Hello my name is Courtney
I was born December 1998 and I am from Dagenham Essex...
 
Quite the little angel eh! and blowing my candles
out on my 2nd birthday.
This is me early in 2007 just having a chill with my coke lol, just
before my treatment at Gt Ormond St Hosp

I live with my parents John and Marie and my new brother John whom I
love and tease a lot.

I also have a new dog whose name is Gunner which is good as my favourite
football team is arsenal.
When I was a little
younger I had some annoying pains in my legs and belly, my mum and dad
took me to see various doctors GPs and hospitals.
I had pain in my side
and felt ill my mum and dad took me to many hospitals and doctors.
Eventually my local hospital kept me in for a week before Christmas of
2006.
In that week I had a CT scan, lots of blood and urine tests, ultrasounds
and x-rays, they also gave me medicine through a canula in my hand.
They allowed me home for Christmas but my mum and dad had to keep taking
me back every 6-8 hrs for my medicine This was tiring and a pain .
I remember the crying babies and if I was allowed I used to go with a
nurse to help feed them.

When I went to hospital after Christmas they referred me to GT Ormond
Street.
Me and my mum went by an old ambulance and my dad met us up there by
train with my grandparents.
When I arrived on the ward I was a little frightened but I was a little
excited to because I thought they could make the pain go away.
The nurses were very nice and friendly they showed me to my own room
with a bathroom.
I met a doctor who had the same first name and surname as my great
granddad.
FUNNY!
Mum and Dad had a lot of paperwork and questions to answer while I
played in the playroom with the play specialist who was a lovely lady
called Natalie.
After everything was completed the doctors allowed us home to PARTY! for
the new year, but we had to return the next day.
When we went back we took lots of photos and posters to decorate the
room, I had my own fluffy pink lights and blanket to remind me of home,
we had all clothes in suitcases- we looked like we were going on
holiday.

Within a few days I had lots of things happen. I had blood and urine
tests again, ultrascans, x-rays, CT scans MRI scans, MIBG scan (which is
a long scan and they inject radioactive isotope into me -this hurt quite
alot but I was very brave).
After all these I was diagnosed with NEUROBLASTOMA and treatment had to
start straight away.
I had to have a Hickman line put in, which hung from my chest and lead
into my heart.
This was my first operation and so I was very scared, but once the
Hickman line was put in I thought it was a good thing as I did not have
to have any more needles.
I called the red end line Arsenal and the white end line England.

Treatment started straight away on the 6th of January 2007, I had to
have something called chemotherapy.
The first time I had this the first thing that went was the pain.
Then after a while I started to get a little sick, but the nurses gave
me magic medicine which makes you feel a lot better.
I was lucky in a way because I could go home for a couple of days in
between my chemo sessions.
This went on for 70 days, half way through I had ultrasounds and bone
marrow aspirate, and then at the end of the 70 days I had MRI /CT scans,
ultrasound, MIBG, and bone marrow aspirates again.
This was so the doctors could see how I was progressing.
Some of these I was asleep for, and the other ones I was just used to
having by now.
Throughout all of this I would have my blood taken and tested to see how
it was.

If my blood was low or if my platelets were low I would have to have a
blood or platelet transfusion, this was ok as I didn't feel a thing and
I always felt more energetic afterwards.
Also a few times I was something called neuropenic, this was when I had
no immune system and so I had to be extra careful who I was around in
case they had a cold etc.
I also had something called GCSF injections which my mum would give me.
It stung a little when it went in but my mum or dad would rub my arm.
This gave my blood a boost ready for when the doctors had to harvest my
stem cells. I was told I would need these later so to help me get
better.
When I was ready to
have my stem cells taken, I had to have a thing put in my groin which
was like my Hickman line only thicker and shorter.
This was so when the man come to take my stem cells he would use these
to connect me to a big machine which would take my blood, filter out my
stem cells and pump my blood back in me.
This went on for a couple of days and it was BORING!....... BORING!
because I could not get down and play or run about.
After all this, and
when my body recovered a little I had a big major operation to take out
the horrible tumour in my belly.
Mum and Dad said the operation went on for around 8hrs.
This was ages but I was asleep so did not know.
When I woke up I felt sick and tired, I also felt a little stiff.
I was in quite a lot of pain but the nurses gave me strong medicine to
take this away.
I stayed in hospital for a couple of weeks.
For a good week I was in pain and did not want to do much else except
sleep.
But gradually I got better and stronger, I stopped taking the pain
relief, I started to sit up and get out and about walking the corridor
on the ward, and I started eating and drinking.
The two bits of good news I had in them couple of weeks was when the
surgeon said he removed all the tumour and when the doctor finally said
I could go home.
HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was not over though,
when my body recovered I went back to hospital, this time to stay in so
I could have my intense part of the chemotherapy.
Throughout this I felt the same as when I had the other chemo. but I did
get a bit of a sore mouth, but this went within a week after I kept
taken my mouthwash and rubbing in my lips with Vaseline.
I had my stem cells given back, my family said this smelt like
sweetcorn, but I could not smell anything, I think they were lying!
Eventually I was
allowed home, it was over.
HOORAY!!
I had 3 weeks of
radiotherapy, this was done at the University of London Hospital.
I was afraid at first about being alone in the room and of the
machinery, but I was given a walkie talkie and I could listen to my mum
or dad talk to me throughout the 5 minutes I was alone for.
The last bit of my
treatment was taking tablets for 14 days every 4 weeks..
I did not mind this I just got a bit chapped skin which went with cream
and when I stopped taking the tablets.

