Pippa Rea

This is now the 7th week we have walked through the doors at Peter Mac for Radiation. I think I speak for both Pippa and I when I say it has not been as frightening nor as bad an experience as either of us had anticipated. Pippa’s amazing ability to handle anything she faces with a positive and happy attitude combined with the doctors’ careful planning have meant that aside from being uncomfortable from the weight gain due to the steroids and some tiredness, she has charged through. And I do mean charged – quite often the radiotherapists do not keep us as she runs down the tunnel to the treatment room!

What better way to mark our final week than including James and Patrick for one last visit? They joined in on the French lesson where they played a game of French Bingo and James realised that his sister probably knows more French than him and poor Patrick was doing his hardest to try and pronounce the numbers. We went for a wander through Captain Cook’s Cottage and the Conservatory in the Fitzroy Gardens. Pippa decided that the house was small and she thought it would be hard to live in.

The highlight of the visit was being the first to listen to Pippa’s very own recording. She has written her own words to Mylie Cyrus’ Party in the USA named Party in Peter Mac Today. Immensely proud of both her attitude and her music, the smiles on their faces beamed with pride and the applause was loud 🙂

The next time we see James and Patrick Pippa will be finished with radiation forever. Fingers crossed that while she’s been coping so brilliantly on the outside the treatment has started to kill that rotten lump on the inside.

French Bingo

This post is particularly for my children – I have been told off tonight for not posting anything for a while!  The truth is, I have been exhausted and I couldn’t be bothered turning the computer on.  In fact, so exhausted that yesterday I had to say no to going to Pink!  Oooh, it even hurts to think it, but Pippa was so tired and I was barely able to comprehend my own thoughts (sometimes that would be a good thing at the moment).  I simply would not have done the tickets justice and I am very glad for who went instead of me – I hope you all enjoyed the show.

So, for my darling boys who are at home, and for my Pippa who wants to share a couple of this week’s fun things, here’s what we’ve been up to…………..

On the weekend we said goodbye to our beloved Chelsea (Pippa had such a fun time at the party) who is going off to follow her rowing dream in the US and come back a bigger champion than what she already is.  We had such a fun but relaxing weekend without the long drives – it was great; our second home.   Pippa also had another game of glow in the dark mini golf with Phoebe (photos are pointless).

On Monday we watched St Joey’s win the school footy Grand Final and visited a friend in hospital.

Other than that a relatively quiet week –  a dinner out and some board games.  Today the staff at Peter Mac started to make a short movie for Pippa as a keepsake.  She and Elly are writing their own background song (changing the words to Mylie Cyrus’ Party in the USA) for it and clothes were chosen and hair styled especially for the occasion.

This evening Pippa and I went to see the movie “Now you See Me” at Gold Class, Jam Factory.  Great fun movie and I hope that our own magic can be created in time.  She loved the Gold Class experience and we think we might treat the boys next time they come down.  We have had a little giggle tonight as on reflection I have realised that perhaps the staff may have been a little overwhelmed by an above mentioned celebrity who I now realise is being “guarded” by her minder in the background as I unknowingly snapped a photo of Pippa for our own purpose to create our memories.  Mistakes happen, we ended up being taken to the (very) wrong movie in the wake of someone else’s entourage.  All was fixed in time for us not to miss the correct movie and I must commend the Gold Class Jam Factory for their above excellent handling of the situation.  As far as I’m concerned it has just created another story to tell on our journey.

We have also continued to enjoy the cafes and lovely surrounds we have nearby and are very grateful for the accommodation we were able to obtain.  It turns out that by not having hospital accommodation available to us at the start we are much better off being in a “non hospital” location.

A drink before going into Gold Class

The victorious St Joseph’s Footy Team

Always a hug for Danielle

Bye Chelsea, miss you x

Snuggled up for a pre party nap on the outside day bed

Cow Onsie

Scooter riding with Nan & Tony

The view from our lounge room

I have been on a very steep learning curve and I by no means profess to be able to keep pace completely with what is going on in our lives.  What I know is that medically, our options are what they are and Pippa’s doctors are treating her individually at the highest level of knowledge and research possible.  The other thing I know for sure is that this treatment is concentrated inside her brain – inside the very inside of the part that controls the central nervous and cognitive systems of our body.

Apart from supporting Pippa and being the most positive influence I can on our family, I truly believe that this time and in the next few years ahead it is vitally important that I help stimulate as many parts of her brain that I possibly can.

Currently our week includes music therapies from two different therapists, yoga, reiki and French lessons.  In addition, Pippa uses many items from her suitcase full of goodies and also plays a variety of games and board games that require strategy, concentration and memory.  Each of these activities is not only fun and enjoyable for her, but also imperative to keep her brain active, and her cognitive development aroused.  For all of us parents who “lose it” over the time our children spend on iPads, some of those games are also important for hand/eye speed reactions.  Who would have thought I would ever say that???!!!!

We plan to continue with these experiences when we return home and will  also combine them with our next phase of treatment.

As is always the case with whatever Pippa tries, she takes to it like a duck to water and is so good at everything:

Music; singing, percussion, lyrics – she rocks it all!

Reiki;  she completely relaxes and opens her mind.

Yoga;  loves it and her balance and capabilities are amazing.

French; ………well, we both try to learn……..one of us is doing tres tres bien (very very well), the other of us is a bit more comme ci come ca (so so).  In fact, to put it bluntly, one of us spends most of the lesson trying to keep up – and I’m being well and truly left behind!

Yoga with Patricia – awseome balance Pippa

Music Therapy with Sarah

French with Claire

Reiki with Clive

Music Therapy with Elly