Life after cancer! What do you imagine it is like?
Second chances and happy hearts?
New beginnings and grabbing life with both hands?
Well, to some degree it absolutely is, I see that in Maisie almost on a daily basis. But there is another side to it, a side which isn't so bright and beautiful as the impact of the trauma begins to show. That's what I see in me. So I will write this chapter of our lives in two parts, of course beginning with our wonderful Maisie.
Going into the New Year cancer free was an amazing feeling, and its almost as if Maisie knew and understood because her new words were 'happy, happy, happy,' which she repeated over and over. We noticed that as her energy levels began to build so did her smile, her laugh and her strength. Maisie was starting to be on her feet a lot more as the strength built in her little legs so we decided to make a day of it and take her shopping for her first pair of shoes, (crawlers). With the restrictions of treatment lifted to some degree we were able to take Maisie to an actual shop, with actual people and let her roam around.....how normal is that? We even took her for lunch in a restaurant for the first time ever. Like, what? After living in a bubble for so long these little things seemed SO big to us and meant the world.
Even though we were able to go out and about with Maisie, there were still a few places off limits because her immune system was still very weak, but once she hit the 3 month post treatment mark those restrictions also lifted. The swimming pool, park, mums and tots and soft play were now on the cards and we wasted no time getting Maisie to them, and just look how happy she is. Everything was new to her, everything was an adventure.
Even though Maisie was now cancer free and treatment had stopped, she still had to attend the hospital on a monthly basis for X-rays and ultra sound scans. The hospital are so thorough and like to keep a close eye on their patients which has been a great comfort to us as parents. For Maisie though it wasn't something she enjoyed. She was getting bigger and much more aware of what was going on, to the point where she would refuse to lye and get scanned. We had to hold her down by her arms and legs on several occasions as she cried for it to be over. This new life was amazing but the reality of what she had been through was still very much there. In April, Maisie also came down with a really bad viral infection. She was sick for four days and couldn't keep a thing down which resulted in a hospital stay. With Maisie having only one kidney and her immune system still on the mend we couldn't take the risk of her becoming dehydrated or developing a worse infection. But like always, she came out of it like a champ, and after a few days of rest and cuddles she was back on her feet.
One of the most amazing things to come from the year was Maisie's first steps. She took them on the 16th April with the promise of chocolate, (that's my girl), but following that went back to getting around on her knees. Then, a month later, on the 17th May I was walking hand in hand with Maisie into the park when she said to me, "Maisie walk please" and she let go. Its the most joyous feeling when your children take their first steps isn't it? For us it was a sign of how far she had come, of how strong her body was becoming and how she kept pushing herself forward. Nothing was stopping her now.
As the year continued so did Maisie's progress and so did her adventures. Maisie no longer had to be a spectator or miss out on anything. Sunny days were spent at the park or the beach, Easter was spent at Barry's amusements like everyone else and we were able to go on family days out to everywhere we couldn't the year before. We even got to take Maisie on her first ever holiday, (it was the same holiday we had to cancel the year before). We all had a ball and it again was a sign of how different our lives were.
A very obvious and physical change in Maisie that year was of course her hair growth. Her hair grew back blonde,(she was red haired when she was born), beautiful and with a little curl through it. Its strange looking back at the photos of her now when she was going through treatment because I cant believe what I see. Going through the process I always thought that you couldn't tell she had cancer and I always thought she had lots of hair. Obviously rose tinted glasses were keeping me from seeing what was really in front of me. Its only now when I see her with a full head of beautiful blonde locks and a heathy complexion that I realise just how sick she really looked. By August Maisie's hair had grown long enough for me to put in her first ever little pigtails and then at the turn of the New Year again she had her first ever hair cut. I know hair is just hair and in the grand scheme of things it isn't all that important. But Maisie's hair is so precious to us, to the point we celebrated her first empty bottle of shampoo. To us it is another sign of her health and strength. Of her growth and her fight.
