The Not-So Vacation

Four days after Rosie's Central Venous Line removal, the family decided to join Dad's business trip to Windsor.  Why  not, hotel is paid for and we have relatives at nearby Detroit.  The room has a kitchenette, the area was not a typical getaway, so shouldn't be crowded. It was a great idea!  Little did we know that this vacation wasn't meant to be.

On Tuesday, July 11th, we packed our bags and van and headed  to Windsor to meet Rosie's dad later on. As we stopped for lunch, halfway our trip, I noticed that Rosie's small rashes from yesterday gotten  worse. We thought it was just mild skin irritation.  Now, those tiny rashes evolved into blisters on her head and now her eyelid is also affected.  We have a mdical emergency and we need to decide what to do ASAP.  Hubby and I decided to take her to Windsor hospital to be assessed and the rest of the family can stay in the hotel room.  So I drove straight to the hospital.  We never took Rosie anywhere else than Sick Kids Hospital.  It was a good thing we had a doctor's note explaining Rosie's condition.

Rosie has been admitted for shingles with IV antiviral that she will require for a week.  We spent a night at Windsor Regional Hospital. The boys and grandpa had to stay in the hotel until dad was able to take time off work.  Dad only needed to work there until Friday and our relatives couldn't come to meet us. So it was better for the family to return home than to stay in Windsor.  So after 24 hours of IV treatment, we left Windsor and headed home while hubby stayed and continue with his work.

One hour into driving, my younger son requested a potty break.  So we stopped at the nearest gas station.  As we were parking, other drivers were staring at us.  As we open our doors and came out, there were smoke coming from the hood of the van. Oh my gosh!  Rosie has an IV lock on her arm and her rashes are spreading on her face, we need to go to Sick Kids soon and we're stuck. "God, please help us," I prayed so hard. Then called hubby. He came over after gathering car tools from a friend and drove the long hour trip. Then it was decided the problem was the transmission and we need the professionals.  So CAA was called to take it to the shop near our home. We weren't inform that there were additional cost after 200km.  We had to pay extra hundreds for towing. (And a lot more for the repairs). But we were blessed that we stopped at a gas station with a restaurant and not stuck in the highway.  The kids ate and sat comfortably waiting. They also entertained each other patiently.  We were also fortunate to have grandpa with us who watched the boys at the hotel when we were at the hospital and he stayed and waited for the tow truck.  Hubby drove us straight to SickKids and then took the boys home.

Rosie end up staying for over 10 days at the hospital.  Apparently,  it is common for post chemo patients  to get shingles.  Its not something they pick up from others.  It happens to anyone who had chicken pox and/or varicella vaccine. (She had both). The virus remains suppressed in the body and usually comes out when our immune system becomes weak.  That  is why shingles are common for the elderly and immune compromised children and adults.                                                  

Rosie's rashes remained on the upper left quadrant of her face. And thankfully, it did not affect her eyes.  She had to be in isolation for the full hospital stay.   She is not contagious to anyone who already had chicken pox.  Even the hospital staff doesn't wear masks or gowns. And for those who haven't gotten the pox, they have to touch the actual fluids from her rashes to get chicken pox.  Adults shingles are more severe and painful. Rosie was only in pain for the first few days and was comfortable afterwards.

Unfortunately, Rosie no longer has a central line.  She needed to be punctured for blood works and IV insertions. Her veins are so small, sometimes it takes several pokes for them to get it right.  Poor little one, her arms look like pink-blue pin cushions. She also had several eye tests that required eye drops which she hated.  Sometimes, she needed oral medications, which is a wrestling battle and she still gets to spit most of it out.  Her rashes is taking so long for it to completely crust and dry out.  For older kids, they usually send them home with oral meds to continue their treatment. But because Rosie is not good with taking oral medications, she had to stay at the hospital until her rashes are completely dry.  If any of her rashes are not dry, it can continue to spread and she would require to return to the hospital for a stronger and longer treatment.  So we are patiently waiting to ensure she is ready to go home. We do miss being home with our family.

Rosie has her own floor mats and toys in her room, it makes her long hospital stay enjoyable.  We are very blessed to have a brave, patient, and joyful daughter and understanding sons. Thank you Lord!

Highlight # 5 - Goodbye Central Line

Rosie reached a new milestone today. Her Central Venous Line is removed surgically.  That's after 2 months from her final Chemotherapy round.  We are so thankful and blessed that her last MRI is clean for any signs of tumour.  And she is doing well with recovery.  She has gained her good appetite and most of the 10 lbs. she lost during her illness. Her hair started growing back in time for her birthday.   We are also so fortunate to have a caring community.  Group of mothers in our community honoured Rosemary for their Relay for Life 2012.  Their team did their 12 hour relay two weeks ago. We joined Rosemary & other brave Cancer survivors for the "Survivors' Victory Lap" which started the relay. Rosemary had so much fun and even circled the lap several times with the family.  We look forward to enjoying the summer now that she's free from daily nursing visits!