Asante's journey

Well, almost immediately after I posted the first update, Asante developed a cough literally the next day and after daily hospital visits for 5 days he was admitted to Rotorua hospital with a fever. He required a blood and platelet transfusion as expected anyway, due to the the intense chemotherapy in this round. I took Asante in thinking we would be in for maybe a night or two due to a cold.

However, after 2 weeks in Rotorua and then Starship hospital Asante managed to fight his way out of pneumonia! Non stop fevers for 10 days, vomiting and no desire for food, he managed to pull through with the thanks to all the Doctors and nurses who provided him with all the care and medicines, chest xrays - 3 x blood transfusions and 4 x platelet transfusions and one surgery to flush out the mucus in his lungs. He required full time oxygen for several days and thanks to a lack of appetite he was provided with a nasal gastric tube to get some nutrition. He managed to boost his weight back up to 20 kgs. Among other things, this was all over a 2 week period. Bonus was that he was given his 2nd trip on a rescue chopper - thank you Tauranga Rescue Service - from Rotorua to Starship. We thought we would be transferred by ambulance initially but were upgraded to Chopper. I made sure I was awake this time and it was a stunning flight up - at sunset. Again great people, great care and great support.

It was reassuring in an odd way to be back at Starship during all this, because it was comforting to be in our 2nd home. They know us - well by us I mean Asante - so well now.

He has battled his way - like so many other beautiful strong children - through 6 months of treatment now. And this episode just goes to show that it really is one day at a time. Although these 2 weeks in hospital were really one hour at a time and I really dont want to have to relive that. Nothing hurts more than not being able to fix your own child and having to watch them with tubes all over the show, looking grey and not wanting to talk to you, their mother is hideous. Having to relinquish what little control over your child to the doctors is becoming easier though. Afterall, these are the people who are keeping my son alive and helping him fight this hideous battle.

Overall, this 2 week fiasco has brought me down a peg or two - perhaps I was getting a little cocky with the optimism and a few doses of reality was perhaps in order. So, the reality is, Asante is a fighter, he is as the Doctors warned me prone to ups and downs but no matter what he is doing well. We are 6 months in and he is still smiling, still fighting and I am eternally grateful for this chance he has at fighting this. Some kids dont get the chance. So I am extra cautious but still optimistic. No choice but to be so. So grateful we are through the worst, most intense stage of his treatment. Fingers crossed it remains that way. So phew, here is to the next 8 weeks of treatment - every 10 days - not as intense but at the end of this 8 weeks fingers crossed, he will be out of the worst phase and beginning of maintenance - full remission. And then monthly chemo for 3 years! We can do this :)