We really appreciated all the offers of help. We think we replied to
each individually - but then things got so hectic we haven't been back
in touch with anyone. One day just seems to blur into the next, and it’s
been very hard to plan any further than a day ahead. It’s been very
tiring, it’s been like having a baby again, with being up every night
and having to do all those same things as with a baby during the day.
Seeing him in pain and discomfort. Not to mention the stress of coping
with what’s happening to our son, and family.

As well as nursing Sean most of the time, we've had nearly a week with
Sean at Ronald McDonald house. By the end of a week his white blood cell
count is non-existent so it's back to hospital for antibiotics and extra
blood – it’s like giving Sean a new battery when he gets blood.

We are seriously looking at returning home, as soon as Sean is right
from this bout, and before he is due his next chemo, which will be when
his count has recovered. So it could be a short window, and all going
well could be later this coming week or early the next. Yay! Ronald
McDonald House is great, but there is only so long you can all live in
the same room!!

Had a sit down with the doctors the other day to get more of a handle on
the disease. Basically Sean is in the high risk group, because of the
type of lymphoma and other symptoms he’s had with it, and because they
found malignant cells in his central nervous system as well, which is
rare with this type of cancer. The prognosis is not as good as was first
discussed but better than 50-60%. And even then there would be things
like bone marrow transplant etc But, he has responded really well to
treatment, and everyone is very pleased with his progress. He is still
using a wheelchair, but is starting to walk a little more. Gets very
tired very quickly though. Sean is having a good day today – lots of his
cheeky smiles and humour. He is also getting impatient with Mum doing
emails, as he wants to play Zoo Tycoon with Mum on Mums laptop!!

We've been greatly encouraged by all the offers of help. Since being
here, and not just because of Sean, we've become acutely aware that the
kids on the oncology ward and many other sick kids in the hospital need
blood. They are always asking for donors. One of Sean's transfusions had
to be a slightly different blood because there wasn’t any other
available, and he then had to have antigens to help him cope with the
new blood. And this is not an isolated case. So blood and platelets –
Sean has had one transfusion of platelets so far, are in great demand,
and they are always trying to get enough for the blood bank.

So if people want to help, would they consider giving blood or
platelets. Platelets takes longer – possibly about two to three hours.
And please ask friends and relatives. Because there are a lot of sick
kids out there who need it.

A friend has been contacting home schoolers around the world to send
postcards to Sean and Cameron. They both love geography and anything to
do with foreign countries. They have been receiving quite a few! If
people do ask others to do this, if possible can they include their
e-mail address, so eventually we can reply. We are going to start a
Travel Book, and put in the postcards with a section for each country,
and include maps, flags and a little interesting info on each.

One of the things that Sean would like to do is to either go to China to
visit the Great Wall, or Denmark to visit Legoland!! I thought he was
only 6!!

Best wishes to everyone, and our Thanks again,

Catherine and Family.