Day-2, 8th Day of conditioning treatment.
Today began with hide and seek, as I hunted for Ella in her room. There she was, snuggling with Mummy in her bed. How lovely for them both. The comfort was short lived because Ella's nurses for today ( who appear in pairs) wanted to prepare her for todays 'treatment. For once she had her dream...the shortest shower in history, clean PJs and then into bed to be set up for 3 hours drip ( saline and steroids )before her chemo. Mind you she did have time to enjoy some ham omelete along the way, and write a shopping list for me to get later.
Teacher Janet arrived and they worked hard on reading and punctuation for about an hour. I had promised that she could "do" my makeup today, so after her lesson I went to the salon. For a 7yr old she is pretty skillful at blending eyeshadow,bit heavy handed on the blusher though!
Ella has been very anxious not to let Sally out of her sight, there's nobody like Mummy is there? I took the opportunity to enjoy a walk to the shop to get Ella some ice lollies ( recommended to suck during chemo ) and other essentials (teabags). I needed to be back for 11.30 and just made it.You get so used to just popping out in the car don't you?
The actual chemo only lasted 10mins, but it will take 24hrs of fluids to flush it through, so she is still hooked up now until tomorrow morning. In fact at the moment she has three lines going in, because quite a few of her medicines have changed from oral to intravenous.
Side affects? well, a sick, very weary little star who is looking forward to her "day off " tomorrow!
It hasn't all been difficult today. Sally has taken up cross stitch, put your orders in now for cushion covers or tray mats and I've had 1/2hr cardio vascular exercise racing back from the shops.
Hi everyone it's Sally ,thanks everyone for the messages, they really mean a lot to us all .Ella hasn't had chance to read them today with all the treatment , but as soon as she's awake tomorrow we will read them with her and hopefully she'll be well enough to reply.We are all looking forward to a well earned day off tommorrow from the chemo ,no one more than Ella's little body, I should imagine!!
Dr Wynn came at tea time to explain the next stage of the transplant. With the conditioning treatment finished, his team take over and he suggested that the actual transplant will probably be late on Thursday.
We are just getting Ella ready for bed now, so I'll sign off and write again tomorrow.
Night night from us all,
Sally,Ella and Annette

Day-3 , 7th day of conditioning treatment.
Hi everyone.Thank you for your great messages of support...we are reading them each morning with Ella and she loves it.
We had our big breakfast today, thanks to Daddy, and Ella tucked into a hash brown and a small amount of scrambled egg,with brown sauce of course. It went down really well I can tell you. A new strategy this morning though with the medicines. Instead of having them lined up ominously on the trolly, they were kept in the medicine cabinet and appeared a couple at a time. This seemed to work much better and wasn't as daunting over the next 1 1/2 hrs.
Ella had a very busy morning beginning with her shower( and hair wash ) followed by an hour with her teacher. Maths today..............tens and units.........Mrs Robinson. Dr Wynn then came to visit and he was very pleased with Ella. He said he was going to knock off the really nasty medicine, halleluijah!
Just as Janet left there was a knock on the door and the music therapist appeared to invite Ella to make some music. She shyly agreed and Rachel produced a big sack of percussion instruments to play.She invited Damian and I to join in too, so the four of us jammed for the next 1/2hr. CD OUT NEXT MONTH!
There was just enough time to set up the next chemo before Auntie Rachael,Sam and Reg arrived. Rachael brought a lovely home made Shepherds pie which Ella fancied, whilst Reg and I took Sam to the restaurant to choose something for himself. What did he choose? You've guessed it.Shepherds pie, which we brought back to the room. Kids eh?
We said goodbye to Daddy and a short time later Mummy arrived back, looking much better than when I last saw her. Lots of cuddles all round. She has brought me some fantastic things for my igloo.........a memory foam mattress and pillow, electric heater, double duvet, warm touch sheet, an orchid and a cuddly toy! I'm definitely having a lie in tomorrow.
Before Sam went home he and Sally went out to make a snowman for Ella ,just below her window.We were laughing sooooo much at them.To begin with, they both had surgical gloves on ! Not very warm but nice and slippery.After 20mins of rolling the ball around the grass the body was coming along fine, until Sally patted it a bit too hard..A quick bit of surgery fixed that and the head followed beautifully, with Ella Kate and I giving directions from inside. It was then that Sam did a sort of back sliding movement and knocked it's head off! I think by now determination on Sally's part kicked in, and he/she was left to glisten with 3 pompoms for eyes and nose. By now news had spread and Sally could see faces from every cubicle window on the unit, patients and nurses alike. We haven't named him/her yet.....suggestions?
An hour later we looked out and unbelievably some twit had added what can only be described as a male appendage, to it's head. Fortunately it was dark and was soon knocked off!
Hi everyone its Sally, im back after a much needed rest feeling much better and hopefully fully charged !! It was so lovely to see Ella looking so well and spirited today she is a superstar and the bravest little person I know.Tommorrow is big chemo day we will let you know how we go on.
Three cheers for my wonderfull Mum she's is simply THE BEST!!!!
Keep on blogging bloggers ,night night.
Sally and Annette xx

