Daily Diary of Claudia's journey
Here is the latest of Claudia's journey. Let me know if there are any parts of Claudia's treatment or details of it that I don't make clear. Because this has been a long 'journey' I only keep the latest update here but of course the rest has been archived!
February 2010
- Friday 12th
Stars in her eyes
This week has been an amazing week where Claudia has been on TV, in the papers and was the invited guest to open the new Cuddle Corner in Starship hospital this week, wow, what a star!!
Let me start with Claudia's current situation. She is still having her dressings changed each and every Monday and Thursday under general anaesthetic which is because the medical staff need to clean down the wound areas which is much to painful and traumatic for Claudia to do while conscious. Her body is still quite fragile and only a little over 20kgs. She has a wheelchair that she's had now for a couple of years but more recently she has an electric wheelchair which has given her back so much of her independence, the difference has been quite amazing. The one she has at the moment is actually being hired by CCF for Claudia as the one she has been funded for is still some months away so we are SOO grateful to CCF for helping us here as the cost is hundreds per week (CCF week will be coming up sometime soon so do support CCF).
She was in hospital for a week 2 weeks ago for an infection that just 'blew up' and so she got over that and has been at home again since. She has been quite tired and irritable lately so hopefully she'll recover as fully as she can again soon.
The news of this week is that last year Claudia was asked if she could open the Cuddle Corner at Starship of which she excitedly said yes! The Cuddle Corner is the wish of a brave young girl Ella who sadly died from a brain tumour 7 years ago (2003) and it is where critically ill or long term patients in Starship can have their pets brought in and go cuddle them :) Ella had her cat sneaked in which caused some unhappy hospital workers so now after 7 years of development and hoop jumping, it is now open thanks to a wonderful ceremony on Wednesday 10th February. Ella's Mum had a wonderful speech as did some others including the Starship Foundation head, Andrew Young.
TVNZ had their Close Up people come around to see Claudia at home on Tuesday afternoon where they interviewed her & Crystal and again on Wednesday at the opening at hospital. This was then shown on Close Up that evening and they did a fantastic job, it was absolutely wonderful, so thank you very much. If any of you missed it and want to see it, send us a message and we'll try to send you an electronic version of it. Also she was in Thursday's NZ Herald so she really was a star for the day :) She was so thrilled with it all and even the cutting of the ribbon wasn't too much for this wee budding star.
Last night (Thursday) she had one of her friends over for a sleep over which she really enjoyed. They did girly things, had a feast and all of that sorta stuff.
For now that is all to report, will keep you informed as Claudia progresses through her treatment.
Bye for now...Andrew