7th to 13th April 2012
This week heralded the last week of Term 1, how quickly those ten weeks have gone and I have reflected on all that has happened in that short ten week period of time. I had my 14th Birthday, I was diagnosed with a relapse in my spine of my medulloblastoma, my family and I had a terrific time at the Canberra Show, in the ACT Junior Championships I received a Gold Medal in Javelin and a bronze in both Discus and Shot put, I have had five sessions of radiotherapy treatment in Sydney, my Uncle James took me for a special ride in his classic mini and I blew the musical horn all the way up our street, we had a visit from Nana and Pop, Mum, Nalani and I competed in the Women and Girls Fun Run and I achieved a quicker time and higher placing and with Nalani and Mum's assistance I competed in the School Cross Country and was the 1st AWD Athlete as well as that I came 7th in my age group.
I have enjoyed my subjects at School and even though I have been in pain and often exhausted I have managed to do well in those subjects and coped with the demands of the workload. In English this week I worked on some persuasive writing on that too much money is spent on toys and games. In Maths we have now moved on from probability to perimeter, area and volume and in Sports Science we are now doing work on the human body systems, we looked at the skeletal system as well as the muscle system.
In Assembly this week I was both surprised and extremely honoured to be awarded one of the Senior School end of Term Character awards, peers chose who they think has made a special contribution to the school during the Term. I got to sign my name in the special book that is kept at the school and has all the names of the students throughout time who have won it.
Health wise I have had some difficulties this week with pain and tingling down my arms but this has been assisted with physiotherapy, heat, pain killers, rest and massage. Some days are more difficult than others but I always wake up and face the day with a smile on my face and a positive outlook. I remind myself that there are people that are in so much pain who can not get up and those who for whatever reason can not move without assistance. How lucky am I to be able to go to school, do my sport and enjoy the extraordinary beauty of the world outside.
I have my fingers, toes and everything else crossed this week that my West Tigers will win their game against the Panthers. In footy tipping Nana is ahead of Pop by one and ahead of me by two but that could change if Pop or I have a good week. I already have two right this week, as I chose Broncos and Dragons so hopefully my other picks will all be winners.
Next week I have something exciting to look forward to, my Occupational Therapist, Tom has organised an electric wheelchair for me, this will give me more independence and assist me to use less energy so I will hopefully be able to do more in a day than I can now.
May you all have the most splendiferous week and remember to treasure every rainbow moment that occurs in your week, take a picture of it in your mind and keep it there for days that seem difficult.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
FUN RUN AND SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
31st March to 6th April 2012
Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter, hope it is a time you fondly share with your family and friends and that The Easter Bunny brings you your favourite chocolates. What is the real meaning of Easter though? Well, Easter is a time to celebrate the promise of life in the face of death. Easter celebrations
also reflect on peace and forgiveness which has come out of aggression. It is
also a time for thinking about suffering, injustice and hardship. The giving of eggs is often a favourite part of Easter, the eggs symbolise new life and are traditionally eaten on Easter Sunday.
My week has been extremely busy, challenging, tiring yet fulfilling. On Sunday Mum, Nalani and I were part of the Women and Girls Fun Run, it was a 5km course run the course went from Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park to just past the Carillon and returned on a traffic free loop through Commonwealth and Kings Parks. The weather was absolutely perfect for the event and when our Chief Minister started the race, we flew off. There was a huge field of 677 and some of the course was a little tough and rugged however we were fortunate that most of it was on path. The wheelchair rattled as we picked up quite a speed, especially on down hill runs. I pushed myself in the wheelchair along the path that ran along Lake Burley Griffin while the elegant black swans watched on. When we came to the final one kilometre both Mum and I were relieved, Nalani had gone way ahead of us. Coming down the hill and across the finish line I knew that we had achieved my goal of beating my time from last year. In fact we had really done well 42:59 and 415th place, last year we got 49:47 and came 629th so this year we did exceptionally well. Nalani was awesome, she came 94th in a time of 27:30, that put a huge smile on her face because it was her first real race after her knee surgery.
With a wonderful achievement also came quite a bit of pain for me, I knew that this was possible, but competing in the event was important to me. I had to rest and take extra pain killers as well as try other alternative pain relief methods like heat, baths and massage. Throughout the week the pain came back down. I have constant pain that I rate at around four out of ten every day, it is like my tinnitus in my ears, constantly there and I guess you become used to it.
At School we have done practise for NAPLAN, it was first started in Australian schools in 2008, it is the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) . Every year, all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are assessed on the same days using national tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.
I had physiotherapy this week and was so pleased because I was still rather uncomfortable after the Fun Run and Kaitlyn was able to work on my back, neck, shoulders and legs. Thank goodness she was able to give me some relief, she must have magic hands.
I also saw my Paediatrician this week, he talked to me about how I was feeling, how my pain relief was going and what I had been doing. He was really excited about my achievement in the Fun Run and thought I was really inspirational. He is seeing me again next month after I have seen my Oncologist again.
