tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47233270478022616022024-02-08T17:55:45.233+00:00Katie's fightOn the 30th July 2008 I was diagnosed with metastatic malignant melanoma. I have found that talking about how I'm feeling and sharing this with others really helps me. Please add comments to help give me the positive energy to fight my biggest challenge.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-16184506460475213772010-06-15T21:19:00.002+01:002010-06-15T23:17:04.154+01:00This week is Melanoma Awareness Week so its quite appropriate that the Marie Claire article is out now. As well as a moving article about Katie it gives a list of suspicious changes to look for in moles. Marie Claire have also asked for permission to write more about Katie based on her postings on her blog.<br />Also this week the aerobics girls at Hanbury will be unveiling the bench that they have raised money for and had inscribed with one of Katie's favourite poems. It will be placed in the formal garden behind the swimming pool.<br />On the 2nd June we held the Interment of Katie's ashes with close family and a short service from Jo, the Vicar. It was another beautiful sunny day and Sophie played Pachelbels Canon at the graveside before letting off a helium balloon with a card that she had written attached. I still need to order a head stone but if anyone wants to know its - Hertford Town Cemetery on North Road, block F, row E.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-27244024578533826282010-05-31T16:33:00.002+01:002010-05-31T17:01:25.762+01:00Team Katie completed the run - and no one needed an ambulance! In fact personal bests were achieved by most of us! Thanks to everyone who sponsored us - we have well and truly smashed our target.<br />Robert - I can genuinely thank you for my Christmas present now (5 months ago -being told my present was that I was booked on to a 10k run didnt seem such a great present!) but it was really good fun and I would definitely do it again. Not sure I am ready for a marathon yet though!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-26275264021079268962010-05-31T16:09:00.000+01:002010-05-31T16:09:13.439+01:00Untitled by checkmyrun at Garmin Connect - Details<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35198358">Untitled by checkmyrun at Garmin Connect - Details</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-50454777427248362592010-04-16T20:57:00.002+01:002010-04-16T22:04:11.551+01:00Sorry its been so long since the last post. Last week was Evie's second birthday and she had a party at Willows Farm for her friends and their siblings. She had a great time, the weather was perfect and she loved opening her presents. But I think the terrible two's actually started a couple of weeks ago for her - she knows what she wants and goes all out to get what she wants - with a very cheeky grin as she does it! <br />This week we have been at Center Parcs and had another brilliant time. Katie had booked it for us before she knew the cancer had returned. She would have wanted us to enjoy it and we did! But we also spent a lot of time thinking, remembering and talking about things we had done and shared there with her in the past. And it was good to have Sam, Christian and family there and also to spend a day with Robert, Julijana, Noah and Farrah.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-29307006063687216822010-03-30T22:03:00.002+01:002010-03-30T22:29:58.604+01:00On Sunday a group of Katie's friends rode the "Pedal it Pink" marathon in tribute to Katie - each wearing "friends of a beautiful blonde" on their tops and lots of pink of course! We went with Katie's parents and Robert, Julijana, Noah and Farrah to support them. Once again the rain forcast at the beginning of the week turned into a bright, dry morning for the ride!<br /><br />Also I took the donations from the thanksgiving service and party to the Hospice last week. In all we raised an amazing £2,678 for the Hospice, £550 for The Willow Foundation and £206 for Cancer Reasearch UK. So thank you to everyone who made donations to Katie's charities.<br /><br />On the 31st May I, together with Katie's parents, Jane, Robert and Julijana, Tom and Marija, will run the Bupa London 10k raising money for the Hospice. Tom has set up a page on the justgiving website so I hope you can afford to make another donation - the link is <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/run-for-katie">http://www.justgiving.com/run-for-katie</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-91977574961756468232010-03-23T16:14:00.002+00:002010-03-23T16:27:11.244+00:00We raised £427 pounds for Willow Foundation and £888 for Isabel Hospice by doing the walk. Thanks to everyone that turned out for it. The Hospice want to include an article about the walk in their newsletter which goes out to about 20,000 hospice supporters.<br /><br />I have yet to get the donations from the Thanksgiving Service and Party to the charities for counting but I hope to do that in the next day or so.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-51718994092036005782010-03-21T18:21:00.002+00:002010-03-21T18:39:55.815+00:00The sun shone again for our walk for Katie. Thanks to Fran and Tina for organising a great day with 37 balloons - one for each year of Katie's life, and a 5 mile walk through beautiful country side. I reckon between 100 and 150 people attended. I know we raised over £400 pounds for The Willow Foundation and even more for The Isabel Hospice.<br />Katie would have been so impressed that Sophie and Sam managed the whole walk too. I was expecting complaints of tired legs half way round but there was none of it. They even ran part of the last half mile! Also thanks to the Creche team for looking after some of the youngest children, Evie included, so we could enjoy the walk without pushing buggies. It was a great day and one that I would like to repeat in the future.