6 YEARS OLD

Brendan turned 6 years old on August 14th. He had a BBQ with his close family and his best friend Keegan on the Sunday before his birthday. He had some friends over after school on his birthday to share some birthday cake. Brendan's joy and enthusiasm over his birthday was very hard not to catch.

His two favourite gifts were a Pokemon DS game and a "Doodle Monster". Brendan had a great birthday. He was well, happy and very excited. He took chocolate frogs to share with his class mates at school.

The well bit has not lasted as long as we would have liked. Brendan was admitted to hospital for a second time in two weeks on Friday night with a virus. He was very unwell, but true to Brendan's amazing form, was discharged the next morning. He managed to be discharged in time to attend a SANFL charity round for the Make a Wish Foundation. Brendan and Kieran got to run out on the field with the players and do the coin toss at the beginning of the game on behalf of the Foundation. Brendan was very excited about going and delighted that the doctors had given him the 'all clear'. Brendan and Kieran had their 30 seconds of TV fame on the Adelaide ABC. Several Eagles supporters, supported the foundation by offering goods to raffle and offering to pay for two return air fares to Coffs Harbour, to be used to grant Brendan's wish to swims with the dolphins.

Kieran and Brendan at the Eagles club rooms

Brendan's bone marrow cytogenics (the genetic make up of his bone marrow) have come back as normal. This means his marrow is not turning nasty for the moment. He will have another bone marrow biopsy in October to ensure he has the all clear for his trip to the Gold Coast with Camp Quality.

At the end of August, Brendan and his family will spend the weekend with 10 other Camp Quality families at Narnu farm. This time, Brendan's companion (Shaun) from Camp Quality, will be joining us for the weekend. The weekend will give all of us the opportunity to get to know each other better before Brendan spends a week with Shaun and the other campers at the Gold Coast.

Hope everyone is well

Love Anna, Brendan and family.

xxx

JUST IN CASE WE FORGET

After a really happy week at school and the wish to try and attend school for a full week, the following week Brendan caught influenza type A. After a scarey few hours in the hospital emergency Brendan true to his form sat up looked at the nurse and said I'm hungry. Brendan spent a day and a night in hospital, on fluids and steriods. His doctors wanted him out of hospital as soon as possible. They are always concerned that Brendan will pick up another infection. Brendan spent a week at home recovering and is back to school part time. His energy levels have been really zapped and any small amounts of weight he has gained recently have been lost.

He loves to suck his tummy in and watch my reaction to his skin and bones.

Brendan is really excited about his up coming birthday, for us it is a amazing milestone. It will be a year since we were told Brendan has MDS. Adults with Brendan's type of MDS often only survive for about 12 months. I am certain that Brendan's joy of life gives him the energy to keep going. Today he is back at school with his friends having fun.

I'll post some birthday pictures soon.

Love Anna