Thursday was another huge day for me, it was the School Cross Country this was another goal which I had set myself. The morning started off overcast and foggy, but by the afternoon when it was time for my event, the skies were a brilliant blue and the sun was streaming down. I am in the 14 year girls, we had to do 3km, the 15 year girls were also running with us. I had Mum and Nalani there to assist me with the wheelchair, as the gun went off we flew down the course at top speed, actually I think Mum went out a little too hard. Nalani took over pushing and we completed our first lap in lightning bolt time, only two laps to go, on the second lap Nalani and I started to leave Mum behind, we were too quick for her. Two laps completed and only one to go, Nalani virtually sprinted, we met Mum up the hill and she took over, we did not have far to go to the finish line and Nalani and Mum both pushed me across the line. I am not sure of the official time but we did it in under twenty minutes. I won the AWD classification and got a 1st place blue ribbon, I came 7th in my age group and 10th in the 14/15 years girls. Theodore with his green scarf on, my house is Guraguma which is green also won a ribbon for the first bear across the line.
The Course was much bumpier than the one for the Women and Girls Fun Run and by the end of the race I was in trouble with pain and felt very ill. However the fact that I had done it and done so very well put a smile on my face despite my pain. I wanted to stay to watch Jarrett run, I love to watch him, he is such a splendiferous runner. When the gun went off for his race, he flew off at super sonic speed, he had to complete 4km, he lead from the beginning to the end, getting further and further ahead of the other runners in his race. He won in a record time of 12:32 and also won a 1st place blue ribbon.
My pain continued and I needed to take extra pain killers that night and the next day, I found I had difficulty moving my neck and back at all and needed help to eat and turn. I was not able to walk because my legs just crumbled and my arms both tingled from the top into my hands. However with the pain killers, heat, a bath and massage I began to improved and by Friday night although my pain level was still higher than it normally is, it had eased and become more bearable.
Good Friday in Canberra, the weather was again perfect, which is so unusual because normally it is very overcast, raining and sometimes we even get a fog. I had a Maths assignment to work on so I did some on that but because my energy had been sapped from the Cross Country, I dozed off whilst typing on the computer.
My poor West Tigers, they again lost, that is five games in a row and we are sitting on the bottom of the NRL ladder. I hope that good luck will come there way and they will be able to win a game and gain some confidence back. Nana is winning the footy tipping and then Pop and I are equal, it is early days yet though and that lead could change as the season progresses.
A quote from the Bible especially for Easter .
John 11:25, 26
'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die'.
My week has been extremely busy, challenging, tiring yet fulfilling. On Sunday Mum, Nalani and I were part of the Women and Girls Fun Run, it was a 5km course run the course went from Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park to just past the Carillon and returned on a traffic free loop through Commonwealth and Kings Parks. The weather was absolutely perfect for the event and when our Chief Minister started the race, we flew off. There was a huge field of 677 and some of the course was a little tough and rugged however we were fortunate that most of it was on path. The wheelchair rattled as we picked up quite a speed, especially on down hill runs. I pushed myself in the wheelchair along the path that ran along Lake Burley Griffin while the elegant black swans watched on. When we came to the final one kilometre both Mum and I were relieved, Nalani had gone way ahead of us. Coming down the hill and across the finish line I knew that we had achieved my goal of beating my time from last year. In fact we had really done well 42:59 and 415th place, last year we got 49:47 and came 629th so this year we did exceptionally well. Nalani was awesome, she came 94th in a time of 27:30, that put a huge smile on her face because it was her first real race after her knee surgery.
With a wonderful achievement also came quite a bit of pain for me, I knew that this was possible, but competing in the event was important to me. I had to rest and take extra pain killers as well as try other alternative pain relief methods like heat, baths and massage. Throughout the week the pain came back down. I have constant pain that I rate at around four out of ten every day, it is like my tinnitus in my ears, constantly there and I guess you become used to it.
At School we have done practise for NAPLAN, it was first started in Australian schools in 2008, it is the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) . Every year, all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are assessed on the same days using national tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.
I had physiotherapy this week and was so pleased because I was still rather uncomfortable after the Fun Run and Kaitlyn was able to work on my back, neck, shoulders and legs. Thank goodness she was able to give me some relief, she must have magic hands.
I also saw my Paediatrician this week, he talked to me about how I was feeling, how my pain relief was going and what I had been doing. He was really excited about my achievement in the Fun Run and thought I was really inspirational. He is seeing me again next month after I have seen my Oncologist again.
Thursday was another huge day for me, it was the School Cross Country this was another goal which I had set myself. The morning started off overcast and foggy, but by the afternoon when it was time for my event, the skies were a brilliant blue and the sun was streaming down. I am in the 14 year girls, we had to do 3km, the 15 year girls were also running with us. I had Mum and Nalani there to assist me with the wheelchair, as the gun went off we flew down the course at top speed, actually I think Mum went out a little too hard. Nalani took over pushing and we completed our first lap in lightning bolt time, only two laps to go, on the second lap Nalani and I started to leave Mum behind, we were too quick for her. Two laps completed and only one to go, Nalani virtually sprinted, we met Mum up the hill and she took over, we did not have far to go to the finish line and Nalani and Mum both pushed me across the line. I am not sure of the official time but we did it in under twenty minutes. I won the AWD classification and got a 1st place blue ribbon, I came 7th in my age group and 10th in the 14/15 years girls. Theodore with his green scarf on, my house is Guraguma which is green also won a ribbon for the first bear across the line.
