Update 
Me with my broken arm waiting for the permanent plaster! - June 2006
Wednesday 10th July 2008 - I had a phonecall a couple of days ago from a lady who had read about Jack's Fundraising Coffee Morning and wanted to help with his fundraising and asked if she could send us a donation for his funds. I thought this was very generous of her and gave her the details and today received a cheque for £50 !!!!! This lady wanted to remain anonymous so I don't know anything about her and have no way of thanking her so I thought I would mention it here incase she gets to see Jack's website and I can say :
"THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR VERY KIND DONATION "
from Jack, Gemma, Katie, myself and ClicSargent and The Bristol Children's Hospital who will be sharing the funds we collected. I have been amazed by the kindness and generosity that has been shown to us and our cause and cannot thank you all enough for your support. All I can say is Thank You once again xxxx 
Saturday 5th July 2008 - Jack has a smile on his face, the Calcium tablet doesn't taste horrible and he is quite happy to take one a day as prescribed. !!!! Phew, mum and dad can breathe a sigh of relief again that we won't have any problems getting him to take this one. Well, lets hope all goes well until his next out patient appointment in August.
Friday 4th July 2008 - The last of the YUK stuff was dutifully swallowed tonight by my brave boy and he now has a smile on his face again as that ordeal is all over!!! Now he has to take a daily Calcium supplement until we get told otherwise, but this is a chewable tablet that will hopefully not taste too bad! We start this tomorrow so will wait and see what Jack says about it.
Thursday 3rd July 2008 - Well, Jack was not looking forward to his Vitamin D tonight, but being the trooper that he is he took the syringes off me, sucked them in and swallowed, pulled the customary YUK face and took a swallow of his milk. "..Do I really have to have any more of that mum, it's really, really disgusting...." How it pulls at the heart strings as I'm stood watching him and trying not to heave as me and oily/greasy foods do not go down well as people who know me know, I can't even eat butter on bread, so this was almost as much of an ordeal for me as for Jack. 
I explained he only has one more dose tomorrow and that is it, to which he replied, "...Oh all right, thank goodness for that.....".
Wednesday 2nd July 2008 - Tonight Jack took the first of his second course of 3 doses of Vitamin D - he struggled to take it. It is 20mls of what can only be described as oil !!! He insisted in putting a small amount of squash in a medicine pot with it and mixing it up and bless him, it did not go down well. It went down and thankfully stayed down but he was not impressed and said he didn't want any more !!!! I had to then explain to him that he had to have another dose of 15mls tomorrow and again the night after! He looked at me and said "..but mum, its really yuk, it's like drinking greasy oil...".
A pretty good description of what is is really.
We decided to just put the stuff in 2 syringes, one 10ml and one 5ml, not mix it with anything and have a nice glass of milk to hand tomorrow and see how that one goes down. 
Thursday 19th May 2008 - 
Today Jack was seen by his Orthopaedic Consultant who was brilliant with him. After checking him over physically, he sent us to get a repeat Xray of his spine to compare with the one taken in December. This showed no deterioration in the "wedge" shaped compression damage to the body of some of Jack's vertebrae. There is very little visible evidence of any damage other than a slightly more pronounced Kyphosis or curvature of Jack's upper back/upper thoracic area. He is happy for Jack to participate in "normal activities appropriate to his age" and will see him again in 12 months unless we have any concerns or Jack develops back pain in the meantime. 
Jack is to continue with the planned Vit D and Calcium supplements which will help improve the densisty of his bones which has been affected by the Steroids and which should improve over time. 
The only other result of the visit was that Jack arrived not supporting any particular football team, and left a Tottenham supporter!!! I wonder how that happened? Hmmm something tells me that if Jack's uncle (also a Tottenham supporter) has any spare tickets or is unable to use his ticket at any time, there is a particular Orthopaedic Consultant in the Children's Hospital more than willing to use it !!!!! 
Friday 13th June 2008 - Jack says: 
Mum and Dad went to see Steve Earle and Allison Moorer last night in Bristol and mum brought home Steve Earle's autograph for me. Wow !! I was so chuffed I took it to school to show my teachers and friends. I hope next time I might be able to go with them and see him for myself .
Steve Earle outside Colston Hall - 12 June 2008
Jack's Steve Earle Autograph
Jack in his new glasses proudly holding his Steve Earle Autograph!
Jack again proudly holding his Steve Earle Autograph
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Just a reminder of me being "Steve Earle" back in October 2004!
