Latest update: April 2017
Since the last update which was December 2015, Benji has continued to do well. He is now in Year 1 at school. He’s incredibly bright and hardworking, and thoroughly enjoys going to school. He particularly enjoys science and reading.
He has only been admitted to hospital once which was last summer (July 2016), when he had a line infection (in his portacath) and glandular fever. Other than that, he has been generally well. Obviously he has picked up a few bugs along the way but manages to fight them himself. Occasionally he becomes neutropenic and has his maintenance chemotherapy stopped to allow his body to recover.
Side effects of treatment are minimal but Benji still lacks the strength his peers have in school. He tries so hard to keep up with everyone and pushes his body to work the best it’s can! Benji is starting Capoeira classes this week with the hope it will help build strength up in his legs now he is coming to the end of treatment.
Out of school, Benji enjoys being outside and has a keen interest in wildlife. He enjoys travelling to London to visit his auntie and also loves spending time with his cousin. He also enjoys playing on his Xbox on days where he lacks energy. Benji also loves to collect Lego and enjoys visiting Legoland for his holidays as he isn’t able to travel abroad whilst on treatment.
Benji will have his last intravenous chemotherapy and steroids in October 2017 and his last oral chemotherapy on 20 November 2017, which will mark the end of his treatment! Obviously we are very excited about this but somewhat nervous. As much as we are ready for treatment to finish, it will feel like we have lost our safety net, but we are confident that Benji will continue to live a happy and healthy life.
Benji is very excited to have his last chemo and is looking forward to having lots of overdue adventures in 2018 when he hopes he will be able to go on a plane to Lapland and a summer holiday with all his family to Italy!
Louise (April 2017)