BRENDAN'S 7TH BIRTHDAY

Brendan turned 7 on Thursday August the 14th.

He celebrated with a special Chinese dinner of dumplings and pork buns and a chocolate birthday cake with his family. Brendan chose the dumplings and pork buns for his special dinner.

On Friday Brendan spent 2 hours at school. He shocked his teacher and I by standing on the stage at assembly with all the other children who had recent birthday's while the school sang happy birthday. He even said his name and age into a microphone. We then celebrated with his class with a number 7 chocolate birthday cake. On Sunday Brendan celebrated his birthday again with a chocolate castle cake with some of his Adelaide relatives.

After another hearing test and a visit to an ENT doctor it is clear that Brendan has significant hearing loss and needs hearing aides. We are waiting for a referral to Australian Hearing who will fit and supply and take care of Brendan's hearing needs. He will need hearing aides for the rest of his life as the damage done to his ears is permanent.

Brendan's blood counts have been very good this week we only need to go to the hospital for one check up. Brendan has been putting on weight and even growing a little in the last week. His stomach is a bottomless pit. After months of not eating wanting to eat all the time is taking some getting use too.

Our plan is for Brendan to attend school as much as possible. I will stay with him for a while and be there in case I am needed. When the teachers feel Brendan is ready I will leave him at school just like any other kid. Brendan needs to get back to school ASAP so that he can begin reestablishing friendships.

We are dealing with a lot of anger from Brendan at the moment he can throw a huge patty when he wants. I think that as he has energy for huge patty's we need to help him us his negative energy towards something more productive. He doesn't know where this anger is coming from. He has every right to be angry.

For now Brendan is doing well. All we can hope for is that this will continue. We expect many hiccups as Brendan's new immune system develops. Unfortunately you have to get sick to get a better immune system.

Hope everyone is well

Love Anna