Fame for Fintan!

For the last couple of weeks, Fintan's image as been broadcast on TVs across the world!

As part of a campaign to raise awareness of retinoblastoma, a slide which shows a photo of Fintan depicted on a Motorola Q mobile phone, has been showing on TVs situated at tea and break points, reception areas and boardrooms in Motorola offices worldwide. The image clearly shows him with a white eye reflection and by it the words "Red eye is not the problem, white eye could be".

The campaign came about after I decided to email the CEO of Motorola (if you weren't aware, I work for Motorola) explaining Fintan's situation and asking if there was anything we could do to reach out to the 72,000 staff at the company to bring to their attention the signs of eye cancer.

Well it seems that my unsolicited email and cheek has paid off! A big thank you to Motorola and everyone who helped make this happen.

Below is an image of slide and a photo of me stood next to a Moto TV at our office in Basingstoke.





Also, earlier this month a friend of ours, Helen Sheppard, ran the Race For Life with the words "I race for life for Fintan (11 months), Eye Cancer" on her back.

Helen raised money for Cancer Research UK through sponsorship and no doubt made a few people aware that children can get eye cancer.

We are really very grateful to Helen for doing this, and as a small sign of our gratitude, here is a couple of photos of her on the day!!!





If anyone would like to know more about raising awareness of Rb, whether it be in the UK or not, please don't hesitate to email me or Fiona, or contact CHECT through their website at http://www.chect.org.uk/. It can be a simple as sticking a poster up on your work notice board, everything helps.

If you have already been telling people about the condition, let me know and I'll put a bit about it on this blog.

!!Happy Birthday Fintan!!

Last week we all celebrated Fintan's first birthday. He had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed all the attention, presents and cake! He had lots of lovely new things and has been enjoying exploring them all. Here is a photo of him riding his new Fire Engine.

For us it was quite emotional as we reflected back on the last year. I think it was always on our minds, especially in the early days, that he may not have made this milestone. But Fintan's is a fighter and our little Superman.

On Wednesday, Fintan was back at the Royal London Hospital for another examination under anaesthetic. He required some treatment on both eyes; his left eye required a second application of cryotherapy on the new tumour that was detected three weeks ago and his right eye had 3 or 4 suspicious areas in the debris so these were also treated with cryotherapy. He will go back for a second application to his right eye in four weeks.

He coped well as usual but was more tearful and disoriented as he came round from the anaesthetic and kindly threw up his milk all over Fiona!

Fintan is determined to get what he wants!

Playing at the hospital.

More play.

Soon to be One!

Last week Fintan had another eye examination by Mr Hungerford at the Royal London Hospital. As it was the half term holidays, we decided to take Archie and Barnaby with us this time. It was nice to have them there to help break up the day for us and Fintan, even if they did spend most of the time watching Star Wars!

The examination went well. Fintan's right eye (the one affected by the vituous basing described in my previous post) did not need to be treated with cryotherapy as it appeared stable, but Mr Hungerford will continue to monitor the debris in this eye. Unfortunately, a new (very small)tumour was found on his left eye; this was treated with cryotherapy and will be 'zapped' again in 3 weeks time. We are told this is not something to get too concerned over as it is the nature of the beast, as they put it. As Fintan has the genetic form of the disease, any of the cells which divide in his retina could fail to stop dividing and become a tumour, but because he is having his eyes examined so regularly, they can never become large enough to be a problem. The vituous basing in his right eye is actually more of a problem than any new tumours.

Earlier in the month, for the first time since finishing his chemo, Fintan developed a fever accompanied by a rash. After having had clear instructions to take Fintan to the hospital when he developed a fever during the chemo treatment, it was very strange to suddenly be faced with the responsibility of making a decision as to what we should do. We called the hospital and they said to bring him in for a quick look. It was just a viral infection and he was back to himself after a couple of days.

Last Friday, Fintan had his first hair cut. Yes, his bald patch has grown enough hair to make it worth while having a trim! He looks absolutely gorgeous and, even if I say so myself, has the makings of a very handsome little chap.

On the 12th June he will be celebrating his first birthday. It's been a tough year to say the least, but Fintan has such a fantastic personality and is always so happy it helps us to forget the hard times; he is a very brave little boy. I think his birthday is going to be quite an emotional day, I know that every time I think about him turning one, I feel quite overwhelmed.