Pippa Rea

Pippa's Journey with a Brain Tumour

Social Butterfly

There is honestly no stopping Pippa.  She has at least a  2 hour  sleep everyday, except I’m not exactly sure whether it is to rebuild her cells or to reinvigorate her social life?

This weekend she has had a “3 hours of fun” friend’s birthday party on Saturday, dinner at the umpire clubrooms on Saturday night, ten pin bowling and lunch with James & Patrick, Nan and Tony and all her cousins on Sunday and then as I’m tucking her in for her afternoon siesta she suggests that as we haven’t actually seen much or our neighbours lately and perhaps we could have drinks with them when she woke up???  Drinks turned into dinner combined with many giggles and games.

She is simply amazing!  She recognises her need for sleep, works out whether it needs to be “pre or post” social commitments, happily jumps into bed every day (no different to when she was a little toddler) and combines it with the right amount of energy to ensure she also doesn’t miss out on a minute of fun.

Pippa is true to herself every minute of the day 🙂

 

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Oh What a Night!

I was told by my very, very dear friend whom I love, admire, respect and trust that this period in our life is the opportunity (despite the effort and thoughts in doing so) to create beautiful memories.  Last night we did just that.

When we first started driving to RCH we kept noticing big billboards with the head of a beautiful white horse and the word “Cavalia“.  Eventually, we connected the billboards to an enormous white gracefully summited marquee off the Bolte Bridge at Docklands and knew there must be something magical inside………

With a special group of friends and family (11 of us in total) we sat four rows from the front at Cavalia in wonder and amazement.  The spectacle of 48 majestic horses entranced & mesmerised us while 36 acrobats continually took our breath away.  It was like nothing we had ever seen before and to watch the joy, awe and excitement on Pippa’s face literally brought me to tears.

http://www.cavalia.net/en/cavalia-show/videos

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A Funny Thing Happened in Faulkner Park

The title of this post should have been, “A Frantically Busy Week” or “The Boys Came to Visit” or “24 Hours of James & Patrick”, but no, a funny thing did happen in Faulkner Park.

We have had a huge week trying to fit in everything from treatment appointments, doctors’ appointments, therapies, exercise, sleeps, coffee and of course just the right amount of wine with girlfriends to keep me sane!  It has been frantic (not the coffee and wine parts) to say the least and I have not even opened my computer once.  I have, however, switched into “work mode” to make a couple of alterations to our schedule (thank you Peter Mac for understanding) and from next week our routine is set and I will be completely organised and back in control of everything (that I can be)!

James and Patrick visited on Wednesday for 24 hours and in true boy style they were intrigued with everything that was involved in Pippa’s treatment – they participated in her music therapy and made sure they tested out as much of the equipment as  possible!  It was so important for their understanding, but also for Pippa, to have them spend time with her experiencing her treatment.  We had some family time, caught up with friends and we all went to Faulkner Park to check out Pippa’s brand new, very cool scooter that she and I went shopping for earlier in the week.

Of course, the second we entered the park Patrick produced a long punt of the footy that is permanently attached to his arm.  Who would have thought it would end up in the top of a tree????!!!  Hmmmm……..

Patrick climbed, I advised, James threw sticks and Pippa giggled.  The tree was not conducive to climbing so Patrick’s attempt did not result in enough height.  James was persistent with his sticks but I thought shaking a branch kind of in the vicinity of where the footy was might do the trick………….

James eventually managed to get the footy out by throwing sticks.  I, on the other hand, ended up with the branch coming off in my hand and the attached ‘limb’ landing on top of my forehead!  I’m not talking small either, the limb broke away from the trunk, hung for a few seconds and then fell smack on my head as I turned to look up!   Pippa was heard to comment through fits of giggles, “Mum, anyone would think it was you on steroids pulling down that big branch!”.

Now, for anyone reading this who works with me during September and knows of my protective nature toward “Park Elms”, my instant reaction was to look around for any witnesses (particularly those in white utes), drag the limb to a “windswept” position,  pretend as if nothing happened and ensure there was no photographic evidence in existence.  (By the way, I have not done that before.)  The only witnesses turned out to be my hysterically laughing and oh so concerned children and friend along with a man walking his dog who was clearly going to get excellent mileage for the rest of the day!  How those people on Funniest Home Videos know to get ready to film in advance, I have no idea.  What I do know, is if we had, we would win hands down!

Laughter is an important part of our lives.  As a family the four of us have always had a lot of laughs and fun.  I’m thrilled that a great deal of enjoyment was gained from my expense – Pippa was doubled up barely able to stand!  A rather large egg on my head was a small price to pay for a story that she has giggly retold many times.

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Pippa had a Party………

……..and 150 people came!

It was just what the doctor ordered!

Classmates, cousins, friends of Pippa’s, friends of James’, friends of Patrick’s and family friends filled the bowling alley. Ages ranged from 2 to 78 and both ends of the spectrum had a go at bowling!! That competitve edge kicks in a lot more in your 70s though!!

The bowling balls were rolling, air hockey was intense (at Olympic standard) and one of the most beautiful parts of the night were the secret deals being made between all the “big boys” to ensure that Pippa finished up the night with the most enormous pink teddy in her possession! – Thanks Guys!!! 🙂

The party (suggested but not planned by me, thank you; we just supplied the names) was a great talking point and distraction between us during our first few days of treatment and something incredibly exciting to look forward to when we came home. Pippa’s contribution to the party was to help me make a Ferrero Rocher Tower which she very carefully held in the car on the way there.

To have such an awesome party was the best thing to do on this first weekend back. She is still utterly thrilled about it and had so much fun. Thank You to everyone.

PS – apologies if I missed anyone on the invite list x

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A Busy Day @ RCH

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.

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Footy and Rock Climbing……..

……Not Pippa!

Patrick went to watch his beloved bombers win and James went indoor rock climbing with friends

Pippa went for a huge walk in preparation for taking Armelle to visit the meekats when she visits tomorrow.

Currently we are “chillaxin” watching Pitch Perfect 🙂

 

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