Thank you so much to everyone who came along yesterday and joined us in helping Charlotte celebrate end of radiation treatment. It was so much fun for us and for Charlotte. She had one of her best days as well. She was telling me last night about all of the people she saw and got to talk to. She has missed seeing her friends over the last couple of months, so was so happy last night after seeing so many of you. The support of our friends and family always gives us more strength, especially in tougher times. We think there were about 100 people there yesterday, so it was a great effort from everyone at such a busy time of year. And I know some of you travelled a long way to get there, like Dunsborough, Bunbury and Geraldton. Unfortunately, I was having so much fun I forgot to take any photos. Oops sorry! The day will never forgotten by us, though.
We had Charlotte's MRI scan this morning and ended up spending most of the day at PMH again. I warned the staff when we got to the Imaging Department that Charlotte had a lot of trouble the last few times with getting a good vein, so they put the numbing cream on every possible place they could think of that a canula could be inserted. Charlotte had to have the contrast dye this time for the MRI, which is injected through the canula. We waited for forty minutes while the cream worked and the anaeshetist came down to try inserting the canula. (The staff thought ahead and got him to to try first, as he is the expert). Poor Charlotte was already getting very worried about it after the last couple of times. Her left hand was discounted straightaway, as it was still bruised from a few weeks ago. Left foot the same from last week. So he tried her right hand. After 3 attempts in her right hand, he had to give up. He checked over all her arms and legs and decided there was a good vein halfway up the top of her right arm. So more numbing cream went on there and a few other places and we went off to have lunch while the cream worked again. Back up to the Imaging Dept and warming towels were put around her arms and her blanket all around her. The warmer she is, the easier to get the veins to show. Another anaesthetist was there as well and they tried the new spot on Charlotte's arm first and luckily it worked first go. Thank goodness, as Charlotte was so exhausted from it all. She watched My Little Pony as the machine did its scanning. When we finished the MRI, the lady suggested we go to the Oncology ward to see if we can have the blood taken for Charlotte's blood count that is normally done on a Wednesday, as she already had the candula in and it would save her going through more pain on Wednesday. Good thinking! We went down to the ward and the nurse took the blood without any problems and took the canula out afterwards. Everyone said Charlotte was very brave going through all the trauma today and she stayed so still each time. There were a few screams, but she didn't move, which is the main thing. We finally left the hospital about 2.30pm and went shopping. I tried to convince Charlotte that it would be better to go straight home and do the shopping another day, but she wasn't going to let me. She wanted to choose the last three Xmas presents we had to buy. I think she's addicted to shopping already! I didn't think that happened until girls were older.
We will get the results of the MRI on Wednesday when we normally have her weekly appointment. So there will be another update on Wednesday night ...
