This was after a short visit to our local
hospital at 2am where we were told that although Eden would need to be admitted,
it would be necessary for her to travel the hour long journey to Addenbrookes in
Cambridge as they did not have a bed available. This suited my Jem as she
prefers Addenbrookes to our local hospital as they actually have an oncology
department and are familiar not only with dealing with cancer patients but
specifically our Eden. However, we were soon informed that a further snag had
surfaced - they had no ambulance to transport Jem and Eden to Cambridge.
Apparently Addenbrookes insist on patients being brought in by ambulance in the
instance of high temperature, in case something happened en route. Well, that`s
all very well, but when my pregnant daughter and her sick toddler need
transportation to another hospital in the early hours of the morning, i find it
incredulous that there is no means whatsoever in her getting there. Eventually,
and mercifully, over the next few hours, Eden`s temperature dipped, so after
gaining consent from the ward nurse, Neil drove his wife and sick child to
Cambridge in the family car at 5am.
hospital at 2am where we were told that although Eden would need to be admitted,
it would be necessary for her to travel the hour long journey to Addenbrookes in
Cambridge as they did not have a bed available. This suited my Jem as she
prefers Addenbrookes to our local hospital as they actually have an oncology
department and are familiar not only with dealing with cancer patients but
specifically our Eden. However, we were soon informed that a further snag had
surfaced - they had no ambulance to transport Jem and Eden to Cambridge.
Apparently Addenbrookes insist on patients being brought in by ambulance in the
instance of high temperature, in case something happened en route. Well, that`s
all very well, but when my pregnant daughter and her sick toddler need
transportation to another hospital in the early hours of the morning, i find it
incredulous that there is no means whatsoever in her getting there. Eventually,
and mercifully, over the next few hours, Eden`s temperature dipped, so after
gaining consent from the ward nurse, Neil drove his wife and sick child to
Cambridge in the family car at 5am.
We were somewhat disheartened to learn that the doctors suspected an infection this time as her temperature
was fluctuating and she was obviously experiencing some discomfort down below.
Urine and blood samples were taken both at the Lister hospital and again at
Addenbrookes.
So, as the rest of the country basked in
glorious sunshine over the weekend, Eden endured the constrains and restrictions
of being wired up to machines as the cause of her infection were investigated.
glorious sunshine over the weekend, Eden endured the constrains and restrictions
of being wired up to machines as the cause of her infection were investigated.
Despite a platelet and blood transfusion late
last week, her blood counts were still down and today she received another
blood transfusion. This had her buzzing this afternoon and she showed signs of
her mischievous ways. She giggled, she played and she enjoyed Sunday so much
better than Friday and Saturday when all she wanted was to be hugged and
soothed.
last week, her blood counts were still down and today she received another
blood transfusion. This had her buzzing this afternoon and she showed signs of
her mischievous ways. She giggled, she played and she enjoyed Sunday so much
better than Friday and Saturday when all she wanted was to be hugged and
soothed.
I visited her on Friday and again today. The difference in her was amazing. Friday was a fretful day for
us all as her temperature was still fluctuating. Although we knew that once the
antibiotics being dripped continually into her began to take effect and she
would begin to feel better, it was still hard to witness her suffering. Her
back ached along with other parts of her little bod and the sparkle had
disappeared from her beautiful hazel eyes. She whined and couldn`t concentrate
on her usual kiddie programmes shown on her DVD player.......all she wanted was
cuddles.
I couldn`t visit Saturday as my son has
the tail end of a cough, so I waited eagerly for regular updates. I hate the
days I don`t see her. I try to keep busy, but it`s impossible to stop my mind
drifting to my little angel, shut in a room struggling to get better. I make
phone calls to friends who understand and struggle myself with regaining or
sustaining positivity. As the evening approaches, my thoughts are filled with
visions of my two girls and I wish they were at home, where they belong and that
this nightmare would just go away. At times like these I pray that I will be
strong enough to cope and stay positive for them, that is the very least they
deserve.
the tail end of a cough, so I waited eagerly for regular updates. I hate the
days I don`t see her. I try to keep busy, but it`s impossible to stop my mind
drifting to my little angel, shut in a room struggling to get better. I make
phone calls to friends who understand and struggle myself with regaining or
sustaining positivity. As the evening approaches, my thoughts are filled with
visions of my two girls and I wish they were at home, where they belong and that
this nightmare would just go away. At times like these I pray that I will be
strong enough to cope and stay positive for them, that is the very least they
deserve.
