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ALL for Braeden

  • Heart-felt thanks

      15 April 2022
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    As this page is due to finish, I wanted to take the opportunity to say a heart-felt thank you to everyone who has been there for our whanau over the last 6 months. From donations to hugs, please know that every gesture has been truly appreciated.

    Braeden is unfortunately back in hospital at the moment, battling a high temperature which is most likely a reaction to one of the many medications he is on and although it is frustrating for him, the doctors expect he will recover soon and can move back to Margaret Stewart House where he is currently living with his dad. We are so grateful for this amazing facility provided by the Cancer Society and only 3 minutes from the hospital.

    I'd be lying if I said we haven't found it tough. This is the longest Dennis and I have been apart in 33 years!! Thank God for video calls as this allows us to at least see and chat to each other every day.

    Our lives have changed: Dennis is unemployed, we're living in separate cities, I'm even learning to manage my finances (shock, horror!), but none of this matters because our boy is slowly recovering and to be honest, that's all that counts!! When you face challenges in your life, you soon learn what your priorities actually are.

    Lastly, to my brave, strong and courageous boy, I love you unconditionally forever and always xxx

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  • Life Changing

      12 March 2022

    Following the great news yesterday that 'engrafting' has occurred, for the first time in almost 4 months, I woke up feeling optimistic!! We are so, so proud of our son and the way he has battled this cruel disease. He has seldom complained and even his team of doctors/nurses have commented on his strong and stoic nature.

    Our lives too have changed, for a start, I'm home in Tauranga and back at work while Dennis has had to resign from his job to stay in Wellington and support Braeden for another few months as he hopefully regains all his strength. We are so fortunate to be able to do this and through the generosity of friends and family, giving their time, loaning me a vehicle, sending messages of support etc etc, we will get through this together as a family and I truly believe that we will all come out of it even stronger and closer than we were before, as if nothing else, this experience has taught us what is really important in life, "he tangata, he tangata, he tangata!"

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  • TRANSPLANT WORKING!!

      11 March 2022

    Braeden's neutrophils and white blood count have finally moved from zero to 0.1 which means 14 days after the transplant he has engrafted. Engraftment is when the blood-forming cells he received on transplant day start to grow and make healthy blood cells. It's an important milestone in your transplant recovery. SUCH AWESOME NEWS.

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  • Transplant Done!

      27 February 2022
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    So the stem cell transplant is done! Everything went to plan. My husband spent 5 hours hooked up to a machine which 'siphoned' off his T-cells. Apparently he had a very high count and they were able to harvest an impressive amount. Once again, it becomes a waiting game as we see how Braeden's body reacts to these cells along with the radiation and chemo. A lot for one body to take! Hopefully after a few tough weeks, his new cells will be doing their job!

    As always, we are so grateful to everyone for the amazing support and kind wishes xx

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  • Time for a Transplant!

      17 February 2022

    Finally we have reached the next and perhaps most crucial part of Braeden's road to a full recovery, a stem cell transplant. He was admitted to hospital today and will have radiation and chemo over the next few days. On the 24th Feb, his dad will be hooked up to a special machine for 4-6 hours which will 'siphon' off some of his stem cells. The next day, these cells will be 'infused' into Braeden's blood. An incredible and fascinating process that will even see Braeden's blood type change to that of his dad! Then it is a waiting game to see if Braeden's body accepts the cells and they begin to do their job. We are praying that everything goes well.

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  • Transplant Time!

      23 January 2022

    The next step on Braeden's journey to a cure is a bone marrow transplant. He will receive stem cells from either myself or my husband, looking likely to be me at the moment as we have the same blood type, on 25th February. Of course a lot of prepping, testing etc has to happen both before and after the transplant so it will be a few more months before we know the outcome. So Wellington will again be home for a while.

    Thanks again to everyone for your love, support and kindness as we face the next stage of our leukemia journey.

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  • Jingle Bells!

      24 December 2021

    Got the best Christmas present yesterday when we, (my husband and I), got our test results back saying that we are both good matches as stem cell donors for Braeden's bone marrow transplant! Never thought we'd be celebrating Christmas as we are this year but celebrate we will as we still have so much to be grateful for! I have to make special mention of our daughter, Tara, who has just been amazing throughout this whole time. She has been so adaptable and hasn't complained once, adjusting to living out of a suitcase when necessary, travelling long distance to Wellington, staying with friends and family etc. ❤️

    On that note, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all xxx

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  • Christmas

      17 December 2021
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    Well instead of Braeden coming home for a family Christmas, we are heading back to Wellington to spend Christmas with him! Trying to be cheerful and get into the Christmas spirit but I have to say this has been challenging. Anyone who knows me, will know what a Christmas freak I am and how much I love this time of year. Going through all of this has given me a new appreciation for those who are unwell, in hospital etc and for whom this time of year is actually a huge struggle. So if you do nothing else this Christmas, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you and be thankful for all you have xxx

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  • Day Ward

      30 November 2021
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    Braeden has settled into a routine of visiting the Day Ward pretty much every day for tests and treatments.

    The staff and volunteers who work there are fabulous and look after him so well, along with all the other 'frequent flyers'.

    I will be leaving Wellington to head home to Tauranga for the first time since Oct 16th and although I am going to find this incredibly difficult, I know that Braeden has a great support crew who will look after him until another family member, my fabulous sister Shell, arrives in a few days.

    We are so grateful for the support we have had as a family. The donations made to this page have helped to cover travel and accommodation costs in particular which add up quickly and will continue to do so over the next few months. If you would like to share this page with others and feel comfortable doing this, please do.

    One thing I have learnt from this whole experience is that even though we frequently hear clichés about 'not knowing what is around the corner', it is just so true, you never know what you are going to face in your future and having support and kindness around you is so important to helping you get through challenging times xx

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  • Home at last!

      20 November 2021

    Wow! After 5 weeks in hospital, Braeden finally got the all clear to return to his flat yesterday. Although understandably nervous about leaving the security of the hospital he was also very keen to get back to some normality. Of course it will be a new reality but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

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  • 1 month down

      16 November 2021
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    4 weeks since diagnosis and I'd have to say the longest month of my life!! Braeden managed a walk out of the ward and downstairs for the first time today. Fingers crossed for a good result when bone marrow biopsy is re-done this Thursday!

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  • Hospital Life

      10 November 2021

    Life has settled into a routine, as it inevitably does, with myself and my sister visiting Braeden daily. We stay until we need to or until Amanda comes in. Braeden is coping admirably with constant poking, prodding, checkups, updates not to mention hospital food, although I do get sent on alternative food searches fairly regularly! So proud of our boy!!

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  • Update

      5 November 2021

    Braeden has had 3 rounds of chemo so far and hasn't suffered too many side effects as yet. Today was a tough day as he developed a temperature overnight followed by plummeting blood pressure. After trying to sort this with no success, he was admitted to ICU. Tonight they finally found that there was a 'bug' in his Pic line which had caused an infection. A frightening experience but so relieved they found the problem.

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