Saturday 31st May 2008 - continued.......postscript to below - after tea we gave Jack his first dose of Vitamin D .......Oh my poor boy is such a trooper, it is like clear, tastless oil, probably not dissimilar to castor oil of years ago! Did he complain and struggle, NO, he just took the syringes and swallowed it down, pulled a face and took a drink of water, and said "...er, that's not very nice!". I reassurred him it's one dose tomorrow and another the day after, then none for a month, then the same again and that's it. "OK", he said.!!!!!!!
Saturday 31st May 2008 - Fundraiser Day - It started early at 7am when 3 very excited children got up to get ready. We loaded the car and got to the village hall to make final preparations and blow up balloons which they all enjoyed, and we just had time for a quick cup of tea/juice before the first guests arrived. And they just kept coming!!! For two hours we had a steady flow of visitors who bought raffle tickets, bought our wares and sat and enjoyed a drink and homemade biscuit.
Raffle tickets - sold out
Homemade jams/cakes and biscuits - sold out
Toys/games/clothes etc - large percentage sold
What can I say - the morning went very quickly and successfully. The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and the visitors seemed to enjoy themselves too.
We had so many raffle prizes, I must just thank everyone who was kind enough to donate a prize, they were very much appreciated.
Thanks to Tortworth Court Hotel, The Gables Hotel, Tesco Thornbury, Eastwood Park Garden Cente, Mrs K Jones, Mrs S Hook, Mr+ Mrs D Thomas, Mrs J Whittingham, Mrs B Kingscote, Miss N Child and the other kind prize donators.
Thank you to all those who came to visit us and spend their money supporting us.
Talking of Money - it took quite some time to sort and count the money, which came to the grand total of:
£495 !!! Wow
This will be rounded up by us to £500 and divided as follows:
ClicSargent £200
Ward 34 £150
Day Beds £150
I will be arranging a day when the children can go to the hospital to give the cheques to the relevant staff members themselves as the whole thing was their idea. Watch this space for further details.
Some photos of our Fundraiser:
Jack and Katie getting ready to go.
Gemma, Jack and Katie just before we left the house.
Gemma, Jack and some of the "Staff" in the Kitchen.
Nana, Aunty Julie "Merry Christmas", and Tom on Tea making and washing up duty!
Grandma in charge selling raffle tickets and homemade jams and cakes, with Uncle Paul and Aunty Cath buying raffle tickets.
Some of our supporters.
Mum checking out how its all going.
"The Staff and Helpers" at the end.
The Staff and Helpers at the end, still smiling!
Thank you all for your help, support and donations.
Looking forward to the next one !!!!!!!!!!!
Raffle Prizes and Winners List
1st - Sunday Lunch for 2 Moreton's Restaurant, Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel - Mrs C Fellows, Charfield
2nd - Sunday Carvery for 2, The Gables Hotel - Mrs Corbin, Falfield
3rd - Reflexology Treatment, Mrs K Jones - Mrs D Hutley, Tortworth
4th - Orchid Plant, Eastwood Park Garden Centre - Miss K Hall, Thornbury
5th - Bottle Chardonnay and Box Mint Chocolates, Tesco Thornbury - Chris and Mary, Almondsbury
6th - Bottle Bells Whiskey, Mrs S Hook - Mrs Hunt, Blackwood, Wales
7th - Bottle Dubonnet, Mr Thomas - Mr & Mrs Dunningham, Falfield
8th - Double Duvet Set, Mrs Whittingham - Mrs Hutley, Tortworth
9th - Bottle Wine, Mrs Kingscote - Mrs Luscombe, Almondsbury
10th - Bottle Wine, Mrs Robison - Mrs Whittiker, Blackwood, Wales
11th - Lavender Toiletries Set, Mrs Whittingham - Mrs Child, Falfield
12th - Jewellery Box, Miss N Child - T Mountford, Falfield
13th - Travel Hairdryer, Miss N Child - J Hudson, Falfield
14th - Cuddly Teddy Bear - Miss M Davies
15th - Cuddly Duck, Mrs J Whittingham - Miss D Green, Falfield
16th - Bottle Wine, Mrs J Davies - Mrs Hudson, Falfied
17th - Bottle Wine, Mr T Robinson - Mr & Mrs R Gibbons, Bagstone
18th - Bottle Vodka, Mrs M Isaac - Miss J Luscombe, Dorset
Congratulations to all the winners, only sorry everyone couldn't be a winner.
