Penultimate Chemo Cycle

On Tuesday Fintan had his 5th and penultimate cycle of chemo. We were a little unsure whether or not it would be going ahead since he had the infection the previous week, but we had his blood count measured on Monday and all was okay.

Fintan was great as usual, I think he now knows what to expect and just sits there and plays whilst it all goes on. He was a little sick and agitated at times, but who can blame him.

At the hospital they have an ex-patient who volunteers on the ward which Fintan attends. He helps to entertain the children by doing magic tricks and making balloon animals, etc. I was playing cards with him and a young patient, when he revealed he was registered blind and could only see a very small area about 1/2 a metre in front of him, and only out of one eye. I found this incredible as, even with his extremely limited vision, he still navigated about, played cards, built balloon animals without it being at all noticeable that he was blind. Hopefully Fintan will be left with more vision than Simon, but nevertheless it is very reassuring to see how someone can get by so brilliantly without a sense we take so much for granted.

As usual, Fintan had a nasal gastric (NG) tube fitted so we can give him his anti-sick medicine; unfortunately he got really distressed when it was pushed in and it took several attempts before it had been successfully inserted. The poor little lad, however, you'd think he'd learn, but no, he pulled it out again on Wednesday morning and had to go through the whole ordeal once again.

Fiona had to take Fintan back into Wycombe hospital today, as the area around where his central line exits his chest had become red and weepy. It seems he has another infection and is on a 10 day course of antibiotics, again. So he'll be keeping his new NG tube for a while so we can give him his medicine, and it's 10 days of administering medicine at midnight - oh joy! (Although I won’t be moaning too loudly, as Fiona might make me stay in hospital next time!)

Finally an apology; I forgot to pack the camera on Tuesday so no cute hospital pictures this time!