A new year..

Well 2013 finished on such a high for us as a family, that really we though life couldn't get any better but sure enough 2014 has arrived and it's proven that the only way is up. We are almost a year since we got the worst news ever.. And we are 9 months since Kerri's 2nd transplant and really we could never have imagined how happy we could be again... Kerri has reached so many milestones in the last few months.. Ones we never thought we would witness.. flower girl at our wedding, starting playschool and the icing on the cake, starting big school last week!! We are so proud of our little star..
I  not good at keeping the blog updated as life is quite busy, our visits to Crumlin are not as frequent and kerri is getting to experience 'normal' life.. Mixing with other kids and learning new things everyday! Please don't be quick to criticise your 'normal' life.. Because it's what we crave for everyday.. Xx

Day + 77(round 2)

Well life is moving along nicely, kerri is doing well. Only problem we have at the moment is Kerri's skin. It's really in a bad way, they are telling us its sunburn but I really doubt it, as her belly, bum and everything is red, raw and itchy. It's really driving her mad. Dermatology are keeping an eye on her, otherwise she is great. We celebrated her 5th birthday and had a ball!! Got into trouble with crumlin for having kerri mix with that many people but I think she deserved it and has been well since. So we are ok!!! Plans continue for the wedding and with being back at work the pressure is on to try and get things done!! They are trying to tell me that myself and paul need to do a pre-marriage course, so I am arguing at the moment that we have done a 4 yr long course!! I swear if we got through the last few years we will do ok!!! Trying to sort the wedding list too,we have to reduce it as with myself and paul not working the last 5 months, it's not feasible to do the same list. So I hope anyone that gets an evening invitation will understand and still join us for the knees up!!!!please don't be offended!!( I'm sure no one will but I dread doing it) Til next time, Thanks for all ur support Xxxxxx

kerri's journey

kerri's journey

Day +56 (round 2)

Sorry I haven't updated in a while but life has been busy in a good way!! Kerri continues to do well, bloods rising all the time and in really good form. She is full of energy and I even find it hard to keep up with her! I started back to work on Monday and normality is slowly returning in our house! We as a family wouldn't have got here without all the support we have received from family and friends and also people I have never met that pray continuously for kerri! Thank you everyone! It means so much to us! Also thank you to everyone for the kind words after I was on the joe Duffy show. I was so nervous but glad I did my girl proud!! We still haven't got any DNA results but the bigger picture in her bloods is showing that it is working well! When their is results back I will do a blog, but for now normal is good! Back to wedding planning!! Whoohoooo xx Xxxx Anita

Day +35 (round 2)

Well I am writing this blog in between making play-doh animals with my princess at home!! All continues to go well and Kerri's bloods are getting better day by day. We still haven't got Kerri's DNA test (where it needs to come back as my DNA and not Kerri's) but we did meet the consultant and he is very happy with Kerri's progress. Life is returning to somewhat 'normal, mammy is hoping to return to work in couple of weeks and start getting money in for the big day. A couple of months ago we were in a dark place and we really didn't know whether we would get to have a wedding with our princess at it, but now life has taken a turn for the better and we will embrace it will all our hearts. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers, please keep them up as the next few months are still a worrying time. We will be positive but I doubt we will ever stop worrying about the dreaded disease returning!!! Kerri, my little girl, you have been through so much in your almost 5 years of life!! You have battled with all your heart and strength since you were first diagnosed at 14 months old... Now hopefully you get to be a child and play and laugh and not worry about anything!!! You make us so proud, love you xxxxxx

Day +20(round 2)

Everything is just brilliant!!! Kerri is in great form. She never ceases to amaze us!! We had to shave her head yesterday (kerri is 5 next month and this is the 3rd time we have had to shave her head!!!) and not a bother to her, stood there with the towel on and smiles the whole way through!!! Now she is telling everyone that daddy took her hair and put it in a bag!! Off course me and paul found it hard but with kerri so happy about it we weren't sad for long!!! Her bloods continue to improve and the liver function bloods are starting to drop towards normal, also the infection she had in her poo is gone since last week!! So everything is really going in the right direction. We continue to get hours out everyday so kerri is getting over to Ronald McDonald house each day which breaks the day for all of us. One thing I noticed while staying in the house was that everyone is really positive, and noone complains and the irony of it is that everyone in the Ronald McDonald house has a seriously ill child somewhere in the hospital! I suppose when this happens to you you realise the silly things that you complained about before you were in this situation!! On a serious note, Kerri's DNA test went on Monday. This is to see whether she is 100% me or not. The aim is for it to come back without any of Kerri's DNA in it. This test takes about 2 weeks so all prayers and candles gratefully received!! Til the next time, Xxxxxxx Anita

Day +17 (round 2)

Well we have had an eventful few days. Firstly on day 14 Kerri's liver bloods were elevated again. They ordered an ultrasound scan of the liver which we had on Thursday afternoon. Off course we didn't get the results that evening which led to an anxious evening for both myself and paul and very little sleep. On Friday morning, Kerri's amazing nurse Lorna told us that it was fine!!!!! Oh the relief!! The bloods then started to decrease which is also brilliant. We also found out that kerri could have hours out over to the Ronald McDonald house on Saturday and Sunday!! The timing was brilliant because it was Nana Anita birthday so we surprised her in the house with a cake and kerri singing happy birthday!!!!! Kerri also got to see her grandad!!! a surprise visit from kerris cousins, hannah,zac & jay also made kerris night!!!So there has been a few emotional reunions again!!! Kerri continues to make us so proud everyday, her strength and courage is unreal!!! She is in mighty form and smiling all day!!! Long may the smiles continue!! Xxxxxx Anita & paul