The Course was much bumpier than the one for the Women and Girls Fun Run and by the end of the race I was in trouble with pain and felt very ill. However the fact that I had done it and done so very well put a smile on my face despite my pain. I wanted to stay to watch Jarrett run, I love to watch him, he is such a splendiferous runner. When the gun went off for his race, he flew off at super sonic speed, he had to complete 4km, he lead from the beginning to the end, getting further and further ahead of the other runners in his race. He won in a record time of 12:32 and also won a 1st place blue ribbon.
My pain continued and I needed to take extra pain killers that night and the next day, I found I had difficulty moving my neck and back at all and needed help to eat and turn. I was not able to walk because my legs just crumbled and my arms both tingled from the top into my hands. However with the pain killers, heat, a bath and massage I began to improved and by Friday night although my pain level was still higher than it normally is, it had eased and become more bearable.
Good Friday in Canberra, the weather was again perfect, which is so unusual because normally it is very overcast, raining and sometimes we even get a fog. I had a Maths assignment to work on so I did some on that but because my energy had been sapped from the Cross Country, I dozed off whilst typing on the computer.
My poor West Tigers, they again lost, that is five games in a row and we are sitting on the bottom of the NRL ladder. I hope that good luck will come there way and they will be able to win a game and gain some confidence back. Nana is winning the footy tipping and then Pop and I are equal, it is early days yet though and that lead could change as the season progresses.
A quote from the Bible especially for Easter .
John 11:25, 26
'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die'.
Friday, March 30, 2012
A SPECIAL RIDE AND WEEK 8 AT SCHOOL
24th to 30th March 2012
This week has been Week 8 at school, only two more weeks until school holidays and both of them are short four day weeks with Easter. Despite tiredness and some increased pain, I have been totally determined to be at school as I really enjoy my learning.
Before I tell you about my week at school though, I have to tell you about something extraordinary that I did on Saturday. My Uncle James owns a classic mini and after telling him that going for a ride in it and blowing his very entertaining musical horn was an activity I would really love to do, he excitedly took me for that special ride and as we returned up our street, I got to blow the musical horn all the way up the street. I had a huge smile on my face, I had a splendiferous time and it is something I will remember.
Now for school, in Maths we are still learning about probability, it is actually a difficult concept but once you 'get it' it is rather easy. This week we looked at Representing Probability, tree diagrams and sampling with and without replacement. In Sports Science we have been working on Sports Nutrition and today we just commenced work on the human body systems, I have been waiting to do this as I have learnt so much from Nalani and Jarrett about Anatomy already. In English we have been doing some Grammar work as well as learning how to do a persuasive essay.
I have a Sports Science Assignment where we have to keep a physical activity and nutrition log each day for seven days and then next week we will have an open book assessment based on the information we have written down. I also have a Math probability assignment based on the what we have learnt in class.
On Tuesday I had physiotherapy, Kaitlyn worked on my back, buttocks and legs, she found my spine was a little croaked so she did a gentle release on it. I had heat put on my neck and back and was given two new exercises to do.
Today I had my flu injection, it did not hurt at all going in but after it came out it really stung and throbbed. At least now I will be protected from the flu which in Canberra during the colder weather affects many people.
My wonderful Occupational Therapist, Tom came this week with a special bath seat to help me get into the bath and also some bull horns for the toilet to make life just that bit easier for me. Then today I was surprised with a ergo-tilt which you use at school or home to put your work on so that you do not have to bend your neck so much. I feel very lucky to have this new equipment and know that it will make a difference for me.
I am so looking forward to competing in the Women and Girls Fun Run on Sunday, I am so determined to beat my time of 49:47 and coming 628th for the 5km event. I am hoping that the forecast of showers will not occur until after the race is over.
I hope that my West Tigers can find some inner strength and determination and win their game this weekend, it is very disappointing to see them sitting in second last place on the ladder at the moment. I am still coming last in footy tipping, Nana and Pop are now equal and I am one behind them.
Next week will be a busy week not only with School but also I have an appointment with my paediatrician, physiotherapy and I have my School Cross Country on Thursday which I am very excited about.
Sending you all many rainbows to fill your week with the most precious memories that will make you smile and brighten the lives of all those around you.
This week has been Week 8 at school, only two more weeks until school holidays and both of them are short four day weeks with Easter. Despite tiredness and some increased pain, I have been totally determined to be at school as I really enjoy my learning.
Before I tell you about my week at school though, I have to tell you about something extraordinary that I did on Saturday. My Uncle James owns a classic mini and after telling him that going for a ride in it and blowing his very entertaining musical horn was an activity I would really love to do, he excitedly took me for that special ride and as we returned up our street, I got to blow the musical horn all the way up the street. I had a huge smile on my face, I had a splendiferous time and it is something I will remember.