As I write this, almost another year has passed again. Maisie is now 3. She is 21 months in remission and almost out of the process of having follow up scans, (she will still attend the hospital every 3-4 months for check ups), and she just started pre pre school last week. Life for her is looking so bright and she is the most funny, outgoing, lovable and happy little girl. She is curious about her scars sometimes and has grown used to her hospital visits but she looks at both with such positivity and takes it all in her stride. I pray for this to last.
Wendy xx
Second chances and happy hearts?
New beginnings and grabbing life with both hands?
Well, to some degree it absolutely is, I see that in Maisie almost on a daily basis. But there is another side to it, a side which isn't so bright and beautiful as the impact of the trauma begins to show. That's what I see in me. So I will write this chapter of our lives in two parts, of course beginning with our wonderful Maisie.
Going into the New Year cancer free was an amazing feeling, and its almost as if Maisie knew and understood because her new words were 'happy, happy, happy,' which she repeated over and over. We noticed that as her energy levels began to build so did her smile, her laugh and her strength. Maisie was starting to be on her feet a lot more as the strength built in her little legs so we decided to make a day of it and take her shopping for her first pair of shoes, (crawlers). With the restrictions of treatment lifted to some degree we were able to take Maisie to an actual shop, with actual people and let her roam around.....how normal is that? We even took her for lunch in a restaurant for the first time ever. Like, what? After living in a bubble for so long these little things seemed SO big to us and meant the world.
Even though we were able to go out and about with Maisie, there were still a few places off limits because her immune system was still very weak, but once she hit the 3 month post treatment mark those restrictions also lifted. The swimming pool, park, mums and tots and soft play were now on the cards and we wasted no time getting Maisie to them, and just look how happy she is. Everything was new to her, everything was an adventure.
One of the most amazing things to come from the year was Maisie's first steps. She took them on the 16th April with the promise of chocolate, (that's my girl), but following that went back to getting around on her knees. Then, a month later, on the 17th May I was walking hand in hand with Maisie into the park when she said to me, "Maisie walk please" and she let go. Its the most joyous feeling when your children take their first steps isn't it? For us it was a sign of how far she had come, of how strong her body was becoming and how she kept pushing herself forward. Nothing was stopping her now.
As the year continued so did Maisie's progress and so did her adventures. Maisie no longer had to be a spectator or miss out on anything. Sunny days were spent at the park or the beach, Easter was spent at Barry's amusements like everyone else and we were able to go on family days out to everywhere we couldn't the year before. We even got to take Maisie on her first ever holiday, (it was the same holiday we had to cancel the year before). We all had a ball and it again was a sign of how different our lives were.
A very obvious and physical change in Maisie that year was of course her hair growth. Her hair grew back blonde,(she was red haired when she was born), beautiful and with a little curl through it. Its strange looking back at the photos of her now when she was going through treatment because I cant believe what I see. Going through the process I always thought that you couldn't tell she had cancer and I always thought she had lots of hair. Obviously rose tinted glasses were keeping me from seeing what was really in front of me. Its only now when I see her with a full head of beautiful blonde locks and a heathy complexion that I realise just how sick she really looked. By August Maisie's hair had grown long enough for me to put in her first ever little pigtails and then at the turn of the New Year again she had her first ever hair cut. I know hair is just hair and in the grand scheme of things it isn't all that important. But Maisie's hair is so precious to us, to the point we celebrated her first empty bottle of shampoo. To us it is another sign of her health and strength. Of her growth and her fight.
As I write this, almost another year has passed again. Maisie is now 3. She is 21 months in remission and almost out of the process of having follow up scans, (she will still attend the hospital every 3-4 months for check ups), and she just started pre pre school last week. Life for her is looking so bright and she is the most funny, outgoing, lovable and happy little girl. She is curious about her scars sometimes and has grown used to her hospital visits but she looks at both with such positivity and takes it all in her stride. I pray for this to last.
Wendy xx
Aww our wee warrior 👌🤗🤩🌻
ReplyDeleteLovely words as always Wendy and from the heart 👍
You, Keith and the wee woman are such an inspiration to all and I love that she's getting on so well and seeing her at her annual walk was heart warming 👌🤗🌻
#MaisiesDaisies🌻🌻🌻