So I ended my last post from beside Tori's hospital bed. We had just been readmitted, and we weren't quite sure how long for.
Tori was readmitted into hospital when the antibiotics she went home with after her last admission, failed to fight off the infection.
After new MRI scans it was confirmed that Tori's infection had not only grown, but also spread to her bones. This certainly wasn't the news we were hoping to hear!
So with Ella and Gary setting up camp in a nearby caravan park, Tori and I get again settled into hospital life.
More IV antibiotics, blood tests and MRI scans.
Lucky for Tori she had plenty to keep her busy between tests and Doctors visits.
And not only Tori, but also Ella, yet again started to pass the time by attending lessons in the Hospitals School room. After school both girls would race off to the Starlight room where they would be inundated with fun games and activities to join in with.
My days passed by quite quickly by chatting with the many friendly families of other children within the hospital and Gary passed his time working on the car and cooking us many home cooked dinners! (One can only eat so much hospital food...)
After 22 days we finally got the green light to leave hospital. Excited? YES!!! Nervous???? Also unfortunately YES.. Tori still had a course of IV antibiotics to complete, but I was taught how to administer these via her PICC line each day.
Having to stay in the area so Tori could still make regular hospital visits, we booked into a lovely Family Villa in the Karuah Big4 caravan park for the next two weeks.
With the jetty just a short walk from our villa, Tori wasted no time taking her rod out most days to catch some fish off the Jetty.
Ella being Ella, did what she does best by rounding up a handful of new friends who followed her around wherever she went!
With Easter falling during our stay, we had a great time joining in with all the free Easter activities.
There's was plenty of Art and Craft to join in with, Zorb Ball to run across the pool on, and a massive Easter Egg hunt one night.
We explored the nearby towns of Nelson Bay, Shoal Bay and Tea Gardens.
We went driving down nearby 4x4 tracks and had some fun in many muddy puddles and exploring the sand dunes and shipwrecks along Stockton Beach.
We took the boat out in Port Stephens and although the fish didn't seem to be biting, we did catch a handful of squid and had a friendly little penguin come say hello!
The more time that past, the more Tori was improving. She had her PICC line removed and moved onto oral antibiotics. In no time at all Tori had began running around with her sister once more and seemed back to we normal self.
The doctors were confident that this time the antibiotics had done their job and gave us the thumbs up to continue with our travels!! Yeah!!!
Although there's no guarantee that her infection won't regrow, we are feeling quite confident this time and plan to keep a close eye on Tori. At the first signs of any irregular pain or fever we won't hesitate to take her to the nearest hospital.
But for now we are thrilled that she is back to her usual self and that we can continue on our adventure!
To everyone who sent prayers, kind word, letters and gifts, we thank you! Not one went unnoticed and they were all highly appreciated and brought smiles to all our faces :)
Xx