<br /><br />PS I am talking to Marie Claire magazine on Tuesday as there was not enough time last Friday.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-35167393180347341692010-03-18T22:50:00.002+00:002010-03-18T23:12:39.449+00:00This Sunday there will be a <strong>Walk for Katie</strong> starting at Hanbury Manor. Meet at the Health Club reception. The local paper should be there at 11.45 to take a group photo of all the walkers before we set off at 12.00. Its 5 miles (although children can do the 1 mile walk around the grounds with the creche team), across the country side and a route that Katie ran with the Hanbury running club. It is open to any friends, family and Hanbury members, £5 per adult, £2.50 per child all going to Katies Charities. The forcast for Sunday is reasonably good so I hope to see you there. Or have a good excuse!!!<br /><br />Today I had to postpone an interview for Take a Break magazine because Marie Claire contacted me saying they want to do an exclusive feature. After some consideration I decided that Katie would have preferred to feature in a glossy monthly magazine that would at least stay on peoples coffee table for more than a week and may even end up in doctors waiting rooms etc. I will be speaking to them tomorrow and will then hopefully know in which month it will feature.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-72809809518042300282010-03-16T00:04:00.002+00:002010-03-16T00:33:12.063+00:00Thanks to the BBC coverage today the blog has been visited by thousands of people - over 16,700 visits according to the stat counter. (If you have not looked at it scroll down, click on view my stats and take a peek - it's quite interesting) I have had lots of comments and emails from well wishers, people in similar situations, people concerned about lumps and moles, book publishers, other doctors, as well as friends and family. Katie would find this very amusing. She would also be delighted to know that her story is still reaching out to people and hopefully making a difference, making people live their life to the full and promoting melanoma awareness.<br /><br />A short poem that Katie and I lived by - for anyone else that doesn't know what tomorrow brings:<br /><br />The past is history<br />The future a mystery<br />Today is a gift<br />That's why its called The PresentKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-85304885376205763942010-03-15T13:08:00.002+00:002010-03-15T13:13:38.823+00:00As some people have already discovered there is an article on the BBC website today in their health section. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8561776.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8561776.stm</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-59916161982462127542010-03-13T15:15:00.001+00:002010-03-13T15:16:55.544+00:00I have just found out that there is an article and photo in todays Daily Express and on their website.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-65359752171809591802010-03-10T12:55:00.002+00:002010-03-10T13:35:33.041+00:00Its taken me till today to be able to sit and write to you all. The day on Sunday seems a bit of a blur. But what I do remember of it are good memories. Katie would have been very pleased to see so many friends in the church - about 350 I have been told - and would have loved to hear the stories and praise from her parents, brothers and sister and also the moving peices from the String Quartet. Many thanks to all who contributed to the service - it was a real tribute to Katie's wonderful,yet far too short, life.<br />The party also went well as far as I could tell. The children seemed to be very happy which would have been Katie's priority. They loved the activities laid on by the amazing staff at the Hanbury creche and leisure/beauty centre and also adored the Abba Girls. I know there were many people I did not get round to see/speak to so I am sorry if you were one of them. In fact I was so busy trying that I forgot to take any photos - if you have any good ones please email them to me. Also we did not manage to do Katie's disco playlist justice so maybe that's an excuse to have another party in the future? <br />Thanks also to Hollie and clan for throwing flowers off the cliffs of Fair Isle in tribute to Katie while we all celebrated at her party. Her love of bird watching as a child was mentioned in the service so it's quite fitting that you were doing that from the Bird Observatory up there.<br /><br />BBC online are due to write something in their health section about Katie and melanoma after Tom contacted a friend of his. And Take a Break Magazine are due to be contacting me to write an article on Katie's fight.<br /><br />Meanwhile life goes on. The kids seem happy, the school are being very understanding - I said they should still make Mothers Day cards when the class teachers asked me what they should do - and I have lots of paperwork to attend to!<br />So finally a big thank you for coming to the Thanksgiving Service and the party. I will continue to add significant things to this blog as it will serve as a good reminder in the future. And if any of you have some photos from Sunday please email me a copy. Thank you.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-33444584669105563422010-03-05T01:06:00.003+00:002010-03-05T01:31:04.911+00:00Today (yesterday by the time I actually write this) was an emotional day but no where near as bad as last Monday. Personally I did my goodbyes to Katie then and today was about saying goodbye to her unused body - her spirit was already in Heaven - thats the way the children saw it too and it helped a lot.<br />It was great to have all of the close family together. It was a lovely service - led by Rev Jo Loveridge - whom many of you will see on Sunday. Katie's Dad did a reading, Sophie read her poem and then we each placed a rose on Katie's pink coffin. Yes pink! Dulux sexy pink no less! It looked great. Just as she would have wanted. I am just debating whether to put a picture on here - I suspect Katie would have wanted to.