A very important day as Owen got his final shot of Chemo into his port and his carry bag full of tablets was topped up for the last time. He takes his final tablets on the Saturday 27/4/13 - Day 1262. 3 years, 5 months and 15 days since diagnosis. His immunity will take over from here.
It was an exciting day, which Owen was looking forward to.....
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| Thank you cards |
He had been preparing for a week. Thank you cards were made and printed off and he worked into the night adding his personal notes. Small gifts were prepared and put into bags and a batch of beautiful home made chocolate cup cakes was cooked up by a close family friend for handing out to the Day Oncology Nurses. They loved them.
A carer came in to look after Luke, as we all jumped into the car, full of happiness. We have made this trip through 4 summers and were heading into our 4th winter. Sometimes in the middle of the night, with bags already packed in readiness for long stays, once in a ambulance and plenty of times for appointments. Today's trip felt really different.
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| Dr Monkey travels in Owen's Redkite Hospital bag |
As we were waiting for a coffee, by chance, Owen bumped into his Cancer Ward teacher from 3 years ago. She would drop in on him and check that he was coping at School, giving him extra school work if he needed it. She gave Owen a big hug then walked towards us to congratulate everyone on this great day, and we just burst into tears........ The emotions were always just bubbling under the surface.
After composing ourselves we walked up into the Children's Cancer Centre, which was full to the brim with families waiting for appointments, as we had done so many times before. Sadly they were all still travelling that long and bumpy road. On the Cancer Ward the patients have their own Pharmacy and with big smiles Owen informed the pharmacy girls that it was his final day and lots of beaming smiles came back.
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| Our Hero - Dr Keith Waters |
We then chatted to any staff member that we knew and waited for the person that has been most important to us. Dr Waters. He happily checked Owen over and told us that his bloods were tracking nicely. He signed off all the paperwork and booked him in for his final operation. Removing his Port. Dr Waters was different today.. Not as gruff... a personality trait that would have to help a man who has devoted his life to saving the lives of children. We spoke about his mantra of treating leukaemia as a long term disease and to make life as normal as possible. The child and their family needs to get through to the other side as safely as possible, both physically and mentally. He told us little anecdotes about families who turned their lives upside down to never recover financially and emotionally. When he first started he would advise parents that they should be grateful if their child was still around in 12 to 18 months... And then he spoke about how it was only because parents in the past allowed their children to be part of clinical trials that they are saving children's lives nowadays. He reminded us that we had agreed to allow Owen to be a part of these trials so children in the future would benefit from better and safer treatment. He was genuinely appreciative and allowed a quick hug and handshake. We felt we had been given an insight into a man who has seen too much.
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| Time for Gifts.. |
Finally, Owen walked into Day Oncology, into a treatment room and recieved his final shot of Vinchristine, a drug so evil that we had to sign a waiver exempting the Drug company from litigation which his nurse administers wearing an apron, gloves and safety glasses. 20ml in and he is done...
A catch up with a counsellor to complete his beads and we are out of there.
A quick inpromptu celebration was had that night and he gave a most beautiful short thank you speech while wiping his tears. We forget how much he has been through and the impact that it has had on him emotionally.. Owen like any child is very resilient but sometimes you can see the baggage that he carries...
What a huge but great day...!
