Hi Everyone! Thanks for the cards and thoughts from everyone - it is very
much appreciated.



I am excited at the moment because as you can see I am in contact with the
outside world again!!!! Just received my new laptop from Mark on his return
from Paraparaumu on Sunday. So I can be contacted etc etc.



This week has been much better with Sean, he has recovered from his first
full round of Chemo - and getting stronger every day. We are hoping to have
him walking by the end of this week. And we've been told that all going
well, we will be able to have him home (Ronald McDonald House) for the
weekend. And then on Monday the plan is to start his next round of chemo.



He has - Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. It's a Non-Hodgkins Cancer and
also, is not to be confused with the adult version. We are learning a lot
and one thing we have learnt is that cancers in children and adults behave
very differently. Basically the kids because their cells are so young can
fight and respond to cancer and treatment a lot better than adults. We are
likely to be at Starship until at least Christmas at this stage, because of
the intensive chemo that Sean will be getting. With this type of cancer,
which accounts for about 5% of childhood cancers, you can sometimes get
malignant cells in the spinal fluid which shows that it's also in the
nervous system as well the lymph system. So this means he also gets regular
chemo direct into his spine. But he is responding really well to treatment.



So look forward to hearing from you, keep well,



Love Catherine and Family