More than a week of news!

Hi everyone

Another weekend has gone by and we had a very relaxed time with lots of rest for Sara. It has been cold here in Christchurch for the last couple of days and its another cool one this morning, so a lot of time spent inside. Alan Gleave came over Saturday night for dinner and Sara and Alan enjoyed some time together including watching a movie. She enjoyed hearing about the rowing results from Twizel during the weekend, both from the bloggers and texters and on Newstalk ZB - well done to Caitlin and Zoe for the fantastic results - no doubt a little disappointing that Sunday's races were cancelled. Sara wore her rowing top on Sunday as a good luck charm but it obviously didn't work a treat!

Sara had her best week last week since before the start of radiotherapy. She was feeling much better and the medication for the various side effects seems to be working well. Thursday's blood transfusion which went smoothly, was also a positive step after the previous one where she reacted to the blood. Following the blood transfusion, which was being given to raise her haemaglobin levels (dealt to by the radiation treatment) she felt much more energetic.

On Friday, Sara reached the three quarters mark for the radiotherapy treatment, she now has only 7 treatments to go to complete the 6 week treatment. Friday afternoon we finished at the hospital and then went into town for a bit of retail therapy for Sara and then had a meal out together.

Sara had another healing touch session with Debbie Carter during the week and this will be a regular event for the next few months. She is really enjoying this session and Debbie is great with her and helping Sara feel positive and giving her lots of strength and ways to take her through the radio and chemo side effects. While the radio and chemo are dealing with the disease the healing touch along with the relaxation and meditation sessions from Nicki are allowing Sara and us to take a more holistic approach to healing Sara.

The week was busy with the routine things like the daily trip to the hospital for radio,plus the chemo on Monday and Wednesday, visits from the OT and dietician and the healing touch and relaxation sessions and an art therapy session. We also finalised the antioxidant treatment for Sara with CHOC and Dr Ted Pearson and visited Cynthia at the Child Cancer Foundation. The Foundation have been fantastic in helping us with information and funding some of the additional costs we are faced with - a big thank you to them from us. And Cynthia gave Sara a box of bubble gum for jaw exercises which Sara is very excited about! Plus she also got a Gallaz cap signed by Silver Fern, Vilimaina Davu - how cool is that!

On Friday we had a meeting with Clare (Sara's art teacher from Twizel), Art Therapist, Diana and the Regional Health School teacher Sarah to discuss the art units which Sara will work her way through over the next few months, when she feels up to it. It was great to get everyone involved together and Sara feels really positive about doing some art. The art therapy with Diana has also been really helpful in helping her cope and deal with things in a holistic way.

It was great to see Clare and Mackenzie on Thursday and Friday and Sara really enjoyed spending time with her nearly 3 year old friend. We hadn't seen Clare and Mackenzie since December.

Kate is enjoying some powder snow at last but only has 2 weeks till closing date. She is hoping to take a trip up to Colorado before coming home on the 10th April.

This week all the treatments are in the afternoon so its relaxed mornings for all of us this week.

Thanks to everyone for all the blogs, texts and cards and pressies - they continue to be an inspiration and provide great pleasure to all of us, especially Sara.

TTFN
Sara, Sue Rob and Kate (in NM)