<br />After the service we all went to the George and Dragon in Watton at Stone and rounded off the day perfectly. No prizes for guessing the colour of the pub!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-88779663439359318312010-02-25T01:40:00.002+00:002010-02-25T01:45:53.819+00:00Firstly thanks for everyone’s kind words, poems and messages of support. It has been a great help to know there were so many people reading the blog, thinking of and praying for us. Katie earned every bit of that support through her dignified, unselfish battle. She never complained as some of her worst fears became reality, she always looked for the positives, just accepted and got on with each new challenge. She was always worried about being a burden to me and the rest of her family, and always apologising that this was happening to us all. But I would have loved to have had the chance to continue caring for her, I miss her so much and still can’t believe that she isn’t coming back home.<br /><br />Anyway back to the Party etc. This is what is happening:<br /><br /><strong>Sunday 7th March - 2pm - Thanksgiving Service - All Saints Church, Hertford. SG13 8AE<br /></strong>Everyone welcome. Katie specified that she wants people wearing colour and did not want everyone wearing black.<br />(For those not familiar there is some parking within the church gates (accessed via the bottom end of Queens Road), otherwise on residential streets near the church or the multi-storey car park on the other side of the dual carriageway – church accessible via a pedestrian underpass.)<br /><br /><strong>Straight after the service</strong> – so from 3pm approx we will head to <strong>Hanbury Manor Hotel, Ware, SG12 0SD</strong>. There will be a crèche for children with entertainment and activities. Children’s food in that room from 4ish. Finger buffet for adults during and after the interval of the Abba Girls Tribute act. The Abba Girls start at 5pm. Disco after but probably only till approx 10pm. Please feel free to drop in for just part of the party if you prefer. Some people have asked about fancy dress – Abba style – it’s absolutely fine if YOU want to!<br /><br />There will be some boxes for donations to the Isabel Hospice at the party. This together with, The Willow Foundation and Cancer Research UK were Katie’s preferred charities. Please don’t buy flowers etc – we would much rather see you give that money to a good cause.<br /><br />Close family will be having a Cremation Service on Thursday 4th.<br /><br />Hopefully that covers everything - if not please ask.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-75789449805278244892010-02-22T12:40:00.002+00:002010-02-22T12:48:17.033+00:00Katie's fight ended today at 10.15am while the snow fell outside. She was loved by so many and will be missed so much. But I know she is in a better place now, her suffering has ended. We will all still feel her love, fun, care and kindness as she looks over us from heaven. Her party will be the celebration she deserves. And with all my love she will rest in peace. XXXKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com161tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-60727553446575614112010-02-21T19:45:00.001+00:002010-02-21T19:49:03.142+00:00Katie was moved to the hospice at about midday. Unfortunately the nausea is no better and she feels worse than ever. She has a nice room, which looks out over the courtyard garden and earlier on the sun was shining in beautifully.<br />A short while ago a new combination of drugs was started via 2 syringe drivers (small battery powered syringes that deliver drugs continuously via needles placed under the skin). Hopefully that will ease some of her suffering.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-9647789575587354772010-02-21T08:58:00.002+00:002010-02-21T09:08:46.513+00:00Katie continues to fight. She had the worst night ever last night- feeling nauseous the whole time, feeling anxious, and with various aches and pains. She at least got moved to a single room in the private wing late last night and hopefully she will be transferred to the hospice later this morning. (They dont normally admit over the weekend but we have had various people putting pressure on to bend the rules slightly!)<br />She doesnt have the energy to read her messages herself now but I read them to her so thank you for all your support.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-6189264509262125602010-02-20T13:25:00.000+00:002010-02-20T13:26:18.566+00:00The hospital called me at about 10am to say that Katie’s blood pressure had dropped and that she was very unwell. She remains that way now. Her blood pressure has stabilised a bit but she has virtually no urine output – ie her kidneys have failed. She can not clear the toxins from the blood. I am afraid she will continue to worsen today. The next entry from me may well be the one we have all been dreading.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-65919636171109490142010-02-19T20:11:00.001+00:002010-02-19T20:14:39.316+00:00Unfortunately Katie has not improved with the fluid. Her potassium and sodium levels remain abnormal and it now looks like her kidney function is getting worse. She remains as drowsy and nauseous, and unable to get on with any of the things she wants to do – like Evie’s portrait.<br />Clearly she did not make it to Manic Ceramics this afternoon but the children did and had 2 hours of fun with paint and clay. Meanwhile we had the Medical, Endocrine and Hospice teams to see us. There was a possibility of getting transferred to the hospice tonight but in the end the doctors decided there were still some tests that should be done and so she will stay on the busy medical assessment unit over the weekend. Hopefully it won’t be too noisy and the hospice bed will be kept for her till Monday.