Pages

Sunday 8 December 2013

''Deck the CLIC House with boughs of holly…''

My Mum and I arrived back in Bristol late last Sunday (01/12/2013) evening. It was sad to leave home again, knowing that I won't be back until my IMRT radiotherapy finishes in early January.

I'll be finished week two of six of IMRT radiotherapy this Monday. I can't believe how fast the weeks have gone, before I know it I'll be back home in N. Ireland. When the side effects of treatment have not been too bad, I've been keeping busy by writing my blog and packing The Danielle McGriskin Fund and Danielle's Journey wristband orders.

On Monday (02/12/2013) after I had my treatment late that evening, my Mum and I popped into a traditional French bakery up the road from the hospital. We got chatting to the lady serving us and she asked if we were on holiday here in Bristol. My Mum explained that I was here for treatment at the hospital and how we're staying at one of the CLIC Sargent houses. The lady serving us wanted us to take some more pastries and cakes (as they were expecting a fresh delivery the next day) for the other children and parents at the CLIC Sargent house, which we greatly appreciated. We were walking out of the French bakery with boxes of pastries and cakes, which were huge and filled with lots of cream. When we arrived back, everyone was amazed and said how tasty they were; it was lovely to surprise them.

Earlier this week, my Mum and I tried to do some Christmas shopping in Bristol, I was too tired and we had to come home (CLIC House) after going into one shop. When I got home, I fell asleep while watching the movie The Grinch (when I was younger I thought it was the scariest movie ever). I slept for five hours and my Mum didn't know whether to wake me or not, as it's not like me to fall asleep during the day, although I must have needed it. Tiredness is one of the big side effects of having radiotherapy.

I keep meaning to bring my IPod with me while I'm having treatment, so I can listen to my music. It's  probably a good thing that I forget to bring it, as I might start singing to all my favourite songs really badly. On Friday, the radiographers played Christmas songs during my treatment, which got me in the Christmas spirit, especially as my Mum and I were going to Bristol's German Christmas Market after I finished treatment that day. While we were at the German Market, we bought a traditional angel and Santa Claus gingerbread biscuit for my sister and I, and enjoyed trying some of the traditional foods. We've been trying to make our room at the CLIC House look Christmassy, so Mum brought some tinsel, snow flake window stickers, as well as 'make your own Christmas paper chains' and a few other bits too. I love Christmas at home when the house is decorated, as its all cosy and festive.

There are two sweet girls who are also staying at the CLIC Sargent house, they are called Jessica (who is eight years old) and Zena (who is four years old).  Jessica and Zena were both helping me make Christmas paper chains, while singing their favourite songs, they were amazing singers.  They really enjoyed helping me and when I first met them I couldn't believe how grown up they were for their age.

Jessica, Zena and I making Christmas paper chains.

Last week, when my Mum and I went to The Tea Birds for a nice 'cuppa' and sweet treat, I entered in their charity raffle. I found out earlier this week that I won a prize. I won a pretty gift bag which had cute paper clips and lip gloss inside. I was so excited that I had won something.

Collecting the raffle prize I won from
The Tea Birds.

I've been meaning to post this picture. It's a picture (not a very good one) mapping where the beams from the IMRT radiotherapy enter my head. It's not all the lines (beams) on the picture that are entering my head, only a certain colour. IMRT can reduce the risk of damaging healthy tissue near my brain tumour (my tumour is located on top of my stem), this is why this treatment was suggested to me rather than conventional radiotherapy.

Mapping of where the beams from
IMRT will enter my head.

Thank you to a charity called, Share a Star, who I received a Star from over the summer. Jessica, who set up Share a Star and is very unwell herself, sent me a Superstar Surprise, as I told her that I was going to Bristol for treatment for my tumour. Thank you Jessica for my Superstar Surprise and the amazing work you do for other poorly children too.

Me with my Superstar Surprise from
Share a Star.

I met with my oncologist on Friday, I'll be meeting with her nearly every Friday to see how I'm getting on with treatment. My radiotherapy has been going well, although it's making me quite tired, nauseous at times and my headaches seem a bit worse too. I was expecting this, as I had been told of the side effects, if any, will happen during week two or three of treatment. My oncologist said that she is pleased with how I'm doing since starting IMRT radiotherapy.

Mum and I have been walking to the hospital everyday for my treatment (apart from weekends, as I don't have radiotherapy on weekends, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day). I would have never been able to do this before I had my latest surgery in Bristol, only several weeks ago. This surgery was to sort my hydrocephalus (water on the brain AKA Heidi). I have an appointment with my neurosurgeon from Bristol, in Bristol sometime soon, to find out how I'm doing since having my ETV operation.


Danielle X 

No comments:

Post a Comment