“Lets get this done”

‘Lets get this done” said Seth as we pull into the hospital car park for Chemotherapy round 5. His determination, acceptance and positivity never ceases to amaze me even though he knows he has seven days stuck in a hospital room and that he is going to feel pretty rubbish* throughout.

This round starts and finishes with a lumbar puncture (Chemo injected directly into the spinal fluid), so the after being checked over by the the Dr and an anaesthetist we head to theatre. Seth is on the afternoon list and hasn’t been able to eat since an early breakfast so by the time we are in the theatre waiting room he is starving and just talking about food. I attempt to distract him with a few games of table football (which I win for the first time ever – must be the lack of food !). The LP doesn’t take long and by 4pm he waking up in recovery and is ready to go up to the ward. Once on the ward he catches up with the food he has been dreaming about all day and I am happy to let him eat what he wants as I know as soon as the main Chemo starts his appetite will disappear. He quickly settles into his hospital routine – Harry Potter, lego and being cheeky to the nurses – and before we know it it is time for bed. Radio Lollipop volunteers always come round on a Monday night with craft activities for all the children on the ward so before bed he makes a stained glass owl for his window. As he is drifting off to sleep his main Chemo is being put up onto his drip stand and he says to me ‘I don’t mind being in here Mum, it can be good fun…I just don’t like the Chemo’.

* probably the biggest understatement ever from someone that has never had to go through Chemo.