EUA and Final Chemo

Fintan returned to the Royal London Hospital last week (Wed 11th) for an EUA. The left eye remains stable and his right eye continues to heal well. He is suffering a little with "dry eye" in his right eye socket - a result of the external beam radiotherapy he had back in December 2008. An eye lubricant has been prescribed which he will need to use for the foreseeable future. Fintan will have another EUA in 6 weeks.

Post EUA sulk!

We were back in London at GOSH the following day (Thu 12th) for Fintan's fourth and final chemo cycle. Following his outpatients appointment in the morning, there was not a bed available until 6pm; James and Oliver went home whilst Fintan and myself took the Tube to Covent Garden. Fintan was not impressed by the street performers or my suggestion of a little retail therapy, but just wanted to get back on the 'bouncy' train and return to the hospital (where he had a pre-arranged date with his girlfriends, Tara and Laura, from the Royal London!)

By the time we made it onto Lion Ward to start Fintan's chemo, his slightly sticky right eye had become a lot worse and swabs were taken to see if he had an infection. Fintan coped incredibly well with his chemo - 48 hours attached to a pump ('robbie robot') must seem like an eternity to a child - but apart from a couple of little tantrums he sailed through!

We returned home late Saturday night and Fintan was up at the crack of dawn on Sunday raring to go! The results of his eye swab came through on Monday and, as we expected, he had an infection; antibiotics have been started, but it is clearing up already.

We are back at GOSH on 9th June for a check up and hopefully will then get the go ahead for his line removal, which will just be a day surgery case.

We are all now looking forward to Fintan's 4th Birthday - party on Sunday 12th June!

Zzzzzzz - Fintan's favourite hospital pastime!

Fun on the balcony play area!

I did suggest Fintan might be more comfortable in bed

- but he insisted his pencil case was where he wanted to sleep!

Unscheduled Hospital Visit No.2 !

Fintan was admitted to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the early hours of Bank Holiday Monday (2nd May) suffering another febrile neutropenic episode. Having had a runny nose and slight cough over the weekend his temperature reached the 'straight to hospital' criteria at about 3.3oam! Fintan was not in the least bit bothered by the prospect of spending 2/3 days in hospital and excitedly packed his bags - I was not quite so enthusiastic!

Blood cultures were taken, IV antibiotics started and then we just had to sit it out - at least 48 hours for blood culture results - with no TV and Fintan not allowed in the playroom. Thanks to everyone who helped out with the boys at home and our much appreciated visitors to the hospital.

Fintan was much brighter by Wednesday morning and allowed home that afternoon.

Although Fintan was still neutropenic (at higher risk of picking up infections) we allowed him to attend the much anticipated 'Absolution Charity Gig' on Saturday. Fintan has been beside himself with excitement about this gig - not at the prospect of seeing his daddy pretending to be a rock star, but because his hospital girlfriends and GM (aka Egem, Jim, MG!) were going to be there - he was not disappointed and had a fantastic time!

Lots of money was raised for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust and Motor Neurone Disease Association; thanks for everyone's amazing support and generosity.

We are back at the Royal London Hospital on Wednesday 11th for an EUA (or smelly sleep as Fintan calls it) and then GOSH Thursday through to Saturday for his last cycle of chemotherapy.

Fintan 'rocking'

'Absolution' - hate to admit it but they did sound quite good!