Friday 30th May 2008 - Today we took Jack to Daybeds for a check up with the doctor before starting his Vitamin D supplements. All was Ok and after collecting his drugs from Pharmacy we went home to prepare for tomorrow. We decided Jack could start his treatment after the coffee morning tomorrow.
Tuesday 20th May 2008 - I spoke to Jack's specialist nurse today about his blood results and bone density problem. His blood result shows he is slightly deficient in Vitamin D and his consultant wants him to start on a supplement. He will visit Day Beds on Friday 30th May to have the first of 2 doses of Vitamin D which will be a month apart, then he will start a daily Calcuim tablet long term to help his bones. With so much growing yet to do and being young, this problem caused by the steroid treatment should resolve in time, and it was very reassuring speaking to his nurse. 
Jack has an appointment to see the Orthopaedic Consultant on 19th June when we hope we will be able to find out what the long term outlook is regarding his spinal fractures and bone development.
Also, Jack has an appointment for his echocardiogram on 2nd July to check his heart is OK. We will then see his consultant again in August for his regular check up.
Saturday 17th May 2008 - 
Today Sophie, her friend Katie, Gemma, Katie and I took part in Race for Life. It was my third time, Sophie, Katie and Gemma's second and Little Katie's first time!! See our fundraising page for details and photos.
Visit our Race for Life fundraising page at....
www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/helenluscombe
Wednesday 14th May 2008 - Jack was much better today and went to school no problem, though he has complained a couple of times that his chest has hurt. I think it is just going to take a little while for the bruising to heal.
Tuesday 13th May 2008 - Jack complained his chest was hurting again this morning and didn't want to go to school. I checked him over and again nothing felt broken, his breathing and colour were normal and there was no bruising or any other signs of damage so I reassured him he was OK, gave him some pain killers to help with what I assumed to be pain from bruising and took him to school where I explained all to his teacher. He was reluctant but went off with his teacher.
It is difficult but I also wondered whether he didn't want to go today as he knew I had to go to work, and Grandma was coming up to look after them after school because his dad was away in Italy with work and wouldn't be back til Thursday evening!! He also gets very clingy and upset and doesn't want to go to school if I take them up by car, he's ok on the bus and he says he doesn't know why! We suspect it's all to do with missing so much school during treatment and coming back home with me because he felt so tired and yukky.
About an hour after leaving school I had a call from the head to say he was not himself and needed to come home so I went and collected him. 
He was quite quiet and so I took him to our GP to be checked over. She said he was OK and was probably just bruised from the fall and to continue with painkillers as needed and could go back to school tomorrow. We then rushed home to take him to Grandma's in time for me to go to work.
I phoned at tea time to check up on how things were and Grandma said he was Ok and had not needed any more painkillers that afternoon, though she was going to give him before bed.
When I got home from work, he had been fine and went to bed with some Calpol and was fast asleep. Phew!!!
Monday 12th May 2008 - 
Jack fell and hurt his chest tonight on the climbing frame, when his foot slipped and the bars hit him between the breastbone and shoulder. He cried quite a lot but later perked up enough to go out on his bike with Dad and the girls before bedtime.
Thursday 8th May 2008 - 
We had Clinic visit today and saw Jack's new consultant for the second time. All seems well with Jack, weight up, height up, and everything looked/felt and listened to was normal.
He has to have an echocardiogram appointment made now to check out his heart for any damage from the Chemo and this will probably become a regular investigation ? annually, so we hope this will be OK.
We then discussed Jack's Orthopaedic referral that we have been waiting for and she told us that after looking at his last spinal Xray taken in December 2007, there appeared to be no improvement from the one taken about 10 months after starting treatment in 2004!! 
We were told he has reduced bone density and this will need to be looked into by the Orthopaedic team and he will need to have some Calcium and Vitamin D supplements, this is probably as a result of the steroid treatment. 
This news was very worrying, especially as we know Jack had multiple spinal fractures and we don't know how careful he needs to be to prevent any damage. We wonder if this is why he fractured his arm so badly too from such a small fall in 2005. We have a number of questions for the Orthopaedic team when we get to see them in a few weeks, meanwhile just more worrying!!!!