.JPG) |
| My Special Ride in Uncle James' Mini |
Now for school, in Maths we are still learning about probability, it is actually a difficult concept but once you 'get it' it is rather easy. This week we looked at Representing Probability, tree diagrams and sampling with and without replacement. In Sports Science we have been working on Sports Nutrition and today we just commenced work on the human body systems, I have been waiting to do this as I have learnt so much from Nalani and Jarrett about Anatomy already. In English we have been doing some Grammar work as well as learning how to do a persuasive essay.
I have a Sports Science Assignment where we have to keep a physical activity and nutrition log each day for seven days and then next week we will have an open book assessment based on the information we have written down. I also have a Math probability assignment based on the what we have learnt in class.
On Tuesday I had physiotherapy, Kaitlyn worked on my back, buttocks and legs, she found my spine was a little croaked so she did a gentle release on it. I had heat put on my neck and back and was given two new exercises to do.
Today I had my flu injection, it did not hurt at all going in but after it came out it really stung and throbbed. At least now I will be protected from the flu which in Canberra during the colder weather affects many people.
My wonderful Occupational Therapist, Tom came this week with a special bath seat to help me get into the bath and also some bull horns for the toilet to make life just that bit easier for me. Then today I was surprised with a ergo-tilt which you use at school or home to put your work on so that you do not have to bend your neck so much. I feel very lucky to have this new equipment and know that it will make a difference for me.
I am so looking forward to competing in the Women and Girls Fun Run on Sunday, I am so determined to beat my time of 49:47 and coming 628th for the 5km event. I am hoping that the forecast of showers will not occur until after the race is over.
I hope that my West Tigers can find some inner strength and determination and win their game this weekend, it is very disappointing to see them sitting in second last place on the ladder at the moment. I am still coming last in footy tipping, Nana and Pop are now equal and I am one behind them.
Next week will be a busy week not only with School but also I have an appointment with my paediatrician, physiotherapy and I have my School Cross Country on Thursday which I am very excited about.
Sending you all many rainbows to fill your week with the most precious memories that will make you smile and brighten the lives of all those around you.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
BACK TO SCHOOL FOR A BUSY WEEK
17th to 23rd March 2012
After resting for a week to recover from my radiotherapy treatment it was back to school this week. As we are in week seven at school it has been a time of tests and assignments. I had a Maths test which was on our unit of indices and we have now moved onto a unit on probability. I also had a Sports Science test on fitness and health. In English we watched the movie Tomorrow When the War Began, it was quite different to the book but I still really enjoyed watching it and seeing the characters grow and develop as the movie progressed. We learnt a new term about analysing a scene it is called 'Mise-en-scene'. This refers to everything that appears before the camera and its arrangement like composition, sets, props, actors, costumes and lighting. It also includes the positioning and movement of the actors on the set.
I had a visit from my Occupational Therapist, I have a new one and he is really terrific, he is going to help me to be able to do things at school and home that I am having trouble with, with the assistance of special equipment. He is going to visit again next week and we are going to try some equipment out.
Since having my radiotherapy I have found that my pain has reduced although not gone completely and at times it does become worse. I am still a little tired from the treatment but I am determined not to let that stop me from doing the activities I really love.
I am hoping to be able to compete in my School Cross Country next month and also the Women and Girls Fun Run which I participated in last year and had lots of fun, it is a 5km event and you can run or walk. OvCan ACT is the official charity partner for this event, they are a small not for profit organisation that was established eight years ago to raise local awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. This type of cancer is one of the most lethal of the gynaecological cancers and affects around 1200 women each year in Australia. In this event only women and girls can enter and there are prizes for various age categories and other special categories.
Autumn has truly arrived in Canberra, with the weather cooling down significantly and the leaves on the trees are beginning to change colour, amongst the green leaves there are some golden yellow leaves peeping through. I found out that as Autumn approaches and the weather gets colder the trees realise that winter is near so they get ready. A thin layer of cells grows over the waters tubes int he leaves and closes them up in preparation for Winter, no more water can get into the leaf. Without the water the green chlorophyll starts to disappear and the other colours in the leaf, like yellow can finally be seen, so really the leaves don't turn a certain colour, they just lose their green.
In Footy Tipping Nana has now slipped into the lead, but only by just one point to Pop and then I am one point behind him. I have already got the two games right from last night so hopefully that will help me catch up.
May your week ahead be filled with many rainbow moments and may you open your eyes wide, enjoy the beauty of nature and find something to make you smile, by smiling it is like having the sun shine in your day despite any hurdles that may come your way.
After resting for a week to recover from my radiotherapy treatment it was back to school this week. As we are in week seven at school it has been a time of tests and assignments. I had a Maths test which was on our unit of indices and we have now moved onto a unit on probability. I also had a Sports Science test on fitness and health. In English we watched the movie Tomorrow When the War Began, it was quite different to the book but I still really enjoyed watching it and seeing the characters grow and develop as the movie progressed. We learnt a new term about analysing a scene it is called 'Mise-en-scene'. This refers to everything that appears before the camera and its arrangement like composition, sets, props, actors, costumes and lighting. It also includes the positioning and movement of the actors on the set.
