MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

True to their promise, Fabian was indeed let out last Friday afternoon. He arrived home to a heroes welcome, well it was just the 6 of us but it felt great to have him back.  He was immediately observant, noting that our chick was now a full grown cockerel and the grass needed mowing. Alas, he is only being let out during day times as his blood count hasn’t recovered sufficiently.  He needs to reach the 0.2 neutrophils baseline which to date has eluded him.  This too means the MRD test is further postponed so we live from blood test to result to blood test.
Fabian’s NG tube is a rather obvious feature (why can’t it be flesh coloured?) but is proving the best way to pump in the calories and his weight is steadily climbing.  The diarrhoea has finally abated (amen) and he has had no more temperature spikes. Progress indeed!
Oli, Ben and Cassia start school again this week so some sense of normality will return.  It has felt like the most protracted summer holidays within memory.  Full board at the Hotel Marsden will remain our enduring recollection of 2011.
On a different note, as the world reflects on the forthcoming 10th anniversary 9/11, please also remember that September is CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH with September 12th being named Childhood Cancer awareness day.  Go to www.curesearch.org to read more.
Thanks, as ever for reading and see you next time.

PS  Special mention goes to our friends who made a day trip all the way from Bournemouth to visit Fabian. It was so appreciated.