Wednesday 7th May, 2008 - Tonight Jack, Katie and I went with Gemma to her Brownies to give a talk on Leukaemia, to start them off on a fundraising initiative where half the money they raise will go to children with Leukaemia. We took a teddy with a "wiggly", some photos of Jack with no hair, with butterfly's in his hand for treatment etc and information booklets about it. Jack even pulled up his t-shirt and showed them his wiggly scar! The girls seemed to enjoy it and learnt about Leukaemia and Jack and the girls felt they were doing something helpful. Good Luck girls raising money on your Sponsore Cheeky Monkey's Marathon Challenge.
Monday 14th April 2008 - New details and more photos added to Mum and Dad's Bits... from May 2005 onwards. Also more photo's + updates to Sophie, Gemma and Katie's pages.
Monday 7th April 2008 - Jack and Gemma have been asking for a few months about holding a fundraising event for CLIC Sargent and the Children's Hospital and we have decided to hold a Coffee Morning and table top sale. The details are as follow:-
Fundraising Coffee Morning in aid of CLIC Sargent and Bristol Childrens Hospital Oncology Department.
To mark the end of 3 ½ years of treatment and the completion of his first year off treatment and still in remission, 8 year old Jack Luscombe from Falfield and his sisters Gemma (10) and Katie (6), together with the help of their family, are holding a fundraising event in Falfield Village Hall on Saturday 31st May from 10am to 12pm.
On sale will be tea/coffee, cakes/biscuits, a table top sale of toys etc old and new, and some jumble. Everyone will be most welcome.
All money raised will be split between CLIC Sargent and the Oncology Department at the Bristol Children’s Hospital who both cared for Jack and his family during his lengthy treatment.
We look forward to seeing you there.
The Luscombe Family
Remember: Saturday 31st May 2008, 10am-12pm Falfield Village Hall
Further enquiries phone..01454 260775 or email helen.luscombe@btinternet.com
We hope anyone reading this will attend to help support this fundraising event.
Monday 31st March 2008 - Today Jack had his final immunisation vaccine. It was the MMR. I spoke to him about booking it this week on Friday to which he replied.."no, don't bother.....!". I didn't tell him then it was already booked for 09.10 today!
Anyway, just before we left to get the school bus I "remembered" Jack didn't have to get on as he had to go to see about his final jab this morning. He was Ok about that as it meant he could go in late to school.
We got to the health centre and he was quite happy about letting the nurse give him his jab, and we left for school. It was when we got to school that he got all upset and started crying and clinging to me saying he didn't want to go today, he wanted to stay home with me. The last time he did this he said he was fine coming to school on the bus, but when I took him he always wants to come back home with me. I reminded him of this and then some of the children came to the store room to get water pots for their experiment and he was persuaded to go with them. With one last tight squeeze and 3 kisses he went to join his class.
Friday 22nd February 2008 - 
Jack and Katie have their first Birthday Party ever. With their friends they celebrate at Cattle Country with its ball pools, rope climbs, wobbly slide and of course the "DEATH SLIDE" !!! which Jack didn't go on but younger sister Katie went on SOOO many times!!! We had birthday cakes, sang Happy Birthday and generally had a fantastic time. Everyone left a little tired but we had a grand present opening time when we got home, which was very exciting. Thank you to all who came to celebrate with us, and for all your lovely presents. Here are some photos of Jack and his sisters at the party and opening presents afterwards.
HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY JACK - AND - HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY KATIE
Thursday 21st February 2008 - Clinic visit today. A slightly trying day for mum in particular as she has been in bed poorly sick since last Friday. It started with a headache and sore throat and turned into flu/ear infection and tonsil-less tonsilitis all rolled into one. Antibiotics started on Monday and she was well enough to get up a lunchtime feeling much better with just a residual bad head/ear and sore throat!!
With mum dosed up on painkillers we were introduced to a new consultant who has just joined the team - making 3 consultants. She seemed very nice and Jack seemed to like her.
He's gained weight, and height nicely. All his glands were checked and normal, chest and heart felt and normal and abdominal check also felt normal = NORMAL!! 
We were reassured all is going along nicely and so far so good. They will arrange an appointment for us to speak to the Orthopaedic Specialist regarding long term effects of Jack's spinal injuries, and any restrictions this may lead to in the future. Other than that Jack will need a Cardiac Echocardiogram at around 12months post end of treatment to check for cardiac damage due to treatment, and this is something that is likely to happen every year to monitor his heart.
Next appointment 24th April !!