Day-4, 6th day of conditioning treatment.
Hi everyone! Ever watched an adventure film at 7.00am ? We have. Damian and Ella were awake when I arrived on the ward today, after a reasonably comfortable night. We soon got Ella organised with her shower and did all the housework. We were waiting for Daddy's promise! However,cereal and toast is just as nice, even if you have to make it yourself. Ella managed almost a full bowl of cornflakes which she thoroughly enjoyed.
After those nasty oral medicines Ella, Daddy and I read all the blog messages and Ella wrote a message to Mummy and everyone.Guess what? We mustn't have sent it properly because it's not there! We'll try again tomorrow.
Ella had 30mins of chemo again today through her line. It's so hard to tell how she is feeling because she is so brave about it all. She did have quite a big sleep around dinner time, then it was back to making and doing......this time weaving.
Again another day of very little appetite (which we know we shouldn't worry about, but that's not easy). Then just when we had given up Ella fancied ham ...two slices ....., followed by a yoghurt and cucumber.
We have just watched Ella's favourite programme Wild at Heart, and while she has now crashed out surrounded by teddies and soft pillows ,we are watching the snow whiting out the carpark. I'm setting off soon to my little igloo on the other side of the carpark with a shovel and a flask.No GnT Andrea.......it's not allowed!
And finally....webcam gate.......we all met up for a sighted/hearing chat at teatime. That is until Sophie pulled the lead out at their end.
Sally is much better and hopefully is coming back tomorrow to get us all into shape. Stand by your beds!
Ella sends lots of love to everyone and we will send blog tomorrow,promise.Hi Mrs Robinson and everyone at school.
Annette and Damian.x

Day-5, 5th day of conditioning treatment.

Another gentle start to the day....as I found Ella and Rachael "having a lie in" when I got onto the ward at 7.00am. I rattled a few toys and cups of tea which had the desired affect. Ella enjoyed a lovely shower followed by a pamper morning, which included having her toe nails painted (by Auntie Rachael ). In fact several times because Ella kept twitching her toes and smudging them.
Chemo started earlier than usual today, so whilst all that was happening we did more school work, craft activities, watched "Tracy Beaker" but most important of all we tried to get to grips with the WEB CAM!!!!!!!!!!!
How many people does it take to work one?
Firstly we could see Uncle John and the children in Southport.....then we couldn't.......then we could hear them..........then we couldn't.............and so it went on.They could see us by the way,but couldn't hear us! What a performance. Ella did the only sensible thing in that situation and fell asleep. Tomorrow is another day. Auntie Rachael isn't staying tonight so I guess she will try to sort it out.I bet it will be a repeat of today though, only with her at the other end.
Daddy is staying tonight ..let the fun begin. He has promised Ella and I a full English ( whether he buys it or makes it is another thing). I think I'll have a lie in !
Ella is fast asleep now and Daddy is hoping that she stays that way.
I spoke to Sally just a while ago and she is feeling a bit better. However, she has had strict instructions not to come back until she is 100%......Mum said!
Thankyou for all your messages of support and concern it means a lot to us all.
Annette and Damian.x

Day_6, 4th day of conditioning treatment

Today began in a very unexpected way....when I arrived on the ward at 6.45am both Ella and Sally were fast asleep! Ella was the first to open her eyes, and while we pottered about Sally slept on. When she did wake up, it was very apparent that Sally was not feeling too well, so she was quickly packed off back to Southport. I know that she is missing Ella so much, but our precious little girl is in safe hands tonight, with Rachael and myself.
Ella has had a wonderful day today! She has responded really well to all her treatment, which has been almost identicle to yesterdays'. Ella managed two chips at lunch time and little else.I was beginning to think that our appetite had been flattened, when suddenly the lure of prawn cocktail Pringles did the trick and we managed six of those, a packet of Wotsits and all the grapes from an M/S fruit salad! Cheeky!
Ella's hospital teacher came this morning and they worked for almost 3/4 hr on maths puzzles and writing etc. She has really found the key to making learning fun and bringing it to a little girl who doesn't feel like joining in.Well done Janet!
Ella had a day filled with visitors, and more presents! the making and doing area, is rapidly becoming a making and doing room!!! luckily for us there seems to be an artist come fashion designer in the making!
Please join in with the discussion, or remember to send us a message back, all news from the outside world greatly appreciated!
love Annette and Rachael xxxxxx

Day -7 3rd day of conditioning treatment

At 5.30 this morning I had given up thinking there was any chance of Ella or I having any sleep ,so when Mum arrived on the ward at 7am we were both exhausted and were waiting for the doctors to arrive. The doctors were very unfazed by Ella symptoms and said it is probably the side affects of all the medication ,which is an awful lot !! So we battled on and even managed to persuade Ella to wash her hair when she was being showered this morning and put some clips in .
The 3rd day of treatment has come in two parts. The 1st being chemotherapy to suppress her immunity and to start destroying Ella's own bone marrow . We were very relived to find the new chemo for today only lasted 30Min's. The 2nd being the long 5hr chemo of the last two days. As the day has gone on Ella has become brighter and brighter and has spent this afternoon making cards ,painting Tinkerbell's and doing some school work!! This evening she has even managed to eat a packet of skips ,an ice pop and some grapes .
The three of us are looking forward to a peacefull night snoozing in our own beds zzzzzzzzzz

Day -8 2nd day of conditioning treatment

After a good start with the chemo yesterday Ella became quite poorly and reacted to the drugs which the doctors did expect to happen (and we were hoping wouldn't). After a bad evening she eventually went to sleep at about 10pm and then slept quite well (we didn't!).
I think we expected her to be back to normal today but she is very tired and has kept her high temperature,sickness and the runs, she doesnt know whats hit her poor thing!!
She has had her mind taken off it slightly with a lovely visit from Sam, her Aunty Rachael ,Aunty Diane and Daddy. She has Started her chemo again this afternoon and has just fallen asleep laughing at Sam which was lovely to hear. So far the bad reaction of yesterday hasn't happened so fingers crossed (and toes ,arms and legs says Mum) !!!