Virginia Rea

A normal average life…..complete with a head massage :)

by Virginia Rea

Well, it has been back to normality for a few days. Pippa has enthusiastically embraced going to “boring old normal school”!! Secretly, I know she was actually very excited to see her friends and teachers and slip back into a normal 9 year old’s life. There is no better medicine in the world than hanging out with your friends doing normal stuff and having fun. We have watched James and Patrick umpire and play footy, seen cousins and grandparents, had yummy roast dinner, gone out for milkshakes, lunch and coffee, enjoyed home made Italian pizza with friends and made fudgy wudgy chocolate chip cookies.

Today was the day that the surgical strip could be removed and Pippa’s hair could be washed for the first time. As any mother would know, the prospect of attacking your daughter’s long, thick hair after two weeks of not being touched was not something I was looking forward to! Thus, I enlisted the help of cousin and nurse Carolyn to remove the dressing and hairdresser (complete with French chandelier) Rachael to luxuriously wash and tend to her hair……….whilst I sat back and had a champagne 🙂 Thank You x

The normality of school is welcomed again on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Wednesday we return to RCH and Peter Mac to commence the treatment plan. Pippa and I will be in Melbourne Mon- Fri until 6 September and can hopefully return home to James and Patrick every weekend.

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Lygon St

by Virginia Rea

A good part of today day was spent at Peter Mac being measured, assessed, scanned, informed and questioned in preparation for radiation. It feels like this can’t be happening; that this is not actually me. Unfortunately, I know that it is true simply because I’ve never spent this much time with this many medial people in my whole life. There’s certainly no way I can be dreaming up or imagining the sort of stuff they talk to me about. Quite often I find myself saying, “Sorry can you repeat that, I didn’t hear it?”

The complicated formulas that need to be worked out for Pipps’s treatment can’t be rushed, nor too can the healing of her surgical scar. Thus, tomorrow we return to a normal life – home, school and sport (along with the odd sibling tiff!).

Tonight was spent enjoying a fun family dinner in Lygon St – Pizza, pasta and Ice Cream!!!!

Pippa is pleased to be heading home to her own bed, I am exhausted.

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The Worst 24 Hours of My Life

by Virginia Rea

I honestly thought I had already well and truly had more than my fair share of “bad stuff” (I’ll refrain from using expletives) in my life. Clearly everything that has happened to me over the past years has been to prepare me for what now lies ahead. I have fought hard and strong before for the wellbeing of myself and my children and I will do it harder and stronger again.

Pippa has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer within her brainstem. Her treatment will soon start and will involve 6 weeks of daily radiation at Peter MaCallum Cancer Centre combined with oral doses of chemotherapy.

I believe in her and I believe in the team of Doctors (in particular, her oncologist) that are going to be walking this path with Pippa, James, Patrick and myself.

At the moment we need to find self contained accommodation for Pippa and myself in close to Peter Mac for 6 weeks with the hope that she and I will return to our boys each weekend to hang out and watch footy.

I need the continued positive support and energy drawn from all our family and friends. Sometimes, I might need our little bit of space also.

Here begins our journey and I hope with all my heart and soul that this day will remain for ever the worst day I will ever have to endure.

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A Busy Day @ RCH

by Virginia Rea

Pippa was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Armelle this morning to go and see the meerkats. Scurrying around the enclosure with the “Sentry” watching over they are always entertaining. As too is the amazing circular aquarium that stretches between two floors – there always seems to be a new fish we haven’t seen before appear from the coral.

The surprise of the morning though was a performance in the foyer of the hospital by the Harvard Crocodillos; a real life Pitch Perfect Style all male “A cappella” group!!! Yes, they really do exist and we all thought it was just a movie. Only in America!

We had more visitors in the afternoon – Gordon and Russell delivering a huge supply of Ferrero Rocher. Then Brydie, Virginia, Emily and Olivia arrived at the perfect time to help us move rooms – just down the corridor and around the corner to let another post surgery patient have our room. I have no idea how two people can accumulate so much “stuff” in a hospital room in just 4 days!

Emily and Olivia brought in the most beautifully made posters with more lovely stories about Pippa to help brighten up her room.

A BIG Slice of Happy Rainbow Cake Made by Olivia

Have Fun in France Armelle I will miss you – Love Pippa See you when you get back x

Fun Stuff

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Pride and Tears

by Virginia Rea

I may or may not blog anything for a few days as nothing much will change. Pippa is a star patient! I was told she would possibly vomit for up to 2 days post surgery – she didn’t. I was told Saturday would possibly be a pretty painful and awful day for her – it wasn’t. For now we are just waiting for results of tests.

However, I wanted to blog a story from a very thoughtful card we received – I was filled with tears and pride at the same time for my beautiful daughter……….

Dear Virginia, Pippa, James & Patrick,

We are thinking of you. We have fond memories of meeting you all at Port Fairy.

Virginia, your words about Pippa ring so true…….”a caring and thoughtful friend to everyone she meets.”

The first time we turned up at Nippers Pippa extended her hand to Edward, although she was holding her other friend’s hand, and gracefully ran with both of them on either side of her into the waves. That spontaneous friendliness was such a mark of character. She didn’t need to be told at the time that Nippers’ culture was quite foreign to Edward – the vast beach, the awesome waves, the strong wind and the sea of unknown kids in wetsuits and skull caps.

Pippa, your gesture of friendship, which was so spontaneous, put Edward at ease and from that moment he felt part of Nippers and considered you his friend. He looks forward to seeing you again this summer. You are a truly beautiful friend through and through.

Thank you to everyone for so many beautiful messages like this one xx