Watch this space for developments in the meantime, and don't forget to leave Jack a message if you visit as he loves it when people visit his guestbook, even just to say Hello!
Friday 15th February 2008 - 
Yeehaa!!! Chuffed children coming home at the end of term today as Katie had had a fantastic day and had enjoyed taking in mum and dad's "very old" cuddly toys from when they were children as her class were studying things their parents/grandparents played with as children!!
Then Jack and Gemma had both won Headteachers End of Term Awards for Hardwork and Good Behaviour. Such big smiles all round. We are so proud of you all. Well Done and Big Hugs and Kisses to you all XXXXXXXXXX Mum and DadXXXXXXXX
Friday 8th February 2008 - Pleased to report that Jack was feeling much better this morning with no temperature and went back to school and had a very good day.
Thursday 7th February 2008 - Sadly Jack has still got a slightly raised temp this morning and I had a appointment I had to keep so we met up with Grandma in Thornbury and he went to the hairdressers with her and met her friend "Merry Christmas" (the kids call her that because she once said it at easter and it made them laugh so much they never forgot, her real name is Julie!), in the coffee shop and she drove them home where he spent a very quiet day again and was spoilt by Grandma. He did eat quite well - she HAD treated him to some of his favourite REAL ham from the farmers market so he HAD to eat it !! Dave got home at tea time so we all went to collect him. He had big hugs for Dave who he had missed a lot, even though he was enjoying being the "Man" of the house in his absence.!! 
Jack had been feeling much better today and had not needed anymore Calpol after his first dose this morning. Hopefully he can return to school tomorrow.
Wednesday 6th February 2008 - This is a difficult week. Dave has had to go to Italy for the week with work and Grandma is helping out with lots of babysitting in his place as I am out 2 1/2 evenings this week. Last night just before I took Gemma to piano Jack complained of a sore throat and had been very quiet since coming home from school. I gave him a dose of Calpol before leaving and he went to bed early and had a good nights sleep but woke this morning with a temp of 38.8 C 
. He stayed home from school and was very quiet, ate a little and rested a lot with regular doses of Calpol. He must have caught it from Katie who was off from school about 10 days ago with the same thing, and Gemma who had it about a week before that!!! It's obviously doing the rounds. Lets hope he's a bit better tomorrow.! 
Monday 28th January 2008 - 
Well, Jack a few upsets over Friday and Saturday when Gemma or someone else accidentally knocked his arms and they hurt a lot and he cried a bit, but he seems to be back to normal today and his usual bouncy self. He went to school Friday and played as normal over the weekend and had a good day at school again today, thankfully.
We will be seeing his consultant on 21st February for his next check up.
Thursday 24th January 2008 - Last week I phoned and made the appointment and Jack was aware he needed another "jab" like the flu one he has. He due the Diptheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough, Polio, Hib and Meningitis C vaccines.
Today at 4pm we met with the lovely nurses at our local Health Centre who were going to do the deed. I talked to Jack about having to have one in each arm and doing them together and he became a bit nervous and hesitant and said "no! one at a time"! However when I explained how the nurses do it together so it is less painful for him he said, "Oh, OK then". He sat nice and still while Annie jabbed his right arm and Yolande his left!! 
When it was over, and he left with his two Certificates of Bravery, he said it was ok and not as bad as the flu jab. We then went home and he got on and played with the girls.!!!!! We just have to wait about a month and then book the MMR vaccine and that'll be another hurdle over.
Jack never ceases to amaze us how he just seems to take it all in his stride with very little complaint. He is such a brave boy! 
Tuesday 15th January 2008 - Well a good Christmas was had all round. The children were well, played nicely, watched Christmas DVD's etc. Jack had lots of fun making his lego and mecano models he had been given and the younger girls played with their new Bratz dolls. They all played with their new Nintendo DS's and the new games they had and very few fights were had at all. It was very civilised, quiet and generally enjoyable. They seemed to be quite pleased to get back to school and see all their friends and swop Christmas stories and compare presents etc. and the post Christmas normality is really quite refreshing.
Just got to book Jack's vaccinations now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some Christmas Photo's:
Jack and his Christmas Stocking Lego car Christmas Day 2007
Sophie and Jack with Christmas Dinner - note the Huge meal Jack has of roast potatoes and sausage!!!!
Gemma and Katie tucking in to their Christmas Dinner too!
Thursday 20th December 2007 - Today was a very busy day! 
