Bravehearts

Georgia Smith's Story

Georgia's mum Helena knows all too well the highs and lows of cancer treatment. Here Helena recounts their family's journey from diagnosis to her current maintenance treatment.

It was a Monday morning in October 2008, all three of my children were sick and I was taking them to the doctors that afternoon. Walking in the doctors surgery I remember thinking they timed this well, all sick together and not just Georgia this time.

Rhianna (13) had a chest infection, Lachlan (9) had a suspected broken arm and Georgia (3) was sick again with a sore throat and a high temperature. I remember thinking she had tonsillitis again, as she had had tonsillitis four times in the last two months. I was expecting to get antibiotics again for her but the GP decided to have a blood count done because she was pale, "she is a little anaemic nothing to worry about", he said. "Just get the blood test done in the next week or so and I will ring you with results".

Not quiet convinced there was "nothing to worry about" I had Georgia's blood test done at 2.30pm on Tuesday, the same day Lachlan was to have an x-ray on his arm.

The day was a wet day and everyone was in a rush that day but by the time I got home at 5pm Wayne was home from work waiting for me, this was a little strange. I walked inside and he said that the hospital rang and Georgia has a "virus" that needs more investigation the doctors are waiting for her at Tamworth Base Hospital, we need to take her there straight away.

What sort of virus we didn't know but we took her to the hospital and sure enough they were waiting for us. Things moved so fast, we were told she would be admitted for more blood tests and ultra sounds and for further investigations. "She has a virus and we are not sure what," the doctors said. All sorts of things went through my mind but nothing would prepare me for the events of the next few days.

Wednesday was a beautiful day outside and all Georgia wanted to do was go outside and play after her ultra sound that morning, but we were told she was a very sick little girl and could have no visitors and could not go out to play. Why? I kept thinking she is so active today, to think she was so sick two days ago. The paediatrician and two nurses came in, I was alone with Georgia and I remember the doctor saying Georgia has suspected Leukaemia and we have booked the air ambulance to fly her to either Newcastle or Sydney hospital for further investigation.

She would need a bone marrow biopsy. Further investigation? How much further investigation was needed? I remember holding Georgia so tight she wiped my eyes and said "mummy why are you crying you can't be sad". If only she understood what I was just told.

My mother Margo and Husband Wayne finally got to the hospital where I told them the news. They went home, packed and drove to Newcastle where arrangements had been made for them to stay at Ronald McDonald House for a "few days".

We chose to go to John Hunter Children's Hospital, the best decision we were to ever make even though we didn't really know it at the time.

As the day went on waiting for the ambulance to come and get us I looked outside wondering how much longer would the ambulance be, and why was it such a beautiful day outside and such a dark horrible day inside.

We finally got to John Hunter Children's Hospital at about midnight where we were met by a doctor and nurse there to admit us. I remember Nurse Scott putting a cannula into Georgia's little hand and when we went back to her room she said to me "mum I hate that man he put a needle in me". Little did she know that Scott would become her friend and needles were going to be part of her life for a while.

Thursday morning Doctor Liz Hesketh came into see Wayne and I and explained that Georgia would have a bone Marrow Biopsy done to determine what type of Leukaemia she had. They were sure she had Leukaemia and Dr Hesketh would meet with us at 3pm with the results and to discuss the next steps.

3pm came and in walked Liz Hesketh and Jodie the social worker. By the look in Liz's eyes I new what she was going to tell us. We went into a room on our own and Liz told us that the conversation would be taped, if that is ok, for our own interest as we may not remember much of the conversation. How true that was! All I can remember was Georgia has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and would need to start treatment straight away. Then nothing………….. I felt numb, this was not true, my little girl she is not that sick, she has a sore throat and this is a dream, a nightmare. She then went on to explain things to Wayne, I was of no use, he was the strong one and held it together for all of us.

Friday, day one of treatment, there is so much to take in not only with Georgia and treatment but we need to explain all of this to Lachlan and Rhianna. Do we tell them the truth? Do we shield them from the truth? How much do we tell them? Do we live as two families? One in Tamworth and one in Newcastle? What do we do? I hate it why did this happen to my family, what on earth did we ever do to be handed this card.

Here comes a nurse, they were good; they explained everything they were doing to Georgia and asked if we had any questions. Yes of course I do "why my little girl?" What do you think? Oh I hate you all! You don't understand and will not answer the question "why my little girl" (Of course I know they didn't have that answer).

Each day was hard and the days we needed to go to theatre for treatment was the hardest, watching her go under anaesthetic was just ripping my heart to pieces. I just don't understand and no amount of talking to councillors doctors or nurses seems to be helping my anger go.

