Finished in time for Christmas!

Fintan had his final dose of Radiotherapy today and coped really well as always. He is looking a little sore around the eyes at the moment and it may get worse before getting better, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much - he just gets a few funny looks when we are out and about!

Archie and Barnaby came to the hospital with us today so they could see where Fintan has been going for the last 5 weeks; they were totally unimpressed and very disappointed the drinks machine had run out of hot chocolate! However, we took them for a pizza, a trip on the underground and admired the Christmas window displays at Fortnum and Mason and Selfridges which they thoroughly enjoyed. Fintan found it all a bit busy and noisy and was pleased to get "home" (his word of the moment)!

Although we are glad it is all over and delighted not to have to travel into London at the crack of dawn each day, we will sort of miss Barts! The intensity of the treatment means you soon get used to the routine and you almost forget life pre-treatment, so we now need to adjust back to normal life.

Fintan will have an EUA (examination under anaesthetic) at the Royal London in about a month's time to see how the tumours have responded to the Radiotherapy. It seems like a long wait, but Christmas will help pass the time!

Here are few pictures of Fintan (with his lovely Teddy Bear present from the team who have been treating him at Barts).

Fintan enjoying dessert after a Post-Treatment Pizza!

Fintan and his new Teddy

Sound asleep with his new teddy

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

6 Doses To Go!

Fintan has finished another week of Radiotherapy and is still smiling!! He continues to cope really well with the daily anaesthetics and tedious drive to and from London. He has developed small red patches on both sides of his face by his eyes - the radiation exit point; this is similar to sunburn but it doesn't seem to be bothering him at all. Mind you, Fintan never complains - I noticed one of his back teeth has come through and another is breaking (both Archie and Barnaby cried at night for weeks when their back teeth came through!)

Fintan has a quite a fan club at the Hospital! We see the same people daily until their treatment finishes, but there is always someone new starting and Fintan is quite happy to introduce himself.

With 6 more doses of Radiotherapy to go, Fintan's last treatment date will be Monday 22nd December. As the boys will have finished school, we will take them with us so they can see where Fintan has been going for the last few weeks and, if Fintan's up to it, we will take them out for a treat in London.

Fintan Post Anaesthetic


Fintan Admiring The Christmas Tree

2009 Flora London Marathon

I have registered to run the 2009 Flora London Marathon to raise money for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT). Fiona and I have been doing some running over the last 6 months or so, but as of January I will be cracking open the bulk-buy pasta and starting my pre-marathon training.

This will not only be my first marathon, but also my first race...gulp! The plan is to try and complete the 42.16 kilometers (26.2 miles) of London's historic roads in about 4 hours, but just to finish will be a real achievement. I imagine that it is going to be hard work, however, Fintan can go through what he does without barely creating a fuss, so I will be using him as inspiration to get me through it.

CHECT have been a great source of support and information to us over the last year or so and they will no doubt be invaluable to Fintan throughout his life as his needs change. They also continue to raise awareness of this rare disease so that other children could be diagnosed earlier, hopefully reducing loss of vision and minimizing the need for eye removal.

So here comes the plea; please, please, please dig deep into your pockets and sponsor me for this worthy cause.

I have set up a JustGiving page, which you can access via the link below to pledge via the Internet....or if you'd prefer, I won't be going anywhere from now until 26th April 2009 without a sponsor form!

The JustGiving page is here: http://www.justgiving.com/jamesmorleysmith

If you are a UK tax payer, please select the Gift Aid option as this will add an extra 25p for every pound pledged.

Thanks in advance for your kind generosity.

9 Down 11 To Go!

There's not much to report at the moment. Fintan is coping really, really well with all the trips back and forth to the hospital. He is even starting to get used to the anaesthetic and today he didn't cry at all.

As Fintan is starved all morning, he is very keen to get some food into his tummy as soon as he comes round. His need for food continues when he gets home, here is a picture of him enjoying a slice of post treatment toast.