New Status

The wonderful thing about children is their ability to move on. Within minutes of last week's trauma Isabella was ready for Italian classes. Children also forgive and forget very quickly. She made a special request for one of the nurses this morning who had failed to access her port last week. He is a lovely nurse and does a great job each week, but was a little anxious when he arrived in the room today. There were several other nurses present ready to do the port access dance - no need, straight in. What a relief. ANC even higher this week, full dose of chemo administered and we were out of the clinic within record breaking time and back at school in time for lunch. Three down and one to go for this cycle.

The best news this week is our new status, Isabella and Matilde have become cousins. Gregorio stopped in London over the week-end and had a stern talking to Florence's belly, unfortunately he didn't get to meet his nephew. However, we are all extremely happy at the safe arrival of Björn Elio on Monday, a whopping 9 lbs and 23 inches long. The family are all settling in at home today and we look forward to meeting him soon.

Lots of Love

Auntie Emma and Zio Gregorio xxx

How many pokes?

As we are taking the lift down to the car park at Children's this afternoon, Isabella says "you had better write about this on the blog!" I am not sure about Isabella, but I would rank today as being very high on the list of worse days since this journey began. Isabella received more needles than I can imagine today. As she retold the story, the number of pokes increased but I would definitely agree it was double digits. After nearly 6 hours at the hospital, numerous attempts by 3 nurses, several x-rays and finally a handful of attempts by the surgeon, we saw blood coming out of her port. Isabella took the words right out of my mouth "I could hug you and kiss you!" This came right after the most blood curling screams and look of fear on her little face, but she was right, what a relief.

Behind my (I hope) tough exterior I was already imagining another surgery to remove this port and fit a new one. Gregorio was in touch by phone and email as the day progressed. There were shades of almost a year ago (yesterday) when I had called him in Cyprus to say Isabella had a brain tumor. Then, he had been left speechless and only after several minutes finally managed to say "I'm coming home tonight"; today, he didn't say it, but I know he was already envisaging jumping on the next flight out of Nairobi. Thankfully today's drama did not lead to the operating theatre and all was resolved.

For some reason Isabella's port is a little roamer and if the person accessing her port doesn't get exactly the right spot at the right angle then it doesn't work. I asked the nurses who would get the short straw next week to access Isabella? They smiled. Right now we'll just relax, happy that today is over.

Maybe you are wondering why they have to get a blood return from the port? They need to make sure the line is not broken or that there is no blood clot in the line so that anything they administer to her through her port goes into her vein. Apparently the vincristine is extremely powerful, you should see the care they take to make sure not a drop touches any skin, it would burn you.

There was some good news though, her ANC has skyrocketed to over 1000 and so we were able to get back to the full dose of both vincristine and carboplatin. It was truly a long day but we can now tick off round 2 of cycle 6.

Love,

Emma & Gregorio. xxx

Third time lucky?

OK so we have sort of started cycle 6. Sort of? Well her ANC was even lower this week which we will attribute to either a cold or possibly the gleevec medication she takes daily. Either way the accumulative effect of chemotherapy is beginning to take its toll on Isabella. She has been off chemo for a month and we were desperate to start again. It was decided to give her vincristine only and not the carboplatin. The vincristine has a number of side effects which we have more or less under control but the lowering of blood counts does not tend to be one of them.

Her ANC was 450, which for those of you in the know, or remember from our spring antics means that any fever and we will be enjoying the overnight accommodation facilities at Children's. I was talking to one of the mothers in the clinic this morning about how we would love to hermetically seal our kids in a bubble until the end of treatment but it is not realistic, let alone fair. It seems the germs have been flying around schools earlier in the season than usual.

The doctors are strongly recommending flu shots and swine flu shots for the whole family. All the hospital staff were getting their flu shots today. When St Debby saw how anxious Isabella was at the idea of getting a shot (not today anyway) Debby took Isabella off with her so she could hold her hand.

Both girls were up at 6:30 this morning and flying off the wall. Normally Matilde has to be dragged out of bed at 7:30 on a school morning (the week-ends are different...) The reason: Matilde was going to Alex's for breakfast and then off to school. "COME ON MUMMY, we have to go, otherwise they will have finished all the pancakes before I get there!!"

