At the moment it feels like each hospital visit comes with more negatives. On Monday Sky needed to have her dose of Cal-Peg which is one of the chemo drugs. This drug has a sizeable risk of allergic reaction including anaphylactic shock so we were already anxious about the day. Sky arrived at the hospital at 7:30 in the morning with Poppy and had bloods taken, doctor assessment, platelets transfusion, lumbar puncture with methotrexate dose asleep under anesthetic, microfungin through IV, Vincristine chemo drug through IV all going smoothly and then came the Cal-Peg. I had arrived at the hospital in the meantime with the boys as we knew it could be a difficult experience. 

It was one of the worst days of treatment that we have had so far. Sky had an allergic reaction to the Cal-Peg very quickly after it started. I am so thankful to the nurses who reacted so quickly (we're talking seconds to stop the dose and give Sky other medicine to counteract the Cal-Peg). You realise how dangerous some of these drugs are when 8 people including 2 doctors arrive in the room within about 30 seconds and are checking Sky for everything possible. After a lengthy conversation with the doctors we agreed to wait a couple of hours monitoring Sky and if she seemed okay to try again (the alternative drug is not such an easy ride either). The second time Cal-Peg was given her reaction was worse with her lips and face (particularly around her eyes) swelling dramatically. It's amazing how quickly the body responds in such a reaction, and again the team acted quickly. So now we need to try the alternative which means our hospital visit days now go to three days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri). 

When one of our friends from church asked me if I was okay on Sunday, I laughed and said does he want the honest answer or the standard "I'm okay" answer. I think that too often I, like many people in these kind of situations, give the generic response because ultimately I can deal with it and get through but that's not really the question, because honestly, no we're not okay. More importantly Sky isn't okay, even though she puts us all to shame in that despite everything she still wakes up with with the biggest and cheekiest smile on her face, still follows her brothers round wanting to do whatever they're doing and shouts at them when they aren't letting her get her way, and continues to deal with all of the medication with a strength of character well beyond her years. To our friend in church I just want to say thank you for asking and for praying with me. Knowing that people are thinking of Sky and praying for her is so helpful.

Onto the next hospital visit now during this consolidation phase and the hope that the rest of this treatment phase goes smoother than how the last couple of weeks have gone.

Love to all our family and friends