Update................yes I know I have been slow!!!!!!

I'm afraid I have not been able to post recently because I just havn't had a moment to spare. Don't freak out at what is written below ......she pulls through! Kayla has been very very ill. She started to loose weight again (down to 40 Kg) She became weaker and weaker to the point where I had to carry her up and downstairs! Finally she became bedridden, confused, woulndn't take her medication and didn't even recognise our daughter! Things were looking dire the GP advised me to prepare for the worst! Then in true Kayla style (Drama Queen) she had a fit in front of our children, her mother and visiting family! Luckily one of the aunties is a nurse and I get First Aid training being in the Armed Forces. We got her into the recovery position and I maintained her airways as best I could and talked her through it. Auntie Elaine was fantastic calm as a cucumber salad. I found it difficult in the extreme to maintain a calm voice whilst her lips were turning blue. I also nearly lost a finger as tried franticly to keep her from biting off her bottom lip! The fit lasted about 5 mins (The longest 5 mins of my life!) Meanwhile our daughter and her mother were running about in the street screaming thinking Kayla was having a heart attack. We dialled 999 and preyed for a quick response. When they arrived the paramedic crew wern't overly bothered about the fit but seemed more concerned about her 186 heart rate and weak pulse. Off to A&E for us! A&E were quite swift about 3 hours in triage before going to a ward. Whilst being assessed Kayla said she was 29 and the year was 1996???? She was still very confused. Tests showed a very high white blood cell count and a Urine infection............ they thought they had it They were WRONG!!!! woefully wrong!!!!! Kayla spent 48 hours in hospital with a slight improvement, then home. After a few days there were no more signs of recovery. Her confusion gone but lots of pain and a much heavier loss from below. We were all still worried and not convinced that this was caused just by a UTI. So I phoned the "Marsden". After my call the team were as concerned as us and she was admitted within 48 hours. They were horrified at the state of Kayla. Skeletal was an understatement! and she was so weak and unwell. An MRI showed no sinister changes on the initial glance over. Her heart was a worry as her pulse was 137 at rest! They thought she was to ill to endure another EUA. Then all became apparent! Her bloods came back and she was life-threateningly low in pottasium, magnesium and calcium! The consultant said Kayla has come so far in her 2 year cancer battle that it would be horrific to loose her to something so basic! The Marsden machine kicked into action. Lines in, drips up, pills potions all washed down with loads of TLC from the wonderful staff of the Wiltshaw ward. She was given a portocath (not sure how to spell it). It's a permanent line in the chest to obtain swift access to veins to take blood and give important nutrients and fluids. It sticks out at the moment as she is so thin, but who cares if it does such a good job. Within 24 hours Kayla was back from the brink and alert and responsive within 48 hours she was trotting up and down the ward bored and looking for mischief. On the 4th day she was ready for home when we got the biggest present of all. The gastro peeps at the Marsden want to investigate why Kayla does not seem to be absorbing enough electrolytes from normal eating (they think it is related to Radiotherapy and some pancreatic disfunction) So they will now be managing her from here on in and we don't have to go to St Marks anymore. Don't get me wrong St Marks is the UK centre of excellence for intestinal stuff and they succesfully carried out a life saving Op on Kayla and we will be ever thankfull for that. It's just that the NHS is a huge beast and not that good at communicating between different trusts. So it is far better to have all your care requirements "eggs" in one Hospital "Basket" The change has been short of a miracle, Kayla arrived in an ambulance on a stretcher and 96 hours later on the 23rd December, walked down the front steps and hopped into a taxi!!!!! Christmas was fantastic I didn't realise how much I missed being bossed in the kitchen! we even went to the pub whilst the turkey was cooking! We both had a long heart to heart in the hospital Kayla revealed to me that she thought she was on a one way ticket and I admitted that I also thought the battle was over and I was going to lose her. Big Tip................... Never say Never!.............................. (Doh just said it twice!!!!!) We have a quiet New Year planned and Kayla is due back in the Marsden on the 9th for the EUA. She is eating like a horse and now weighs in at 44kg! She is taking daily suppliments of magnesium, pottasiun and calcium and may have to forever. But hey whatever! She is trotting around the house in her new and 6 - 8 sized clothes looking very glam. Onwards and upwards. Ladies and gents here's wishing you all a late Merry Christmas and a positive and lucky 2007. Kayla sends you all her love as do I Take Care Stu