10am - Frenchay Hospital - Orthopaedic appointment. Bandages cut off, steri-strips removed and excess suture cut off. "Shark Bite" healing really well and looking good. Surgeon very happy with wound and range of movement. No further follow up required! Very Pleased.
2.20pm Children's Hospital - Oncology check up - Jack led this appointment with Dave and I saying hardly anything - as it should be! Jack's consultant was very pleased with him, everything looks and feels NORMAL.
Jack's next appointment is in 2 Months time - eek!. He's fine and can go longer now between appointments. Reassuring words from the consultant - the further away from stopping treatment he gets, the less likely he is to relapse, but if he does, the easier it is to treat! We just continue to watch, wait and hope with everything crossed!!
Before the next appointment however, I have to organise his re-immunisation programme with our Health Centre. A little apprehensive about this but I'm sure it will all be fine. I can forget about it until after Christmas though, so I will!!!!
" Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year "
Sunday 16th December 2007 - 
Today the whole family went to the annual ClicSargent Christmas Party and had a fantastic time. Jack joined in the dancing and games for the first time in 4 years! It was wonderful to see the difference in him and his confidence - the latter has improved so much since he stopped treatment and I cannot explain how wonderful it is to see him so much more confident. They played lots of games, he chatted to other children he'd never met and ate really well. After a visit to Father Christmas and a couple more games, we left with four very happy, full and excited children.
Photos from the party:
Thank You Very Much to those who organised this event, our children very much appreciated it, and so did we!.
Thursday 6th December 2007 - 
8 am today Jack arrived on the Children's ward with an empty tummy, ready for his surgery. He impressed the doctors and nurses with his knowledge of what was going to happen and requests of how he would like to be put to sleep!! He even told the playlady what was going to happen when she came to explain it all to him, before they disappeared to the playroom.
Jack was in surgery for just under an hour and about the same in recovery before being returned to the ward where he slept for about another hour and a half. He was in quite a lot of pain and couldn't get comfortable so he was given some Calpol and a soft sling which made it much better. We got home about 5 pm with an appointment for a check up on December 20th.
After a couple of uncomfortable days by the Sunday the swelling was reducing and Jack was much more comfortable and went back to school on Monday.
Wednesday 5th December 2007 - What a 3 days poor old Jack has had. We went to hospital on Monday for his spinal Xray which went OK and we'll get the results at clinic on 20th December. Then we went up to Day Beds for a finger prick blood test prior to Jack's surgery on Thursday. All went well, sample obtained, he had a treat off the snack trolley and a Mcdonalds on the way home and went to school for the afternoon. Unfortunately when we phoned for the result there was an "insufficient sample" and they were unable to test it which meant he had to go back for another test on Tuesday.! 
I had to take Sophie for her Sax exam first on Tuesday and picked Jack up at lunchtime. Off we went and he had to have his right thumb pricked twice with no nice flow of blood, then his left (very precious sucking thumb), also pricked twice to obtain the small amount of blood needed. There was ample in the bottle this time and due to the 4 needlepricks he had he was allowed in the treasure box and picked a toy to take home, as well as a snack -or 3 - for the journey home!
Dave phoned for this result as I had taken S+G to piano, he phoned me to tell me the sample had clotted and he needed to go back for another one today!!!! I couldn't believe it. Poor Jack to have now had 5 finger pricks and still have to go back for more! When Dave told him he just said "oh well, they can use the back of my hand tomorrow"!
So today, we went back to Day Beds again, had magic cream put on both hands, were sent to general clinic where Phil the phlebotomist used a butterfly needle and Jacks favourite method of blood collecting and got a lovely big bottle full of blood.
I phoned this afternoon for the result which showed he had a nice normal, healthy blood count! Phew!!
Now we just have to get through tomorrow - nil by mouth from midnight, at the hospital for 8 am so up about 6 and leave about 7am, and keep our fingers crossed they have no emergencies that mean he gets cancelled. We don't know how long he'll be in for or what to expect or anything, but hope he will be allowed out tomorrow afternoon/evening and that we can care for him at home with the relevant analgesia etc. Jack seems to be taking it all in his stride as normal, though has been waking up and coming in to us for cuddles in the night which is his usual pattern when worrying about things, so we know he is a bit unsettled by it all. Still not too long and it will be over and he can look forward to the ClicSargent Christmas party next weekend and his school play and decorating our Christmas tree which is stood in the corner of our living room "naked" because we have not all been home to decorate it together!!!
