Transplant Day -1...Big Day Tomorrow,

Hi Everyone,

How is everyone out there? We've heard a few of you have sore throats and the odd cold, seems there is a bit of it about!!

Today has been a tremendous day, with highs and mild lows as we prepare for transplant day tomorrow. Our donor has been very much in our thoughts the last few days. The donation will now have been given and making its way up to Manchester ready to be prepared. Phoebe has just been absolutely brilliant today and has reduced me to tears with sheer joy and pride for how she has handled things. Over the last couple of days, things have remained steady, I noticed she had the faintest sniffle and just out of curiosity asked the nurses to take a sample from her nose and it appears from results she has a cold virus.

Ade and I naturally presumbed this would be handled with IV antibiotics but we were told by treating by IV would affect the new cells coming in. Phoebe now has to be nebulised three times a day, lasting for two hours at a time for the next five days.

When Nicky our nurse came in and told us, I was a little apprehensive to say the least. Phoebe was not best pleased when she heard there was a mask involved due to her experience with the mask when having general anaesthetic. She was very reluctant about using the mask and refused to have it near her at first. After a little while of playing with it and talking about the plan, she just took it off me and placed it on her mouth and off she went. Words cannot describe how incredible she has been about it as it is fairly intense being two hours at a time....but no, Phoebe accepted it and was happy to hold it with such maturety while understanding that this medicine has to be given this way. Oh can you believe it, she even smiled for a photo for you all!!!

Phoebe asked me why I was taking so many photo's and I promptly answered so she could look back and read the blog to show how brave she had been when she was little...a nice thought for the future!!

So, transplant day tomorrow, we can expect this to be sometime in the afternoon, its obviously different this time around as we know what to expect but there is still a little buzz about the place. Hopefully this transplant will be the last she will ever need. We will be taking lots of photos tomorrow and giving you all the run down of events. Feel free to look back at our last transplant featured here on the blog - 11 December 2008.

Here Phoebe is enjoying some people watching with her chart, she really enjoys this and there really is so much to talk about!! From the people we see walking across the three gantries to hairstyles, colour and types of bags people are carrying, whether someone has an umberella, whose delivering a balloon, who waves, we could go on ... and one of the things Phoebe noticed was red and blue were the most popular colours of clothes worn by children.

Phoebe was very happy to sit with me and wave to everyone going by and its great when everyone waves back, its brilliant to see Phoebe bringing a smile to everyone.

People watching has to be one of my favourite things to do...preferably outside a nice coffee shop on a warm afternoon with a good cappuccino and a cheeky slice of coffee & walnut cake to match...aaah the simple joys!!

This afternoon Phoebe enjoyed some time with Rebecca, our music therapist. Phoebe really enjoys the sessions, during her time on ward 84, I could hardly get her to just listen to music...and now here she is tinkling away on the glockenspiel ...Brilliant!!!

Special thanks to all our budding artists who have sent in some lovely work, here are pictures Phoebe has chosen over the last few days. We have received some great pictures in the post too from Jess in London and Molly in Stoke, we will show these on tomorrow's update xxx






Some nice bunting here saying 'Phoebe Power' and 'Get Well Soon' from Madeline and Eve. We will also pop these up at home ready for Phoebe's return! Molly has also sent a picture in showing Phoebe's favourite things...noodles, icecream and capri sun drinks!!! Thanks Girls xxx

Also a huge thank you to everyone who has sent gifts, cards, prayers and thoughts...we are truly humbled. Special thanks to Pam, Stephen, David and Lucy who had arranged for a mass to be offered up for Phoebe this morning at our local parish in Longton. Thank you so very much, prayers are powerful indeed and there are a good few being heard in the heavens for sure. We are incredibly blessed. xxx

Thanks to the all the girls who made it over to Manchester last night, I absolutely loved every moment and so did Cheryl! We really needed that!!!!

Just want to say a special Hello to Gwen who has a sore throat at the moment and is unable to visit to the unit, hope you are feeling better soon!! It is incredibly busy at the Tollgate at the moment and Geoff and Gwen never really stop, its like having a large open house!!
Aaah we do miss all of you over there and thanks so much for your support. Very much looking forward to coming back home and joining this new class I keep hearing about....the Zumba!! ..it sounds fantastic just what I fancy, with those Latin rhythms and wanting to get back to fitness now I've lost a couple of pounds, sounds like a plan...hey Rachel...by the numbers in the class, you guys had better save us a place....!!!

Also special thanks to Lisa at the club for the lovely letter you sent and pretty hats, Phoebs looks great.

A big hello to all Pam's Ballroom Dancers, thanks for all your well wishes...you guys have the best social lives!! Also thanks for looking after Gwen and Geoff for us, it helps them to relax and de-stress from their time here in Manchester supporting us!!!

To all at the prayer group, look forward to seeing you all very soon and for keeping Phoebe and us in your prayers...xxx

To all our regular bloggers and new bloggers who have just joined us, we look forward to updating you all again tomorrow for the next big installment in Phoebe's Journey.

Wow...so for now, going to say goodnight folks, big day tomorrow, will keep you all posted!!!

Rest easy folks...
Much love
Lynn, Ade, Phoebe and Spirit Eleanor xxxx