MIDDLE
Summary:
We settle into a routine of life with a
life-threatening illness. Clara has periods in hospital, alternating with time
at home, depending on phase of treatment program. Sometimes even goes back to
school.
We accustom ourselves to the rigours of chemotherapy
and its side effects, including nausea, vomiting and hair loss. Blood is tested
regularly, monitoring level of lymphocytes (white blood cells) that the cancer
over-produces and level of red blood cells that the chemotherapy is also destroying.
Sometimes a blood transfusion when red blood cell count is too low.
And many other medical procedures and
interventions, keeping Clara well enough while she copes with leukaemia and
chemotherapy. We grow familiar with the Royal Childrens Hospital cancer ward,
the nurses, doctors, helpers, the hospital daily round, the beeping IV feed. It becomes sort of
comfortable, though still so hard. Somehow
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