Finger's crossed our blood counts rise over the week and we remain clear of infection.

Wet and autumnal here today.

Lots of love,

Emma (& Gregorio from Kenya) xxx

Cycle 6 remains elusive.

Isabella's blood counts are still too low to start a new cycle of chemo - ANC under 1000. So we slip another week (which means that we are now due to finish one week AFTER Christmas...) We'd be lying if we didn't admit we are feeling a little deflated, but on the up side it does mean another week without chemo. I guess returning to school was a shock to the system, not to mention Matilde getting strep throat and an ear infection. A great start to the new school year! Let's hope we get through the next few months without too many illnesses and viruses.

It is a funny feeling returning to the hospital every week. It is such a routine now and they truly make us feel like special friends. Gregorio has been to every appointment this past year, apart from a couple over the summer. The security guard greeted him with a smile and said "hello sir, how are you, I was wondering if you were coming today?" and proceeded to hand him his name badge without asking for his ID. In the clinic waiting room the nurse who checks the children's vitals announces "Dr Impavido please!" and on the board, they had written Dr Impavido. Isabella was beaming as she walked out of the waiting room.


The grandparents have left and Gregorio leaves tomorrow for a mission to Kenya, his first trip in a year. Previously, Gregorio traveled every other month for several weeks at a time so we should be thankful for something (the economic crisis? Isabella's treatment?) as Gregorio has enjoyed every month of the year in Washington - a first in over 10 years.


The house will feel pretty empty but there is plenty to keep us busy. The first week or so back at school has been fun and has successfully worn the girls out each day :). Matilde is loving ballet lessons and Isabella has started piano again. She tells us she is also in the school choir "it's much better than lunch break!" Fear not, I think she does have time to eat first. We have also started swimming lessons again, tennis on Saturday for us all and Italian classes next week.


Tomorrow I am joining a whole crew of travel industry professionals as we roll up our sleeves and spruce up the monuments and surrounding parkland on the National Mall. Not an insignificant date to say, "Tourism Cares".

This week-end is also the anniversary of the passing of our dear friend and neighbor. He and his family have been a great inspiration to us this past year. God bless you, David.


More next week when we hope to finally begin cycle number 6.


Lots of love,
Emma and Gregorio. xxx

Canada was wonderful.

We are back from a most wonderfully relaxing holiday in Canada. Just what the doctor ordered all round. It was a true escape, apart from the lack of internet connection, it was so beautifully green and open. Refreshing air, delicious food and majestic scenery from the miles of lakes and trees to the magnificent St Lawrence River at all times of day. And what surprised us, was how totally French everything was, albeit with an accent that was hard to understand at times. We kayaked and canoed on the idyllic setting of Lac Gagnon with our lovely Canadian friends and we went walking, picnicing and whale watching on the Cote Charlevoix, north of Quebec City. We were staying near Baie St Paul where the Cirque de Soleil began 25 years ago, and were treated to some very entertaining street acts. We didn't see any moose, though I ate caribou, Gregorio claims he saw a black bear and we saw many many different types of whales. If you are curious and have the stamina, take a look at some of our pictures . You'll need a little imagination to spot the belugas and humpback whales.

http://www.shutterfly.com/lightbox/view.sfly?fid=14b7bb86b161b31d5b2f2841c4d4a52e

Thankfully no drama with Isabella's condition though we did have two hospital visits for the two female members with a 7 in their age. A relatively quick x-ray revealed no broken bones and we continued our 2,400 mile road trip.

Now back to reality. The girls were thrilled to be back at school on Monday, catching up with old friends and meeting new teachers. Today we were at Children's for the start of round 6 - we thought. However, her blood counts were a little low, with hindsight her motion sickness during the return journey was probably a little virus. No problem, she got to school earlier than anticipated and we will just shuffle things down by a week and return next week.

The next MRI is scheduled for October 13.

When we left Quebec on Friday morning it was a crisp autumnal morning with beautiful sunshine and 9 C, when we arrived in DC it was a muggy 32C. This week the humidity has gone and the weather is absolutely gorgeous. We hope it will last for the nonni's last few days and the upcoming long week-end.

Love,
Emma & Gregorio. xxx