Feeling a little better

I am still getting tired after doing too much but I am starting to be able to do a lot more!

Last weekend we went to visit our friends in Kidlington and caught the train into London.

We then used the underground and came up in Green Park, which is just on the outskirt Buckingham Palace. We went to see the Palace and then had lunch in the park. Unfortunately, the Queen wasn't in but we still enjoyed looking at the Palace. We then did some sight seeing and we saw The Houses Of Parliament, Big Ben, which is still full of scaffolding, The London Eye, The Cenotaph, Westminster Abbey, Nelson's Column and Downing Street. We got the underground to Pudding Lane and we walked up 311 steps to the top of The Monument.

I managed to walk 10 miles round London and I did 25,000 steps!

It's....Showtime!

Every year, my school, Parklands do a dance show. This time last year I was having my surgery & the dance show was the same week! My mum & dad spent the week driving between the hospital and home as Milly was at school and was taking part in the show. The night before I had my surgery we all went to watch Milly in the show. I decided then that next year I would be on that stage performing!

A year later I was! The show that I have always gone to watch for the past few years.

Since September, we have been having constant dance rehearsals for the show.
I took part in five dances, two were the Y7, 8 & 9 Elite Dance Team, two were Y7 dance club & one was me & three of my friends performing Rachel Platten's "Fight Song" which we choreographed ourselves & had to audition to perform it, to celebrate me winning my cancer battle.

The show has now began and we have already done 2 dress rehearsals and one performance!

Clic Sargent Art Exhibition...

To make people aware of World Cancer Day this year (4th February) Clic Sargent held an art exhibition in Manchester at Whitworth Art Gallery.

I decided to promote my blog as an art exhibit and Clic Sargent picked out different parts of it to be exhibited. 

Extracts were framed and put up in the exhibition room. When we got there we saw our social worker (Hatty) and many others from Clic Sargent. There was a buffet table with snacks and drinks on and there were many other exhibitors.

Some were showing drawn pictures some were painted pictures and some were photographs but mine was the only blog. Everyone's artwork had to have the theme of 'change'. 

This was mine...

Ballet Exam

At the beginning of October I did my ballet exam. I had got behind with dancing as everyone else did their exam whilst we were in Germany.

Today I got my results and a passed with Distinction!!!

Ringing The Bell...

Today I rang the bell, which marks the end of treatment!!! I have beaten CANCER!!! My family and friends came to watch. It was important for me that Dr Brennan was there to read it out. It was great to have so many of the nurses and staff there too. 

Afterwards we went for lunch and then SWIMMING with my friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😀😁😀

This is me jumping in for the first time!!!

THIS WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!!! 

Line Out!!!

Today I was back in Manchester to have my Hickman Line taken out!!!
I have been waiting for this day since it was put in, which is now over a year ago!

I was so excited because this means I can go swimming without having to wear my drysuit!

I had to go to theatre again to have it removed.

It didn't take me long to recover this time.

Last line flush!

This is Emma, my community nurse. She has been coming to my house every week for a year to flush my Line. Today was my last line flush because it is coming out this week so we had to say goodbye. 

Results Day!!!

Today was results day. We had to go and see Dr Brennan for my end of treatment MRI results. And.............I AM CANCER FREE!!!

I HAVE BEATEN CANCER!!!

For the next year I will have to have a chest x-ray every 2 months. Next week I am having my line taken out and the following week I will ring the bell. Then it is time to celebrate!!!

Back to School...

After only finishing chemo on Tuesday, I decided to go into school on Thursday. That morning, in assembly, a short video had been played to the whole school based on my condition and why I have a hat on. I feel really uncomfortable wearing my beanie hat so I decided today would be a perfect day to take it off and be myself (because why not)?

LAST CHEMO!!!

This morning we went to the hospital for another blood test. luckily, my bloods were high enough to have chemo!!!

By 11 am my hydration had started.

 

Last chemo being given.....







When it eventually got to 4pm Tuesday, it was time to disconnect me for the last time (14th time)!

My treatment is now over, I just need to wait for my line to come out!!!

This is Stuart. He was the first nurse we met when we arrived on Ward 84 a year ago and he was there to disconnect me for the last time! ( Thank you Stuart )

I had a lot of visitors to see my last chemo finish.

Low Bloods...

After having a full week at school I started to feel really tired and I had picked up a cold. On Tuesday I had a blood test for chemo and the results came back as quite low (neutrophils 0.6). They have to be 1.0 for chemo. On Wednesday and Thursday I still went to school but only for a couple of hours. After school on Thursday we went to Preston Hospital for another blood test. This time my neutrophils were 0.4! On Friday we were advised for me not to go to school because of my dangerously low blood count and I was still feeling really tired. Instead, Dr. Brennan wanted me to go to Manchester Hospital for another blood test and a GCSF injection to boost my white blood cells. My neutrophils had gone even lower, 0.33 now!! I was then sent home to rest.

Proton Centre, Manchester

For the past few years a proton centre has been being built next to The Christie in Manchester. It was due to open to proton patients in August but it has been delayed until Autumn. Today was the first day it was open to public and I had an MRI and a check up appointment. I was the first patient!!!

Guiding Star Award...

On Saturday night, we went to what I thought was a Guides Awards Evening. I was in for a surprise. I got a very special award that only 1 person gets every year in the UK!!! Everybody knew about it apart from me!

Everything was donated by the people of Adlington, the room, photographer, DJ, buffet, my cake, table cloths, balloons and raffle prizes. Even some girls came from my dancing school and put on a fantastic display!

It was an AMAZING night!!!

A massive thank you to everyone who helped to make this night happen!!!

Full week at school...

On Monday morning I walked into Parklands for my first day at high school. I really enjoyed it and I managed to do a full week. I haven't done a full week at school for nearly a year now! I am the only one who went to parklands from my primary school.

Chemo round 7 ...

The Sunday before chemo we all travelled back from Cornwall. On Monday morning we went to the hospital and Dad went to work. Luckily, I passed my blood test so my second to last chemo could start!!!

 Nanny and Grandad came to visiit me on Monday night.

 I always like it when I get a bed next to the window because I like to be able to see what is going on outside.

I manage to keep eating during my chemo...

From Ward 84 to Pitch 84...

After finishing chemo on Tuesday, we spent Wednesday packing (& shaving my head) & on Thursday we went to our usual holiday destination, Cornwall. I have been to Cornwall every year of my life and Cancer wasn't going to stop me this year!

When we got to the campsite we realised that we had booked Pitch 84.

Ward 84 for chemo on Monday, Pitch 84 for a holiday on Thursday!

Shaving my head for the second time...

Since the Sunday before chemo, my hair started falling out. By Wednesday it was really annoying me (again). So I decided to shave it off (again).