Well, Christmas came and went and apart from a slight temperature on the morning of the 25th, K has stayed remarkably well. We all had a great Christmas Day at home and we were joined by our friends on Boxing Day. Today we went to the cinema to see "Zoom" (no, I'd never heard of it, either) however K enjoyed it. Made better by the fact that we were the only three in the screening!

We really happy that we've managed Christmas at home this year, with no hospital visit. It's possible that K has got over the worst side effects of the chemotherapy, that and the fact that it's a lower dosage. Next week sees another session of chemotherapy over 2 days and the radiotherapy will start on 2nd Jan 2007, every day, five days a week for about 6 weeks. It's going to be a strain, as it's done on an outpatient basis at the Marsden, but it does mean that the light at the end of the tunnel is, we hope, getting closer and brighter.

So, hopefully this is the last blog of 2006. We wish you all the very best for 2007!

It was a great weekend for all the family, with presents being exchanged and opened as if it was the 25th! On Monday we were all at the Royal Marsden for a kidney function test and also to have a planning session for the radiotherapy that starts in the new year. They have put three very small black dots on her which the radiotherapy scanner will line up on each time to ensure that the same area is being zapped! The dots were done by placing some black ink on her and then a small pin prick, just like a tattoo. School is now over and we don't know what lies ahead over the next few days. Going on past experience we estimate that there is a reasonably good chance of being in the isolation room at Kingston over the Christmas period, in fact the 25th is a good bet. We'll just have to wait and see.

I've said it here many times but once again, THANK YOU to everybody who visits the site to check up on Kiera. The support, love and affection has really touched all three of us. The past 12 months has been an emotional roller coaster, from the highs of Australia and Hong Kong, to the lows of diagnosis and the effects of treatment. But it has been made easier knowing that we have so many friends close by and around the world supporting us and thinking about us. Thank you so much! We hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas and that the New Year will bring you all that you desire.

K's blood count was low on Friday so on Monday morning a nurse called to take some blood and have it checked. It had gradually crept up over the weekend and so Monday afternoon saw K and A heading off to the Marsden once again. Whilst the Marsden are excellent in their care, they don't seem to be all that good in communication and it transpired that the treatment would be just over 27 hours, not the longer duration that we expected. So, A and K are back home now, a day earlier so all is well. We're having Christmas Day part 1 on Saturday when K's Granny, Grandad, Uncle and Aunt will be here so she's looking forward to that. And of course lots of other things happening as we head up to the end of term next week. Have a good weekend! More news as and when and a few recent photos of K are added to the photo section.

K came out of hospital yesterday and is fine but still need to finish her course of anti biotics, of which the last is this evening. She went to school today along with her cycling proficiency badge and her achievement certificate to show her friends. Tomorrow it's of the the Marsden for a few tests then a weekend at home with a 3 day stint at the Marsden starting on Monday.

After a really good weekend, K's temperature shot up over Sunday morning and so she and I went into Kingston on Monday morning at about 5.30. We're really encouraged that the seventh dose of chemo, which is a different regime from the original 6, hasn't hit her as hard as previously. No sore mouth and other effects which has blighted her in the past. Ann is with her at the moment and we hope they'll both be out tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. On Friday it's off to Marsden for pre chemo tests and then the 8th session starts on Monday. K would like to thank everyone who has left messages on the blog for her, she really appreciates it!