Pippa Rea

Pippa's Journey with a Brain Tumour

Sep 13

The Happiest Girl in the World

by Virginia Rea

All I needed to make this trip worthwhile was to see Pippa’s face when she first saw the Eiffel Tower.  On walking through the streets the evening we arrived Pippa declared she might just stay in Paris and live here forever.  The cobblestoned streets, the architecture, the balconies and the beautiful tree lined avenues around our hotel were tugging at her heart.  But it was her reaction to seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time that tugged at mine.

We had a typical French continental breakfast at our hotel and then went on the Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus Tour to get our bearings and take in the sights.   We rounded the corner and although I cannot put her reaction and my emotions into words, I think her words are just perfect………..

“Mum, take a look at this face………….this is the face of the happiest girl in the world!”

Enough said.

Later in the afternoon we were driven to our quintessential Parisian apartment (complete with French doored balconies, chandaliers and creaking parquetry floors) in the hub of Le Marais district atop cafes and museums.

It says it all
Breakfast
Happy to see the Eiffel Tower
Room with a View
Our home for 2 weeks
Arc de Triomphe
Champs Elysees
Patrick behind the camera

Fun Stuff

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Sep 12

Arriving in Paris

by Virginia Rea

After hastily organising our trip to Paris we were all quite relieved to board the plane and head off into the night.  Little did we know that our experience was already starting.  We were greeted at the airport by Etihad Airlines and met by their special services ground staff in AbuDhabi and Paris to make our transiting and arrival as smooth as possible.  Pippa and the boys were treated to a tour of the plane and cockpit and Pippa was welcomed on the Paris leg with a gift from Etihad purchased especially for her and the crew from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi made her the most gorgeous French card.  The excitement was building and we weren’t even in Paris yet!

Our hotel on the first night was perfectly French and perfectly located a stone’s throw from the Arch de Triomphe.  A stroll down the Champs Elysses for dinner was just in order before we all fell into bed to sleep for Australia.

Our thoughts at that time were also with the thousands of runners back in Melbourne preparing for Connor’s Run to raise money for research into brain cancer.

Bon Voyage from Etihad
Bon Voyage from Etihad
Etihad Crew
Etihad Pilots
A gift to get Pippa warmed up for Paris
Trying for size
Connor’s Run not forgotten in Paris
A perfect Parisian Backdrop
A quick snap on the way to dinner

Thank you to so many friends for various forms of help in the past week and to those who were able to roll up their sleeves to help get our bookings of flights and accommodation done so quickly in such a busy time.  The good wishes from everyone both in person, online and via text for our trip, along with all the tips and advice on visiting Paris, has helped transfer the focus  to become a wonderful time of excitement and anticipation.

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Sep 10

A Professional Rockstar

by Virginia Rea

What does a superstar do before jumping on a plane and heading off to Paris?

Record a CD!

Last night Pippa fulfilled another dream and recorded her own CD.  It was 3 hours of work and she was a true star.  Singing not only all the songs (some of which were very difficult) but also recording some of the backing vocals to drop in as well. On Sunday evening she had photos taken for the cover complete with outfit and location changes!

The production and graphic design will all happen  whilst we are away and Pippa will have her very own CD upon our return.  What a fabulous opportunity for a little girl who sings her heart out every day.  So many many heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in pulling this off so quickly.

We finally managed to get seats on flights, a lovely Parisian apartment and are flying out to Paris tomorrow evening (Thursday).  We arrive in the middle of a 3 day music festival, and next week is Paris Fashion week – what a time for a superstar girl to arrive!!!

 

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Sep 4

Paris Dreaming

by Virginia Rea

This week Pippa’s treatment has come to a conclusion.  The chemotherapy medication is not working against the the tumour and it is growing.

We are now going to live her dream and take Pippa to Paris.  We are organising that at the moment and plan to leave as soon as possible.

The next phase is going to be about having fun and enjoying our time together as a family.  Together with Pippa and her brothers, I am taking little steps, minute by minute, day by day making one decision at a time.

The support and care we have received on this journey so far has been incredible.  I will continue to update this blog throughout the rest of our journey as it serves not only as a wonderful purpose of communication but also provides us with a fantastic way of recording and sharing our memories.

I have held suspicions close to my heart right through this but I have always said I will never post anything on this blog my children don’t know.  They are each processing the information they received this week in their own individual way.  We don’t have a lot of answers to a lot of questions, but they will come in time and I am sure Pippa will lead the way once again.  In the meantime we are going to have FUN.

The concern and understanding of everyone who reads this helps us and we look forward to posting pictures of Pippa and her French dreams soon.

Updates

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Aug 29

Hospital Waiting Games

by Virginia Rea

It just can’t be avoided and sometimes the waiting is just so painfully long.  This week the waiting around kept us so late I had to drive the majority of the way home in the dark.

After two and a half hours in the eye clinic waiting room we were told in a 2 minute consult the redness will go in a couple of weeks and there is now single vision straight ahead………Pippa and I had already figured out both those pieces of information on our own now that the soreness has eased and the weeping has subsided.  Really, the only person who can truly know how beneficial the surgery has been is Pippa. I can’t imagine what it was like for her to see double all the time and only she can decide whether the resulting single vision is enough for her to feel a bit more normal. Healing, time and the messages her very clever brain receives and interprets will let her know that.  At least once the redness has gone he eye will sit more central and look normal which in itself is rather important for a 10 year old girl.

Luckily I have an unwritten rule that we always combine hospital trips with something fun.  I try my hardest not to just make our trips about waiting rooms and appointments.  Last week it was dinner in Lygon St with cousins; this week it was a games night with Julie and yoga in the morning followed by breakfast with Pippa’s favourite puppies, Chip and Frenchie before heading to the hospital.  Thank goodness we came away from the games night with a new game to entertain us in the busy waiting room (aptly named “Too Many Monkeys”). I’m absolutely positive I won the most rounds………although after two and a half hours it all became a bit of a blur!

There was no chance of staying down again Thursday night – there was a very pressing reason to come back.  Today is Book Week dress up day at school.  Pippa had been planning for weeks and had an outfit that she had made with Nan ready for her to go dressed up as Agatha Christie’s “Miss Marple”.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen brown and tweed look so stylish!

Pippa, Claudia & Monkey Junior in Lygon St last week
Cuddles for Frenchie & Chip
Too Many Moneys Game
Miss Marple Costume

 

 

 

 

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Aug 25

Back on Track

by Virginia Rea

After a quiet, restful weekend Pippa’s back to school this morning. Wearing sunglasses, she’s opening her eye a little but she can’t judge her vision just yet because there is still a lot of scarring both in and on the surface of the eye.

Updates

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