I had a visit from my Occupational Therapist, I have a new one and he is really terrific, he is going to help me to be able to do things at school and home that I am having trouble with, with the assistance of special equipment. He is going to visit again next week and we are going to try some equipment out.
Since having my radiotherapy I have found that my pain has reduced although not gone completely and at times it does become worse. I am still a little tired from the treatment but I am determined not to let that stop me from doing the activities I really love.
I am hoping to be able to compete in my School Cross Country next month and also the Women and Girls Fun Run which I participated in last year and had lots of fun, it is a 5km event and you can run or walk. OvCan ACT is the official charity partner for this event, they are a small not for profit organisation that was established eight years ago to raise local awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer. This type of cancer is one of the most lethal of the gynaecological cancers and affects around 1200 women each year in Australia. In this event only women and girls can enter and there are prizes for various age categories and other special categories.
Autumn has truly arrived in Canberra, with the weather cooling down significantly and the leaves on the trees are beginning to change colour, amongst the green leaves there are some golden yellow leaves peeping through. I found out that as Autumn approaches and the weather gets colder the trees realise that winter is near so they get ready. A thin layer of cells grows over the waters tubes int he leaves and closes them up in preparation for Winter, no more water can get into the leaf. Without the water the green chlorophyll starts to disappear and the other colours in the leaf, like yellow can finally be seen, so really the leaves don't turn a certain colour, they just lose their green.
In Footy Tipping Nana has now slipped into the lead, but only by just one point to Pop and then I am one point behind him. I have already got the two games right from last night so hopefully that will help me catch up.
May your week ahead be filled with many rainbow moments and may you open your eyes wide, enjoy the beauty of nature and find something to make you smile, by smiling it is like having the sun shine in your day despite any hurdles that may come your way.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
RESTING AFTER A BUSY WEEK
10th to 16th March 2012
After a busy week of appointments and treatment last week, this week was a time for me to rest and recover. My Grade were at Camp so it was actually good timing because I have not missed any school and have had the chance to let my body recover ready for next week.
Radiotherapy can have side effects like tiredness, dry skin and stomach problems, I have experienced these along with another side effect of having some difficulties swallowing, I was relieved to hear from my Radiation Doctor though that this can occur but should only last for about five to ten days following the completion of radiation.
Monday was Canberra Day, it is an annual public holiday to celebrate the official naming of Canberra. Canberra was named at a ceremony on 12th March 1913 by Lady Denman, she was the wife of the then Governor General Lord Denman. Next year will be a very special year, it will the hundred year celebration and many special events are planned.
I was fortunate enough to have my Nana and Pop come down from Queensland to visit, we went to the Lifeline Book Fair together, had lunch and spent precious time together. I love my Nana and Pop very much and enjoy seeing them.
I had physiotherapy which I am now having weekly and was so relieved to have Kaitlyn work on my legs and back, she even did some ultrasound on my back to see if that provided me with some pain relief, then I had three heat packs which soothed my pain. I am so fortunate to have had such a wonderful Physiotherapist in Rhiannon and now Kaitlyn as they can provide me with pain relief and mobility.
Summer Interclub Competition has finished, so I do not have any throwing events until High Noon Competition begins in April. I am pleased that I will be able to throw during the Autumn/Winter while Nalani and Jarrett are competing in Cross Country.
I was so disappointed that my Tigers lost last week and again this week but I know that they will be able to turn everything around in the next rounds, I believe in them. In Footy Tipping Pop is ahead of Nana and I by one point at the moment so it is very close, he is confident already that he is going to win this year but I am pretty good at making come backs.
'Every day, what ever you do, no matter how difficult the challenge always look for your rainbow, use all your strength, never ever give up and do your best'
After a busy week of appointments and treatment last week, this week was a time for me to rest and recover. My Grade were at Camp so it was actually good timing because I have not missed any school and have had the chance to let my body recover ready for next week.
Radiotherapy can have side effects like tiredness, dry skin and stomach problems, I have experienced these along with another side effect of having some difficulties swallowing, I was relieved to hear from my Radiation Doctor though that this can occur but should only last for about five to ten days following the completion of radiation.
Monday was Canberra Day, it is an annual public holiday to celebrate the official naming of Canberra. Canberra was named at a ceremony on 12th March 1913 by Lady Denman, she was the wife of the then Governor General Lord Denman. Next year will be a very special year, it will the hundred year celebration and many special events are planned.
I was fortunate enough to have my Nana and Pop come down from Queensland to visit, we went to the Lifeline Book Fair together, had lunch and spent precious time together. I love my Nana and Pop very much and enjoy seeing them.
