Gemma's Corner
Gemma - Spring 2007
Gemma was Six and a half when Jack was first diagnosed and a "Magical Thinker", which meant that she believed things LITERALLY. For example if you said you were going to "pop" over the shop, she would imagine you "popping" , disappearing and popping to reappear at the shop. This meant we had to choose our words very carefully when explaining things to Gemma. We also took her in for a special visit on one of Jack's treatment days for the Doctors to explain things to her to try and help her understand Jack's illness was just one of those things and nothing to do with anything she had said or done.
Over the course of Jack's treatment, Gemma has borne the brunt of Jack's anger and aggression, of which there has been a great deal, and she is the one who has carried the "war wounds", from full blown black eyes, to regular bruises and bite marks just about anywhere on her person. While this has upset her a great deal, she has been incredibly brave and grown up in the way she has accepted that Jack has not really meant to hurt her but that his drugs make him behave in a certain way. We are very proud of the way she has done this, and still shown a great deal of love and affection towards Jack.
Gemma is also the one who has missed most friend's birthday parties because Jack has been in hospital and we haven't been able to get her there. Again, she has been very grown up and understanding about this.
Thank you Gemma for being such a wonderful girl through Jack's treatment. xx
Gemma Says
"It has been really hard with Jack going in and out of hospital and we've had to put up with going to our gran's at half eight in the night and not being able to go to any birthday parties because Jack, mum and dad are in hospital". 
Hopefully now, we might even get a party of our own as well as not missing our friends' parties. We're hoping to go camping this year for a holiday which will be great, and also Jack can go swimming with us now.
I would like to say a big big thankyou to my mum and dad for helping me understand all that has happend for the past 3 and a half years. And thankyou to my grandma for having us when jack had to be rushed into hospital at 8 in the night 
I am so glad that is all over and I am so so lucky to have a very understanding mum and dad. When I first saw him in hospital it was very upsetting to see him lying on the bed looking very tired but with the help of the doctors and nurses that have helped him through the dreadful treatment he recoverd without any problems.
Ever since jack has come off treatment I have been able to catch up on a lot of things such as brownies, piano birthday parties and much much more 
I have been able to have friends round for the day and I have been round other peoples houses but most of all I have missed going to the wild wetland center to see and feed the ducks, which we can now do again. I am so happy i could jump into space!!
I would like to say a big
to my very brave little brother jack 
August 2007 - Gemma goes camping for the first time since she was 2 years old and absolutely love it!
Gemma in Katie and Jack's Tent
Gemma's Tent
Gemma on the Beach - August 2007
Gemma being the Engineer on Lizard Lifeboat
21st July 2007 - Gemma's 10th Birthday and she chose to take some friends to the Hollywood Bowl and McDonalds
Happy Birthday Gemma
At the Hollywood Bowl
At the Hollywood Bowl
Blow, Gemma, blow!
My year 6 trip to morfa bay!
On the first monday back I went to morfa bay for a week! I was so excited when I got on the coach on the way there (it took 3 and a half hours!!) we had lots of sweeties which made us dangerously hyper...
Monday
We did the zip wire and hire wire first I can tell you the tower that you climb to get to the zip line is extreamly high and I know somone who is petrified of heights it makes them feel sick.............
but guss what they did it!! My teacher said I was the most scared but i climbed the ladder fastest!! the high wire was dreadful but when you had done it you felt so proud of yourself!!
Tuesday
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