| July 6 | Today we received word that the doctors have chosen a bone marrow donor for Kieran. | ||
| August 8 | We finally have some dates! Surgery to place Kieran's central line will occur during the week of August 21. Kieran's chemotherapy will begin on either August 28 or 29. Kieran's transplant will take place on September 12. | ||
| August 19 | We've been notified by the hospital that Kieran's admittance date is to be Tuesday 22nd August. Three days from now. Time to pack! | ||
| August 22 |
Kieran was admitted today with the minimum of fuss. He's on a holding ward in Ward 26. Here he'll have his central line put in, have blood tests, be weighed and prodded and generally assesed for fitness level. He's in a cubicle all of his own, except for Vanessa, who is sleeping there too.
Kieran is free to romp and play in the room, which is a decent size. It's perfect for him, as the door handle is stiff enough to keep him locked up, out of mischief. He's settled in nicely, loves all the toys, and seems to be in kiddie heaven, rather than in the throws of homesickness. The room also has low windows looking out to a parking lot. This is full of the coolest things in the world. Cars! |
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| August 23 |
Morning started early. About 5:30 am. Kieran always was an early riser. In the days to come staff would always comment at our keenness to be up and about. The hospital's like a library at that time.
Kieran was scheduled for surgery today, to have his central line put in. As he could have gone anytime between midday and three pm he wasn't allowed food after 9:30 am., but he still managed to enjoy the hospital toys. Shortly after noon he was brought platelets. These little fellas are the main clotting agent in blood. As Kieran has only a 10th of the number a normal person has he was given this transfusion to help him through surgery. At 3 pm the nurses came and got him. By this time Kieran was realizing mom had 'forgotten to feed him'. The anaesthetist had mom hold Kieran in her lap while he was put to sleep. The drug was administered through the line in his hand that had been put in the day before. Kieran feel asleep straight away, and mom was dismissed from the theater. Kieran had three treatments at this time. His central line was fitted. A broncho-alveolar lavage was taken (basically a lung and throat tissue sample) and a skin biopsy was done. This is so the hospital would always have a some of Kieran's DNA, for research. At 4:30 mom was collected again and taken back to surgery to get her boy. He woke very briefly but fell straight back to sleep. he woke again at 5:30, back in his room, with the urgent words "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!". Nurses came very promptly with painkillers and Kieran was able to have some much needed orange juice. Kieran was sore for the rest of the morning, and concerned about the chords dangling from his chest. However his short attempt at movement was causing the wound in his neck to ooze. A doctor came and looked him over, put more platelets on standby, but determined things looked okay. The night nurse helped give Kieran a sponge bath. Unfortunately about a half an hour afterward Kieran vomited. This is a pretty usual after effect of general anaesthetic but the nurse came in hourly through the night to check on Kieran and monitor his temperature. He was fine. |
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| August 24 | Kieran woke up in a cheery mood. He was a bit upset when he rediscovered the tubes coming out of his chest. Fortunately the helpful night nurse had located a pouch to secure them. Soon Kieran was playing happily and the day passed without incident. |
| August 25 |
Kieran's Grandma came all the way from the States to stay with him! His Daddy turned up to collect her from the airport and stay for a day while she settled in in the accomodation. This was Grandma's first trip to Europe, and straight to the hospital she went. The sun shone wonderfully to greet her however.
Kieran had some pain from time to time, but staff were always on hand to deal with it. Kieran also had a temperature. He'd picked up an infection from the surgery. Though his temperature got worryingly high for a while the infection was quickly tackled. He got over things by the time morning came. Kieran had an army of carers. Many doctors stop by to look in on him, as does his dietician, his play therapist, his developmental therapist, nurses from ward 26, nurses from ward 23, auxiliaries, and students. They're all attentive, patient, and kind. In these early days it seemed Kieran had a visitor every half hour or so. We felt like we were being waited on at a very respectable restaurant and we wanted for nothing. Kieran, oblivious, played and played. |
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