I had physiotherapy which I am now having weekly and was so relieved to have Kaitlyn work on my legs and back, she even did some ultrasound on my back to see if that provided me with some pain relief, then I had three heat packs which soothed my pain. I am so fortunate to have had such a wonderful Physiotherapist in Rhiannon and now Kaitlyn as they can provide me with pain relief and mobility.
Summer Interclub Competition has finished, so I do not have any throwing events until High Noon Competition begins in April. I am pleased that I will be able to throw during the Autumn/Winter while Nalani and Jarrett are competing in Cross Country.
I was so disappointed that my Tigers lost last week and again this week but I know that they will be able to turn everything around in the next rounds, I believe in them. In Footy Tipping Pop is ahead of Nana and I by one point at the moment so it is very close, he is confident already that he is going to win this year but I am pretty good at making come backs.
'Every day, what ever you do, no matter how difficult the challenge always look for your rainbow, use all your strength, never ever give up and do your best'
Saturday, March 10, 2012
IN SYDNEY FOR RADIOTHERAPY
3rd to 9th March 2012
This week we have seen some wild weather around many parts of Australia, in Canberra prior to leaving for my week in Sydney we were inundated with drenching rains, gusty winds and high humidity. Roads have been flooded, people evacuated and homes destroyed, the weather is so unpredictable, like cancer, you don't know whether you will experience bright sunshine filled days or days where you have a storm to fight against. This week I returned to Sydney for five radiotherapy treatments which are aimed at reducing pain and slowing my new tumours in my spine down.
My journey began on Sunday when Mum and I flew to Sydney, because the weather was so miserable the flight was delayed by half an hour, when we were eventually able to board the airplane which was an ATR Virgin aircraft we had to board on the tarmac. Although we had an umbrella, the rain was pelting down and the wind was lifting the umbrella Mum was holding to try to keep me dry, she had to hold it with two hands and still struggled, I thought she might fly into the sky. We arrived in Sydney to beautiful blue, sunny skies which we had not seen in Canberra for a while.
We were staying at Ronald McDonald House and were pleased to arrive and began to unpack, however that was interrupted by the sound of the roaring fire alarm, we had to move to the evacuation area and wait the arrival of the fire brigade. After thoroughly checking the building, we were given the all clear to return to our rooms. Ronald McDonald House is a fantastic place for families who are having treatment at the hospital to stay.
Monday was my first radiotherapy session, it was so different to the way I had it before, this time I did not have to lie on a beanbag or have a mask on. I just had to be lined up and have my head in a special plastic headrest and lie supine (which is to lie on your back). The treatment was extremely quick, compared to my prior experience and it was at a much lower dosage. Before I had 58.8 Gy and 36.6 Gy this time it was just 17 Gy. I had a sticker chart again to place stickers on after each treatment, it was such a huge difference this time, last time I had thirty two treatments so there were so many more to count down, five really seems like nothing.
That night I was in so much pain, it was terrible and brought me to tears, I have to admit I was a little frightened, this had not happened last time, but I had Mum there comforting me in every way she could.
The next day when I had my radiotherapy we saw my Radiation Doctor, who has not changed, he is still so reassuring. He always talks to me directly and really cares, I think when I first met him I referred to him as reminding me of a very friendly 'Santa Claus'. He explained that the pain I experienced the first night can sometimes occur, so that made me feel more at ease.
On that Tuesday Mum and I met with many other specialist teams who spoke about pain relief, both medicinal and alternative. We talked about things that will assist me to make me feel more comfortable in my daily living. Then the physiotherapist Judy came and spoke with us offering ideas and confirming that Kaitlyn is helping me in the best ways.
Wednesday was filled with appointments yet again including my radiotherapy as well as seeing the Social Worker. I was finding that I was feeling really tired, whether it was from the treatment which can make you tired or just from the having such busy days, filled with seeing so many specialists.
On Thursday I saw my Oncologist, he was helpful in answering some of the questions I have had and gave Mum and I some advice in relation to school and sports. He is going to see me again in May when he has his Clinic in Canberra. I have been told that I do not need to see an Endocrinologist any more as because of my relapse and different needs. Also the follow up schedule I had for my original Medulloblastoma is no longer relevant and all the tests they do are to look for new tumours, which they have found now, so things change.
As the week went on I was finding that my pain was not as intense, which is what the purpose of the treatment has been. Although I still have constant pain which I often describe to be like my tinnitus, it is always there and I guess when something is there all the time you become so used to it. I have also been prescribed stronger pain medication for the times when I need it, what a pity I did not have it on that Monday when I was in such terrible pain.
At the end of my radiotherapy on Friday I was able to ring the bell, I did that last time but I think I rang it with much more excitement and for longer last time because my treatment had gone for so long. In a way I felt rather silly ringing it for just five treatments, but I was still pleased it was all over for the week because that meant that I would be going back home.
