that he had not developed the condition.

It was a very positive day. Firstly, Barnaby has not got any signs of Rb at this time; Mr Hungerford will check him again in 6 months, but we are told it's unlikely Rb will develop in a child of his age. Barnaby was very brave when being given the anaesthetic. He was a little grumpy when he came round, but soon got his appetite back and ordered me to fetch him some lunch!

It's fabulous news again with Fintan; in fact I'm overwhelmed with happiness writing this for you. He is responding really well to the chemotherapy and the tumours on his retinas are reducing and calcifying nicely. Mr Hungerford spoke to us after examining Fintan's eyes and told us that he is very happy with the progress and that this is after only 3 courses of chemotherapy. He also gave us some before and after photographs of Fintan's retinas which clearly show the improvement. I have scanned and uploaded them below. I won't try and explain them too much as I am not an expert, but the top two pictures are the 'before' images. You can see the three large round whitish blobs which are the tumours. In the bottom two 'after shots', you can see that the tumours are more chalky and appear less dense. We were quite shocked at the size of the original tumours, but Mr Hungerford explained that these are close-ups of the centres of the retinas, the retina is much larger so the tumours do not cover the whole surface; however, the centre is responsible for detailed vision, which is why it affects the sight so much.

Fintan's Retinas (click the image to see a larger version).


Here are a few photos from today:

Fintan sleeps off the anaesthetic.


Barnaby soon bounced back to his normal, playful, self.


One very tired and worried, but still very beautiful and brilliant mum.


Clearly the headphones are not for Barnaby sized heads. But not to worry, Daddy's gloves will hold them in place (for the nerds at Motorola, they are MC70 gloves!).