The post Bone Marrow Transplant roller coaster ride continues - for Melodina, for Indira and myself and for other children and other families. One boy who up until a couple of weeks ago spent much of his time screaming in pain or crying is up, walking around and playing. It is such a relief for us to see this. His parents must feel it even more. We see children in extreme pain and we see them die. We see children suffering with an amazing array of symptoms and we see them survive. We saw a boy who came to visit yesterday who had had his transplant earlier this year.He was healthy, active - wonderful! It is the most amazing experience of my life, barr none.
Melodia has been in betweeen this week. She has pain and nausea with occasional vomiting and loose stool yet she has used her strength of spirit to get up every day. Tuesday she went to the gym and amazed us by reaching a cadence of 109 revolutions per minute on the stationary bike. She's been walking every day and continues planning to be on snow skiing between Christmas and the New Years. Her courage is extraordinary.
It's also been a busy week in other ways. Many people participate in Melodina's recovery. My Aunt and Uncle have be particularly supportive. We hope to get out of the hospital to have lunch with them soon. Melodina's cousins are back from Europe. She hopes to see them and her other cousins over the holiday season. Perhaps some friends from school and others from her previous school will visit. All these things help keep her going. Her social life includes communicating by e-mail, texting and face book. It is not the same as and active social teenage experience but it all helps keep her going.
This week has been particularly busy. Melodina's sister, bother in law, niece and nephew came on Saturday. Sunday Melodina visited some of the shops at Sick Kids and did some Christmas shopping. Monday Global television called late in the day. They want to do a feature on Melodina. We arranged for a reporter and videographer to come to the hospital Tuesday. The hospital public affairs department were a bit perturbed that we didn't call them first but a kind woman helped us arrange everything in the end.
Tuesday went well. Melodina and I were interviewed. The reporter got a hold of Kelly Vanderbeek at the airport as Canada's Alpine World Cup Team was leaving for Europe. Melodina was also filmed in the gym doing her workout. After we were back in her room, Melodina had a visit from her half sister Naomi. She had been eagerly anticipating the visit but fell asleep before too long. Still it was a good day.
Yesterday some of the Toronto Maple Leafs came to visit. We were pleased to meet Curtis Joseph. Melodina has been one of hundreds of children who have benefited by his generosity to Sick Kids over the years. Jason Blake is a great inspiration. He was diagnosed with Leukemia just over a year ago and continues to play in the NHL. Emily is an artist and sculptor who has been a family friend since she was four years old. Now she lives in BC and in the process of choosing a university to go to for her PHD in Fine Arts. Emily came to visit with Melodina last evening. All in all it has been a busy week so far.
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