28/01/2026
Apologies on being a little quiet over here folks whilst the dust has settled post fundraiser. This Block of Chemotherapy has been a challenging one to say the least. We had our day in clinic on the 27th Jan 2026 at 2pm for what we thought was to be a brief visit for some bloods to be run and a subcutaneous administration of Chemotherapy. However that soon changed which is the nature of such things with this journey when we were told Tasman needed Red cells. As we we're only expecting a short visit it then turned into almost 7hours at hospital with most of our time being spent between clinic and on the Ward
This meant port access. This Set Tasman off big time! Port access is something we're finidng harder to navigate as we are with blood tests. One small bonus for that is that Tasman really enjoys the Play room on the ward so it made it a little easier to move him through to the ward once initial obs were completed at the begining of transfusion.
Play and music therapist Chelseas have been engaged to help us with our clinic visits. They're not the same person and Yes both the play therapist and the music therapist are called Chelsea.
He spent a good while with Play Therapist Chelsea before his port was Accessed and she finished up for the day. He really enjoys all the toys she leaves for him in the clinic for our days. Both Play and Music therapists do such a great job with the children in clinic and on the ward.
We've also Spoken with Oncology Therapist Maria and sessions are being arranged. These are to help us gain tools to help navigate this journey further for all.
We have been told IVig (Immunoglobulin) is needed next week - I asked why its now become such a regular thing and it turns out that Blinnatumomab which is an immunotherapy drug we've used during his treatment and whilst giving his body a rest from chemo it depletes the Bcells. This will be ongoing likely around every 4 weeks until several months post his treatments completion when his Bone marrow starts to recover.
B cells are essential for identifying threats and creating targeted, long-lasting defenses through antibody production and memory formation. B cells are produced and mature in the bone marrow. Which is great however Tasmans is currently under a constant removal of all cells due to his Chemotherapy.
We have RDNS nurse's coming out to our unit for the next few days to administer one of Tasmans Chemotherapy drugs subcutaneously. Not his favourite thing to happen thats for sure, thankfully despite struggling he gets over it quite quickly which is usually once they leave.
All in all so far these last weeks and days of his Delayed Intensification Block have been a breeze comparatively to his first two weeks where he was losing his hair so rapidly and also was so sick due to chemo and Norovirus combined.
I'm just grateful that he has the energy to still be up and about playing and eating and drinking well.
The team really hyped up the end of this block as the worst part, He's not out if the woods yet and likely to be neutropenic by weeks end so we will remain cautious all the same.
No two days are the same here and each vary in their intensity or with how many S
Spanners are being thrown in the works because you just dont know. Yet as the days go on each one that passes is one closer to being home.
Our little Soldier just cannot wait to be back at the Orange House home in Port Augusta.
It's been a massive week for our little family especially with Hazel starting school this term. Such a huge milestone and so far shes loving every minute and taking it all in stride.
We all cannot wait to be home together once more.