I remember going into the family room one night to get something for dinner and there were two mothers there, they introduced themselves as Kim and Terri, they asked what type of cancer Georgia had and was she neutropenia etc. I looked at them with a blank look they said don't worry you will understand all theses words within a week and know how important they are. "We are here if you need to talk, we have been around for a while," they said. I walked out and thought to myself what are they talking about. Who do they think they are, my little girl has just been diagnosed with Leukaemia and you are telling me to learn words.

Finally after 10 days in hospital we were allowed to take Georgia "home" to Ronald McDonald House. We decided it was best for our family to tell Rhianna and Lachlan everything that we were told and that our family was going to stay together. We took extended leave from our work and Rhianna and Lachlan went to school at John Hunter Children's Hospital School. My mother Margo stayed with us for the first six weeks, she became my strength, she was there for me all the way as was my father, brother, sisters and their families, we had to try and continue our normal life as much as we could.

Normal life to us was to become hospitals, treatment and a life we were not use to. We not only had to deal with the emotions of a sick child but Rhianna and Lachlan understood what cancer could mean. We struggled with their personality changes as they learnt to cope with their little sister being so sick. They went from beautiful affectionate children to angry aggressive children, something I hated seeing.

With the help of the social worker we got Rhianna involved in Canteen, this was the best thing we ever did for her, they helped her cope and understand in only a way teenagers can, they become her life line and saviour. Lachlan he was hard to help as boys keep there feelings to themselves, but with the help of the John Hunter Children's Hospital oncology councillor, the teachers at the JHCH school and Captain Starlight, they were able to be his outlet and helped him get by each day. Often we would find Lachlan in the Starlight Room "being a kid "not being Georgia's brother, but just playing and smiling like he should be at nine years of age.

I felt that I was getting no support from Wayne and often thought he didn't care, as I hadn't seen his emotions yet. He was the strong one but in the dark of night I would often hear him cry when no one was looking, this is when I knew we had to pull ourselves together and draw strength from Georgia and fight.

The next morning I woke and started writing in a diary everyday to help me cope and this became my way of releasing my anger and my hatred, it was my outlet.

The first Protocol of treatment was the hardest for us as we had to learn a new way of life medical terms and had to get past the hate that we had developed for everyone. The 7 to 9 months that we would be here for treatment seemed so far away. Georgia made everything a game and was happy, the needles didn't worry her anymore and she decided herself one day that she was going to be like Emily and not have emla (numbing cream) on her port before she was accessed, as she was brave and emla hurts more. I thought if a 3 year old can make this decision than I can be happy, I can find the strength to fight.

She named her drip, his name was "Jim Bob" and every time we were to go to hospital Georgia would ask if Jim Bob was going to be there today.

We eventually made it through protocol one and the nurses, theatre staff, doctors, Ronny (Play Therapist), councillors and social workers all become our friends. They were no longer just doctors, nurses, hospital staff, they are our friends they are people would cry with, people we could yell at and could have a hug from when we needed. They also became our strength to get through.

Days went by and weeks followed, each day we met with new challenges, with treatment, but as each week went by life became a new type of normal. We became comfortable with what was dealt to us and we started to enjoy our life again, this "horrible Journey" that we were sent out on some weeks ago wasn't that bad at all. Sure it was tough and we still have days but all our children are happy now and are enjoying life. Ronald McDonald House the JHCH School and the staff at the Hospital have all helped us make life "normal" again.

251 days after that day in October 2008 we finally went home to Tamworth on "maintenance treatment". This treatment will continue until October 2010. It was very scary going home after all this time; we became reliant on the Newcastle staff and Ronald Mc Donald House. We suddenly discovered we could now go home and would be on our own. Although we new the staff at John Hunter Children's Hospital were only a phone call away we were still a little scared.

Within a week or so we were all back into the swing of things, Rhianna and Lachlan back at their schools, Wayne back to work and Georgia and I were home in our own beds. Georgia even thought she got all these ‘new" toys (as she forgot that she had them at home).

As I write down my thoughts now (Georgia is 8 weeks off her 2 year anniversary of diagnosis) I look back on our journey and wounder why I had such hate for people, why I felt the way I did when really it wasn't that bad. Sure I can say that now but the truth of it all is I was feeling what every parent would feel and I dealt with it the same as every parent would.

Somehow somewhere you find the strength to deal with what ever cards you are dealt and my children will always be a priority and I know now I can do anything for them. With the love we have for each other we can and have got through this journey a stronger family and I am a better, stronger person because of what we went through.

By the way, those two ladies I met in the family room at the beginning of Georgia's treatment are now good friends of ours, as are many other parents that we have met during the last 18 months. Georgia, Rhianna and Lachlan have also got a lot of good friend and good memories from their experiences.

The way the staff at John Hunter Children's Hospital came to the aide of others is just amazing. We couldn't wish to have met better people. You are all treasures on this earth and we say thankyou to all that have helped us on our journey.