<br /><br />I need to confirm numbers for the party early next week so if you are thinking of coming please let me know. It’s likely to start about 3.30/4pm and not go on particularly late as it is school the next day. If you just want to drop in for a couple of hours that is fine too.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-81248117652350595522010-02-18T17:37:00.003+00:002010-02-18T18:06:05.226+00:00Katie is slightly brighter today but still not well enough to come home. The consultant wants her to stay another night for more fluid. The care at the QE2 has been very good - apart from the first 6 hour infusion taking 12 hours! For those of you who know about NHS commissioning - thats how the hospitals keep charging for an extra nights bed stay! She has a bed by the window so she at least she can look out and watch the lovely half-term weather that she is missing! Sophie, Sam and Evie came to visit quickly this afternoon, but Katie was struggling to keep her eyes open. She still feels nauseous (and has just needed another injection to help with that) and unable to drink enough to maintain her fluid level. However the plan is to still to try and get Katie out of hospital tomorrow and go to Manic Ceramics with the children for some messy fun.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-11986892103571628612010-02-17T23:27:00.002+00:002010-02-17T23:35:35.723+00:00Just a quick entry on the laptop from th QEII Hospital carpark! Katie has been feeling terrible all day - totally exhausted, nauseous and thirsty - yet unable to drink because of the nausea. As a result she is now in A&E on a drip, waiting for a bed and still feeling just as bad but hopefully a couple of litres of fluid overnight will help.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-78037076159517847862010-02-16T21:48:00.008+00:002010-02-16T22:06:10.673+00:00Last night was not the best. I felt nauseous throughout and poor Giles ended up sleeping on cushions on the landing again! I have been drowsy, nauseous and thirsty all day but made it downstairs to see Cassie and her beautiful daughters. Managed to eat 2 pancakes too that Giles made. He did very well to make them in large quantities for everyone!<br />Would be really grateful if people could let us know ASAP if they can make Sunday March 7th. It's only 2 and a half weeks away and we need to have an idea of numbers! Please email response to <a href="mailto:katiesfight@googlemail.com">katiesfight@googlemail.com</a> . (We've now got the ABBA tribute girls sorted.)Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-34852756284800174072010-02-15T22:21:00.010+00:002010-02-15T22:42:58.304+00:00I was supposed to take it easy today and stayed in my hospital bed until 3pm. However my sister and I managed to write down quite a few pages of songs for the party with the help of Heart FM, who were playing some good ones! I've also mostly done Sam's portrait, but I need to get cracking on Evie's so will probably post Sam's when Giles can get around to scanning it!<br />I felt very drowsy while Paul massaged me for my lymphodema. I'm also running a temperature and am back on antibiotics for my urinary tract infection.<br />We managed to get to the Galleria to see the Princess and the Frog for 4pm. Evie was fantastic sitting through the whole film, adding a little loud talking and eating much food! Sophie and Sam had seen the show while in Disney World so it meant a lot to them. We dragged my parents, my sister and my brother's family there too. I have to say I didn't feel that great. The wheelchair was too upright and we used my banana board (usually used to transfer me from one seat to another) as a head rest - which wasn't very comfortable. It would have been nice to be reclined a little with proper head support.<br />I've been asleep from 7 till 9 when Jacky the twighlight nurse arrived. So no outing planned for tomorrow - just pancakes with Cassie and her children.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-42645266493503287042010-02-14T20:34:00.004+00:002010-02-14T21:33:00.100+00:00So the district nurses came early at 9am. Giles' parents were already here at 8, helping with the children and then my sister came - but unfortunately the boots would not fit! By 10 we were downstairs and 10.30am, all the family loaded in the van. After a bit of ordering everyone around to check all things were running smoothly at Adventure Castle, I could relax a bit! I had to be wheelchaired out and around the side of the building and through to the food room before I could see the children on the go-karts (that room a little quieter than the soft play one!)<br />Sam had a great time and I think most of the other children did!<br />How tired was I afterwards, though! I think I've only really woken up after coming back at 1.30pm - and it's 8pm now!<br />The fatigue is getting worse every day and I have to admit, the tumours are getting bigger. Just hoping I'll make it to my party on the 7th March.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4723327047802261602.post-224594033448595562010-02-13T21:07:00.005+00:002010-02-13T21:16:29.234+00:00I have been so tired today! The district nurses were here for nearly 2 hours - so I think wore me out again. (Another "B" day!) I then needed to sleep - and slept longer than Evie! Giles woke me up with beautiful Valantines flowers and the lovely handprints that Debs from Manic Ceramics has done. (The writing made me quite tearful.) Sophie, my mum and I then had great fun decorating the little cakes my mum had made for Sam's party bags but I was tired after 2 hours. Just hoping for more energy tomorrow for Sam's big day and my trip outside!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04006176758353130256noreply@blogger.com9