Pippa Rea

Pippa has been allowed to return home a couple of times in the past week (a week that actually feels like an eternity) while we wait for steroids to do their work and the wonderful doctors at RCH to determine the best actions to take.

This has been a great opportunity for her to catch up with her many friends – everything happened so quickly she literally disappeared over night!

before Armelle goes on her holiday to France

Pippa & Claudia

Stopping in for Jelly Slice

Yo Chi – DIY Frozen Yoghurt & Toppings! Yum 🙂

Anna, Pippa, Phoebe & Laura

Snuggling up to keep warm in the cold

Dinner before going back to Hospital

Jasmine & her surrogate daughter

A Good Luck Kiss before surgery

In a nutshell nothing has actually really changed since last Wednesday.  Pippa still has a lump on her brain stem (actually it is inside her brain stem) and we don’t know what it is.  She was immediately put on steroids that reduce any swelling and stabalise the lump.  Clearly they are doing their job because as my mother commented, she has lost her appetite and gained a horse’s appetite!

Because of the position of the “lump” surgery to remove it is not an option.  However, after more MRI scans at the RCH did not result in an answer as to what type of “lump” this is, brain surgery to perform a biopsy is now necessary.  That is scheduled for Thursday 11th July.  It will be a very hard day and the 6 day recovery will be equally hard for  Pippa, but also for the rest of us to know that the surgery has been successful in gaining tissue to sample and test, that there will be no complications and there will be no post surgery side affects.

We have had amazing support from so many people.  She has had her aunty (Eleanor) and cousins (Chloe & Mel) fly in from WA, and Libby & Claudia have been extra special people looking after us and being the special friends and cousins that they are. It is completely overwhelming and I thank each and every person, near and far, for all their wishes, generosity and kindness.