Hip-hip-hooray, Last Procedure Today!

RETROSPECTIVE Entry from Wednesday, 25th August
It's another momentous day in Ellie's cancer journey. Today she will be having her FINAL bone marrow aspiration and removal of her central line and nasogastric tube. We are so happy for her to have reached this milestone!
Paul has taken her in again for her final procedure. She was definitely a little nervous leaving the house, but we are praying for a quick and easy procedure. As she was looking around the house for something to bring with her to do while waiting I said, "Don't worry, you won't have a lot of time to get stuck into much" and she turned and looked at me and said “There's ALWAYS a long wait, Mum!", just like what a well-seasoned, hospital frequent flyer would say.

Anyway, just a quick update to say this is the last time you will see a picture of her with her tubes!

TODAY Monday 6 September
Ellie is now almost 2 weeks post that last procedure. All went well with the final bone marrow aspirate, the central line removal and the nasogastric tube removal. She was a little sore in the chest and back for a few days but is doing well now. Our oncology team called on Friday to let us know that no cancer cells were detected on the flow cytometry. So, she is absolutely, positively in 100% deep remission.

Ellie is now going in for fortnightly blood tests on an outpatient basis, and this should soon change to monthly for the foreseeable future. She is otherwise settling in to home-schooling (as we continue to be in lockdown due to the Delta strain being rampant here in NSW) and family life. Her hair is growing back, her cheeks are becoming rosier and her weight is returning to normal. She is LOVING being with her new puppy, Chewie, and riding her bike, playing Minecraft with Annabelle and taking walks with the family. 
We'll continue to post updates on our little champion as she transitions into the next phase of life :)

KC