My week was not all appointments I found a little spare time to catch up with some special friends, mostly in the evening for dinner. I got to see Tess, my Starlight Wish Granter, she always makes me smile and then I also saw Gavin and Paul who were instrumental in making my book a reality when it almost seemed impossible. Another highlight was meeting Christine who is a fellow author and behind the website Australian Inspiration. All these people are a very important part of my journey and I feel so blessed to know them all
We experienced the most terrible weather on Thursday in Sydney, it absolutely poured for most of the day. It was miserable and going to and from appointments even an umbrella did nothing to protect us from the harsh conditions. However in the late afternoon the winds blew the cloud away and the sun peeped through.
Our flight home was slightly delayed but not as long as when we left Canberra. The weather was fine and as we flew into Canberra last night, seeing the entire city lit up was really very magical. The best part of all though was seeing Dad, Nalani and Jarrett and being able to give them huge hugs.
My new journey will now be monitored closely by my doctors in Canberra, I know that I will have good and bad days but what is most important is to remain positive and always make the most of each and every day.
Last week my valiant Tigers won their game in stunning style and I was so excited when Benji kicked the field goal to win. Unfortunately they did not do so well this week against Manly, however Mum was very excited because she is a Manly supporter.
Thank you for your wonderful messages in the last Blog entry, I am just an ordinary girl who is facing a difficult journey, I hope that through my journey I can help as many others as possible.
This week we have seen some wild weather around many parts of Australia, in Canberra prior to leaving for my week in Sydney we were inundated with drenching rains, gusty winds and high humidity. Roads have been flooded, people evacuated and homes destroyed, the weather is so unpredictable, like cancer, you don't know whether you will experience bright sunshine filled days or days where you have a storm to fight against. This week I returned to Sydney for five radiotherapy treatments which are aimed at reducing pain and slowing my new tumours in my spine down.
My journey began on Sunday when Mum and I flew to Sydney, because the weather was so miserable the flight was delayed by half an hour, when we were eventually able to board the airplane which was an ATR Virgin aircraft we had to board on the tarmac. Although we had an umbrella, the rain was pelting down and the wind was lifting the umbrella Mum was holding to try to keep me dry, she had to hold it with two hands and still struggled, I thought she might fly into the sky. We arrived in Sydney to beautiful blue, sunny skies which we had not seen in Canberra for a while.
We were staying at Ronald McDonald House and were pleased to arrive and began to unpack, however that was interrupted by the sound of the roaring fire alarm, we had to move to the evacuation area and wait the arrival of the fire brigade. After thoroughly checking the building, we were given the all clear to return to our rooms. Ronald McDonald House is a fantastic place for families who are having treatment at the hospital to stay.
Monday was my first radiotherapy session, it was so different to the way I had it before, this time I did not have to lie on a beanbag or have a mask on. I just had to be lined up and have my head in a special plastic headrest and lie supine (which is to lie on your back). The treatment was extremely quick, compared to my prior experience and it was at a much lower dosage. Before I had 58.8 Gy and 36.6 Gy this time it was just 17 Gy. I had a sticker chart again to place stickers on after each treatment, it was such a huge difference this time, last time I had thirty two treatments so there were so many more to count down, five really seems like nothing.
That night I was in so much pain, it was terrible and brought me to tears, I have to admit I was a little frightened, this had not happened last time, but I had Mum there comforting me in every way she could.
The next day when I had my radiotherapy we saw my Radiation Doctor, who has not changed, he is still so reassuring. He always talks to me directly and really cares, I think when I first met him I referred to him as reminding me of a very friendly 'Santa Claus'. He explained that the pain I experienced the first night can sometimes occur, so that made me feel more at ease.
On that Tuesday Mum and I met with many other specialist teams who spoke about pain relief, both medicinal and alternative. We talked about things that will assist me to make me feel more comfortable in my daily living. Then the physiotherapist Judy came and spoke with us offering ideas and confirming that Kaitlyn is helping me in the best ways.
Wednesday was filled with appointments yet again including my radiotherapy as well as seeing the Social Worker. I was finding that I was feeling really tired, whether it was from the treatment which can make you tired or just from the having such busy days, filled with seeing so many specialists.
On Thursday I saw my Oncologist, he was helpful in answering some of the questions I have had and gave Mum and I some advice in relation to school and sports. He is going to see me again in May when he has his Clinic in Canberra. I have been told that I do not need to see an Endocrinologist any more as because of my relapse and different needs. Also the follow up schedule I had for my original Medulloblastoma is no longer relevant and all the tests they do are to look for new tumours, which they have found now, so things change.
As the week went on I was finding that my pain was not as intense, which is what the purpose of the treatment has been. Although I still have constant pain which I often describe to be like my tinnitus, it is always there and I guess when something is there all the time you become so used to it. I have also been prescribed stronger pain medication for the times when I need it, what a pity I did not have it on that Monday when I was in such terrible pain.
At the end of my radiotherapy on Friday I was able to ring the bell, I did that last time but I think I rang it with much more excitement and for longer last time because my treatment had gone for so long. In a way I felt rather silly ringing it for just five treatments, but I was still pleased it was all over for the week because that meant that I would be going back home.
