March 23rd, 2008 - Enjoying a dose of normality…
Saturday March 22nd
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After our daily visit to Nambour Hospital I finally talked Cameron into taking a walk along the beachfront in Mooloolaba. He has not wanted to go near the sea as he said it would torment him not been able to swim. This is the thing he has missed the most – our visits to the beach and boogie boarding which he has come to love. Thankfully it was a little windy and the sea was choppy so it wasn’t too enticing. The boys enjoyed an ice-cream with Gran and I while we sat and watched the ocean. Cam enjoyed his little outing even though he would certainly have rather been out in the surf. For the rest of the day the boys all played with their guns, computer games and just enjoyed being together again, Meanwhile I set about doing some of the mundane things that I used to find timresome, if not boring, but yet somehow it feel like a blessing to be able to do them again. All in all our day was rather uneventful, pretty chilled and unusually close to normal – great.
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For those of you who have been following Cam’s little friend “A” in hospital in Brisbane you will be pleased to know that she is now so much better and is even walking again. Her chemo recommences on Tuesday – same day as Cam – and we are praying that the severe pain and other advserse side-effects that have caused her so much difficulty in recent weeks will not be so severe this time. His other friend “M” has improved too and has finally began to gain Weight, a whole 2.6kgs, which for him is a huge amount, so we have a little joke with “M†about how he is going to look like The Terminator soon! We have grown so close to these families and enjoy seeing them each week.
Sunday March 23rd
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Happy Easter! Cameron enjoyed his Easter weekend at home and we feel so blessed to have enjoyed Easter together as a family, because not long ago we were not sure if we would be home and even on Thursday night it was looking dodgy! What can I say but all in God’s timing. Today was the closest to normal day that Cam has had since his diagnosis. Other than our visit to Nambour Hospital it was as normal as any Sunday prior to 5th Feb. I asked Cam in the car this evening, “So you have a busy day?†“Mom,†he replied with a smile, “I had a normal day today!”Â
The morning began with the boys having an Easter Egg hunt and then we all went to church where Cam enjoyed seeing all of his church friends. Then after lunch we went to our dear friends the Kenealys who have faithfully visited us almost every Sunday while we were in Brisbane, but today we enjoyed being able to visit them as a family in their home and were joined by the Elstak family too. All the boys had a ball and it was a most enjoyable afternoon. Bill could not join us as he trying to catch up on his backlog of work which has piled up over the last 6 weeks.Â
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Cam’s leg had developed a huge bruise and was very painful where I have been giving him the twice-daily injections for his blood clot and tthankfully he does not blame me. So the nurses re-sited the “mini-canula” to the other leg today while were there for his daily intra-venous antibiotics. However, on the lighter side, while we at the Hospital today we had such a giggle as the Nurses are so lovely there and we are so fortunate that they are able to do some things for us close to home, but this particular Nurse was not sure how to do a couple of things and was asking Cam and I if we knew… Cam looked at me like… “Err… hello, isn’t she the nurse?†Then we had to correct her. Thankfully we are able to laugh at these things and are able to build a report with the nurses. It just reminded us just how specialized the Oncology care that now seems so routine and normal to us actually is – and indeed how fortunate we are to have access to it.Â
I am so thankful to so many people for the boundless kindness and dedication that continues to be shown to us. For every negative we encounter, there are at least 20 positives. We have met so many wonderful people from children and nurses, to parents and doctors and feel so touched by them all. Another amazing experience for me is to see how many lives Cameron is touching, I have come to appreciate his personality even more and I am so proud of his compassion, kindness and genuine caring for others that he is showing, as well as the relationships he is building with his carers.
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I trust you have all had a wonderful break with family and friends and pray that you have been able to reflect on the true meaning of Easter.
Love Leigh
March 24th, 2008 at 4:05 am
Hello All
Glad you were all together for Easter, Cam with all this knowledge you have had maybe one day we will have a doctor in the family how about that sweetness!! We had a cold snowy easter funny enough its supposed to be spring but we have had snow and its really cold its been snowing the whole day and apparently tonight even more. Some of the highways in Salzburg cars have to use snowchains!!!! Christmas was green down the bottom here but a white Easter. I wanted to fone you guys earlier but I only have your mobile number! Love you all lots and miss you.
Love Dee Martin Manuella and Kenneth xxxx
March 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Always glad when Kenealys name can be linked with ‘normalacy’! My boys regularly tell me I’m anything but normal!!! Words like ‘crazy’ come to mind. I tell them that they should be thankful that life is not boring for them!! No wonder we have a crazy dog. They say that dogs take after their owners!
Some more jokes.
Why is it difficult to make friends with shellfish?
Because they clam up just as you’re getting to know them.
Why di the weather announcer quit her job?
She didn’t find the weather very agreeable.
What do you call two bars of soap?
A pair of slippers.
This one is for Carlton
Why did Carlton put his CD player in the freezer?
He wanted to hear some cool music!
From Matt for Owen
What is a whale’s favourite game?
Swallow the leader.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Hi Cam,
Heard you have started the chemo again and from what Dad tells me you have found a ‘GOOD WAY OF GETTING OVER IT……..SLEEPING!!!That’s the way. You don’t need to know what’s for what as long as you have the faith. Sounds like Easter was good as well? Hope Carlton and Owen didn’t find more eggs than you did??? Don’t you worry you will soos be back on the boogie board, just you wait and see. Hope soon we can catch up on Skype again. Lots of love from all the family this side of the world. A special big hug and kiss on the cheek from me XXXX Grandad Bill Cape Town South Africa.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hi Cam this is Matt Ihavve foubd some really cool jokes and riddles for you
I hope you like them.
Jokes
What are prehistoric monsters called when they sleep?
A dinosnore!
What is the fruitiest subject?
History, because it’s full of dates!
Why did the silly racing driver make ten pitstops during the race?
He was asking for directions!
How many balls of string would it take to reach the moon?
Just one if it’s long enough!
What cheese is made backwards?
Edam!
What town in England makes terrible sandwiches?
Oldham!
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Abbott!
Abbott who?
Abbott time you answered the door!
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Abe!
Abe who?
Abe C D E F G H…!
A history joke
Teacher: Who can tell me where Hadrians Wall is?
Pupil: I expect it’s around Hadrian’s garden miss!
Riddles
What kind of soda must you not drink?
Baking soda.
When is it dangerous to play cards?
When the joker is wild!
What do you call a funny book about eggs?
A yolk book.
What kind of eyeglasses do spies wear?
Spy-focals.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Hi there & sorry for not posting for a while!
Great to see your doing so well! Well done!!!
We have no internet access in our current location so I am at a internet station! Reading all about your journey!
We have been thinking of you and all your family heaps..and Jack is
wondering who you are on Runescape as he plays at every opportunity..including when at school, he will get in trouble !!!!!!!
Much Love
Karen xxx and Co
xxx
March 28th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Hey Cam,
Howzit going? Hope your next Chemo cycle is going well. Look forward to catching up with you soon.
Keep it up tough guy. You are awesome.
Kenneth