Day Three (9th June 2011)

It is the end of our third full day here and we are beginning to settle in and find our way round. I was woken at half 7 this morning by Millie sitting in her bed playing with and talking to Ella (her special doll that also has wigglies and goes everywhere with us!). She was happy there for half an hour or so whilst I came to. It was a nice relaxed morning (not expecting many of those) and we didn't get down for breakfast till gone 9am.

After breakfast we decided to brave Walmart. We got there ok. My husband wanted to sort out a local mobile so that the hospitals and others can contact us if need be. That took quite a while so Millie and I went and checked out the food. She was looking particularly cute in her Charlie & Lola outfit topped with her red sunhat and she got many admiring comments and smiles. However, she was so tired she actually fell asleep in my arms in Walmart! I don't think she has done that for months. We got lost coming back. The GPS kept wanting to put us on the express way, or whatever they call it here, but we had been told it was easier to come back another way. Unfortunately, we got so lost we had to follow the GPS in the end.

We got back in time to have some lunch (just) and then dash over the road to the childrens hospital. It is all very different to the UK. When we walked into the hospital there was barely anyone around but there was a row of people in booths that were there to 'register' each new patient. So we had to register and sign forms (again) before we could go up to the 8th floor, the oncology department. There I was given more forms to complete but before I even managed to sit down we were called in by Miss Linda (imagine the accent!) who wanted to take Millie's basic health details - height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. Millie started out by trying to refuse to cooperate but Miss Linda was such a force that even Millie succumbed. She actually stood on the scales by herself for the first time ever! And seemed quite happy!

Miss Linda then showed us round the corner to Exam Room 5 of about 8. All the exam rooms are between two corridors. One corridor was the one we entered from and it contained toys, books and puzzles to keep the children amused. The other corridor is obviously "hospital ground" where the doctors and nurses do all their business. I got the impression that all docs used each room through the day in a rotation pattern - i.e. we were put in the next free room and our doc was told which room we were in. After about 10-15 minutes Dr Bradfield turned up with Nurse Paula - they are Millie's main pedeatric carers whilst we are here. We had a quick chat about Millie's health, the doc gave her a quick check up - eyes, ears, chest, stomach. I encouraged him to use Ella which he did and, again, Millie was so taken aback by the very forthright (but gentle) approach that it was all over before she really knew it had started. The doc was then happy and wandered off leaving us with Nurse Paula. She took me through various things, including how to contact them if Millie needs medical attention. They are basically there for medical support whilst Millie has her proton. We left the hospital within the hour of arriving - quite unheard of!

I hate to say it but the health system here is pretty amazing. It all seems very linked up, smooth and quick. However, as my husband keeps pointing out, it is only available to those who can afford to pay the insurance. We are waiting for an appointment for physiotherapy which will be at another hospital. Again, this is something arranged for us by the Proton Institute and they all just seem to accept that this is what is needed and will be done. Interestingly, when I rang up this morning to make an appointment for physio they didn't have one available before Millie starts her proton. Instead of saying it can't be done they said they would contact their manager who would make sure something was available.

We had a quite afternoon, followed by communal tea (BBQ stuff - being veggie here is hard work, I've been eating the meat or I will starve!) and playing for a bit then bed for Millie. RMH have a house dog called Anita. Millie is slowly getting accustomed to Anita who is here most days. Her role is to give support to the children and families by just being around. Millie has met Anita twice today and is beginning to ask to meet her. She wears a red jacket which appeals to Millie as her favourite colour is red. Millie was also admired by the volunteers at dinner time today. One of the rules is that you tidy up after yourself after eating. Millie loves to help and after each meal she 'helps' to sweep the floor. She is beginning to remember where the brush and pan are and loves to carry the brush (about her height) to the table and then 'brush' the bits she dropped. It gets comments and smiles each meal.