My week was not all appointments I found a little spare time to catch up with some special friends, mostly in the evening for dinner. I got to see Tess, my Starlight Wish Granter, she always makes me smile and then I also saw Gavin and Paul who were instrumental in making my book a reality when it almost seemed impossible. Another highlight was meeting Christine who is a fellow author and behind the website Australian Inspiration. All these people are a very important part of my journey and I feel so blessed to know them all
We experienced the most terrible weather on Thursday in Sydney, it absolutely poured for most of the day. It was miserable and going to and from appointments even an umbrella did nothing to protect us from the harsh conditions. However in the late afternoon the winds blew the cloud away and the sun peeped through.
Our flight home was slightly delayed but not as long as when we left Canberra. The weather was fine and as we flew into Canberra last night, seeing the entire city lit up was really very magical. The best part of all though was seeing Dad, Nalani and Jarrett and being able to give them huge hugs.
My new journey will now be monitored closely by my doctors in Canberra, I know that I will have good and bad days but what is most important is to remain positive and always make the most of each and every day.
Last week my valiant Tigers won their game in stunning style and I was so excited when Benji kicked the field goal to win. Unfortunately they did not do so well this week against Manly, however Mum was very excited because she is a Manly supporter.
Thank you for your wonderful messages in the last Blog entry, I am just an ordinary girl who is facing a difficult journey, I hope that through my journey I can help as many others as possible.
Friday, March 2, 2012
WET, WET, WET
25th February to 2nd March 2012
I don't think I have ever seen so much rain, we have had an absolute deluge of rain pouring down constantly for the past few days. The ground is so soggy and muddy and everything smells damp and musty.
Fortunately, the weekend was fine and I was lucky enough to go with my family to The Royal Canberra Show. At the show I looked around the many exhibitions, went for a ride on the ferris wheel, got to pat a cat called a sphynx, had a go on the clowns and won a huge pink bear on the lucky envelopes. I had a splendiferous time at the show with my family!
At school in Sports Science we have been learning about nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet, we went to the computer lab and researched websites with information on nutrition, I thought the AIS site was the most informative. In Maths we have been investigating Binomial products, there are many rules to remember in this.
I had physio this week and Kaitlyn worked on my back and my neck as well as my hamstrings and calves. Having physio always gives me relief from my aches and pains and tightness, I find that having heat on my back is extremely beneficial after treatment.
Sometimes on a journey a hurdle pops up in your path, I have had a huge hurdle come into my life. The results from my MRI's came back, my brain one showed that everything was still stable however my spine one showed spots on my spine and with further investigation I have been diagnosed with a relapse of my disease in my spine.
On Tuesday I was in Sydney for a planning day for some radiation, it is going to be very different from my original radiation, I do not have to wear a mask or lie on a bean bag. I will be lying on my back for this treatment and it will only take ten minutes rather than over an hour like my prior treatment. It is also a much lower dose, it will assist with my pain and help to slow the tumours. I will begin my treatment on Monday next week and it will only go for five days, last time I had it for six and a half weeks. I am not worried about it at all, in fact radiation was no problem for me, it was the delayed side effects that are not so pleasant.
I am very good at jumping over all the hurdles that have been put in my path so far and I am positive that I can jump over this one too. I wish you all a splendiferous week and hope that the sun will shine and a rainbow appear in the sky whilst I am having my treatment.
I don't think I have ever seen so much rain, we have had an absolute deluge of rain pouring down constantly for the past few days. The ground is so soggy and muddy and everything smells damp and musty.
Fortunately, the weekend was fine and I was lucky enough to go with my family to The Royal Canberra Show. At the show I looked around the many exhibitions, went for a ride on the ferris wheel, got to pat a cat called a sphynx, had a go on the clowns and won a huge pink bear on the lucky envelopes. I had a splendiferous time at the show with my family!
At school in Sports Science we have been learning about nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet, we went to the computer lab and researched websites with information on nutrition, I thought the AIS site was the most informative. In Maths we have been investigating Binomial products, there are many rules to remember in this.
I had physio this week and Kaitlyn worked on my back and my neck as well as my hamstrings and calves. Having physio always gives me relief from my aches and pains and tightness, I find that having heat on my back is extremely beneficial after treatment.
Sometimes on a journey a hurdle pops up in your path, I have had a huge hurdle come into my life. The results from my MRI's came back, my brain one showed that everything was still stable however my spine one showed spots on my spine and with further investigation I have been diagnosed with a relapse of my disease in my spine.
On Tuesday I was in Sydney for a planning day for some radiation, it is going to be very different from my original radiation, I do not have to wear a mask or lie on a bean bag. I will be lying on my back for this treatment and it will only take ten minutes rather than over an hour like my prior treatment. It is also a much lower dose, it will assist with my pain and help to slow the tumours. I will begin my treatment on Monday next week and it will only go for five days, last time I had it for six and a half weeks. I am not worried about it at all, in fact radiation was no problem for me, it was the delayed side effects that are not so pleasant.
I am very good at jumping over all the hurdles that have been put in my path so far and I am positive that I can jump over this one too. I wish you all a splendiferous week and hope that the sun will shine and a rainbow appear in the sky whilst I am having my treatment.
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