He's just come to say goodnight to me after his bath and haircut - it was VERY long and Dave has just given him his requested No2 clip. Lovely he looks too! So I will update once his surgery is over and done with.
Monday November 12th 2007 - Jack had his flu jab today at our local health centre with Gemma and Katie witnessing. What a brave boy, he just sat there and watched the nurse do it and explained to anyone who wanted to listen what was happening. What the nurse thought I don't know as he is not well known there as he always goes to hospital not the GP's. He's like a little old man sometimes!
Thursday November 1st 2007 - Today we had to take Jack for his clinic visit. He was weighed and heighted and is growing well. His consultant was pleased with him physically and there seems to be no problems currently. She wants him to have an Xray taken of his spine to check how it has healed and will arrange an appointment with the orthopaedic consultant after this for us to discuss any likely long term issues for his future eg if he is OK to take part in contact sports such a rugby etc if he wants to.
He is also due to have his plates and pins removed from his arm on 6th December which we are obviously a bit anxious about. We asked if he could be checked for MRSA prior to this which they swabbed him for today and we have to wait a few weeks for the results. She then said he needs a blood test the week before to check everything is OK - having spent months preparing us for him no longer needing blood tests, this nearly freaked me out (and Dave too). However, I calmed myself down reassuring myself they just need to check his platelet count is high enough due to the risk of bleeding, which of course it will be as he is OK now!!!!!!
We have to take Jack in to Day Beds on Monday 3rd December for the blood test and Xray, then his Op is on the Thursday - we are just a little anxious, but I am sure everything will be OK, I just want it to be over with!
Anyway, that's about all to update at present.
Wednesday October 24th 2007 - I took Jack, Gemma and Katie swimming today with my friend and her daughter who is Katie's friend from school. It was the first time I have taken Jack swimming apart from on holiday in the sea, since before he started his treatment. It was lovely to see all of them having so much fun and he seemed to have no fear at all. Something definately to be be repeated when possible.
Saturday September 29th 2007 - Pleased to say Jack seems to be back to normal today. No more temperature and feeling much better. Seems it's Katie's turn for the tummy pains today! Ah, Bless! At least they got out of the house today for a few hours with a visit to Grandma's while I was at work.
Thursday September 27th 2007 - Jack still throwing temperatures up to 39 .C. Off school again today along with Gemma, Katie, Sophie and Dad, who all seem to be feeling off colour with tummy pains, headaches, feeling cold and shivery. So far only Jack following my footsteps of last weekend with the high temperature though.
By bedtime tonight, Jack seemed to be staying a little cooler so hopefully he's starting to kick it at last. I do hope so as it is so much more worrying when he is poorly, even though we treat him as though he is just normal, we can't help but feel unnerved by it.
Wednesday September 26th 2007 - Well, Jack continued to throw 38.8 -39.C temperatures overnight and for most of today. He has stayed off school again and spent most of the day lying on the settee sleeping or watching DVD's. He seems to have an upset stomach and a headache, but no vomiting- thankfully. Otherwise he is uncomplaining. It is reassurring to be able to just give him the necessary Calpol/Ibuprofen to help with the fever. Not eating but tolerating fluids. Again, we just have to watch and wait for things to settle down.
Poorly Jack!
Tuesday September 25th 2007 - Jack's a poorly boy today.
He went to school this morning having eaten very little breakfast and with a headache. He said he was OK, but I gave him a dose of calpol anyway, safe in the knowledge that if he became more poorly at school they would phone me.
He stayed all day . He got off the school bus tonight with his head hanging and very quiet. Once home he went to his room, changed then reappeared wanting cuddles, and saying he felt cold. He said he still had a bit of a headache but not too bad. He felt quite hot so I took his temperature - 38.8C. A good dose of calpol and nice cuddle later and he was snuggled up with NooNoo on the settee. He did eat some plain spagetti for tea and a small fairy cake, but I had to feed it too him. He could hardly keep his head up off the table. After a brief rest on the settee again, I got him into bed by 6 pm with a dvd to watch, but he fairly soon fell asleep. Lets hope it is short lived and he is soon bouncing back. It is still such a worry with him, even though it's probably just a cold/flu like illness!!!
Anyway, lets see what tomorrow brings.
Some photos from our holiday - August 2007
Doing the Conga on the Bridge at Trebah Gardens
Jack under the Gunnera at Treba
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