Despite regular updates from my daughter, I
couldn`t wait to see my Eden today. I dropped my son off at a friend`s house
and set off for Cambridge with my eldest son, eager to once again verify my
hopes and faith in Eden`s recovery.
couldn`t wait to see my Eden today. I dropped my son off at a friend`s house
and set off for Cambridge with my eldest son, eager to once again verify my
hopes and faith in Eden`s recovery.
On arrival at Addenbrookes we hurriedly entered
through the revolving door and into the hospital concourse. Moving swiftly, we
soon approached the children`s ward with great anticipation. Silently praying
and ever hopeful we arrived at the door to Eden`s room. She was not there. The
bed was empty.
through the revolving door and into the hospital concourse. Moving swiftly, we
soon approached the children`s ward with great anticipation. Silently praying
and ever hopeful we arrived at the door to Eden`s room. She was not there. The
bed was empty.
Turning, we retraced our steps and as we neared
the ward playroom I heard "Nanny, Nanny!". I smiled, I recognised that little
voice. Out she padded from the playroom, arms outstretched as she headed
towards me. My heart overspilled with love and happiness for this little tot I
am so proud to call my grand daughter. She had a massive smile on her beautiful
face and once again her eyes shone like stars as I scooped her up into my arms.
I hugged her close to me, giving her a million kisses and feeling her warmth as
her little arms clasped around my neck. She was better.
the ward playroom I heard "Nanny, Nanny!". I smiled, I recognised that little
voice. Out she padded from the playroom, arms outstretched as she headed
towards me. My heart overspilled with love and happiness for this little tot I
am so proud to call my grand daughter. She had a massive smile on her beautiful
face and once again her eyes shone like stars as I scooped her up into my arms.
I hugged her close to me, giving her a million kisses and feeling her warmth as
her little arms clasped around my neck. She was better.
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The rest of the afternoon was blissful. Eden was in great form. We even managed to go outside in the little play area
attached to her ward. She showed me the playhouse which was well equipped with
a kitchen area, an upstairs, a little table and a hoover, which she happily
demonstrated to me. Eden eagerly climbed on several bikes, a tractor and a pink
scooter, waving happily at another bald little patient through a big window.
They exchanged smiles and in baby talk, discussed their wigglies (tubes attached
to their Hickman Lines).
We then all headed to the hospital Burger King
and tried to entice Eden to eat. She had eaten very little the previous day and
we all hoped that one of her favourite junk food meals would encourage her to
eat. Sadly, it wasn`t the case. Jem
and tried to entice Eden to eat. She had eaten very little the previous day and
we all hoped that one of her favourite junk food meals would encourage her to
eat. Sadly, it wasn`t the case. Jem
On the way back to the ward we stopped at the
toy shop. Eden knows what she likes and soon spotted several things she
fancied. Ten minutes later we headed back to the ward with Eden holding tightly
to a new purple bag with big flowers adorned on it, a chicken keyring that
clucked, a transparent egg with a toy that none of us could fathom out and a
squidgy purple duck that flashed multicolours when bashed.
toy shop. Eden knows what she likes and soon spotted several things she
fancied. Ten minutes later we headed back to the ward with Eden holding tightly
to a new purple bag with big flowers adorned on it, a chicken keyring that
clucked, a transparent egg with a toy that none of us could fathom out and a
squidgy purple duck that flashed multicolours when bashed.
Contentedly, Eden headed back to her room and awaited her next drip feed of antibiotics. We played games, we
sang and we laughed. Eden had fought and won another battle and is getting
stronger and more spirited with the love of her family and the hard work of the
professionals at Addenbrookes. We could not be more proud of her resilience and
ability to bounce back. She is as much our rock as we are hers