All throughout my
hospital stays and treatments I have felt ok.
I loved having my family around me and enjoyed playing in the hospital
and meeting the teachers has they always have fun stuff to do.
I could go to sleep when I wanted and I could spend time with the
nurses.
I loved playing at the nurses station and pretending to be a nurse.
I was allowed to give myself certain medicines and flush my line with
the help of the nurses.
The nurses thought I was cheeky but funny.
I still do it now when I go back for my checkups, but now I nick their
bleepers and answer phones.
I am currently having
more tests done at Great Ormond Street, at the moment it feels like
hospitals are my life but I am used to it now and I don't let it get me
down.
My Mum and Dad and all my family are very proud of me and I am too.
I go to school part
time at the moment, but I have been having quite abit of time off lately
because of hospital appointments.
I enjoy being back at school and being with my friends.
Most children have been alright, some have been a little mean about me
having only a little bit of hair, but I ignore them or tell them to keep
quiet.
My Mum and Dad have
given me the courage to stand up to those people that like to point and
stare, sometimes I am very tempted to shout or swear at them, and my Dad
said do it if it makes you feel better, but I don't because I'm better
than them.
15th July 2008
I went for a photo
shoot at Basildon with all my family I had some pictures taken with my
nans and granddads and uncles and aunties and cousins.
I had to get undressed and dress again so they could take lots of
photos.
Someone from the local newspapers come to my house to take some pictures
of me with mum dad and John and the next day I was on the of the front
page of the paper.
The funny thing is they wrote that my mum is my step mum and my brother
is my step brother but she is really my mum and he is really is my
brother, my mum was a little annoyed.
I went to the hospital
and I had a bone marrow test, it didn't hurt because I was asleep I
also had a radio active test, the man nurse was not nice and my daddy
wanted to punch him and he said to me you should of kick him under the
table
I
am going back in to hospital tomorrow to have my arsenal and England
lines back in I am not looking forward to that as I thought all my
treatment was all over
I
have also got high school musical tickets to see them and go backstage
and I have tickets to see sugerbabes in concert. which i am looking
forward to.
20
July 2008
I had my
lines back in last Wednesday and then I went home the next day.
I went to see High School Musical and it was so cool, I also took my
friend called Danni and she is 9 years old same as me.
My mum and dad took us there and my brother stayed round my Nan and
granddads house and we picked him up after.
In High School Musical, Troy and Gabriella kiss!! Me and my friend Danni
was having the BEST NIGHT EVER! and after the show we went
back to the car and on the way back we saw that the high school musical
people were outside and saying hello to everyone but we was already
driving home, but we didn’t care because we were singing usher with our
windows open and singing out loud and that really was the best night
ever in the whole wide world.
I have never been out that late before and I fell asleep in the car
while my friend was talking to me, I woke up and went “sorry what was
you saying” and then she laughed and we had KFC after.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During the past couple of weeks Courtney has returned to Gt Ormond St
for more Chemo treatment,
which ended with her staying for a 48 hour session over night at the
weekend.
This has now started to take effect and Courtney is feeling weak and
sick with associated loss of appetite and generally unwell.
Courtney missed the sugar babes concert as she had a very high temp and
was taken into hospital where she currently still is.
undergoing more scans and tests etc, she is feeling very low at the
moment and will probably be transferred soon.
After a few days Courtney has now been transferred to GOSH.
Courtney is feeling slightly better today also having very little drink
and something to eat.
This update is to let website viewers that she does see all messages of
support and she thanks you for all donations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
19/08/08
The other day i had to go to queens hospital
because i had pains in my belly non stop &being sick.
we went up the hospital and i had too stay in for a week and then i had
to go to great Ormond St in a ambulance and my mum come in the ambulance
with me
my dad and my cousin come in a car it was 9:00pm when i started to go to
GOSH and when i got there my dad have to carry me to my bed in GOSH
i had drops and water in a bag and after a few days i was feeling much
better.
last Saturday lots of my family and friends did a walk to Romford
and back and they went to the CUEBALL for a karaoke and my auntie and
her best mate was singing and i started crying because i was in hospital
during the afternoon there was a football girls & boys and my two
aunties played football and i think the girls are better then the boys
COME ON THE GIRLS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i stayed
round nanny and granddads and my granddad had to sleep downstairs
because i sleep with my nan and kick grandad out of bed
hahahahahahahahahah
today i am going for a lovely roast round my auntie raras with her and
my crazy uncle tony and my cousin molly it was nice too play with my
cousin Sheree up the hospital because they come with my nan and granddad
and it was my auntie Sarah's birthday HAPPY BIRTHDAY XXXXXXXXXXXX
it was nice too see my dog again she went crazzzzzzzzzzzzzzy
i am hoping that i can go to the events on the 23rd
and the 30th because we have lots of fundraising to do (i am hoping that
they get loads of donations)
my nanny Tish told me when you get well you are going to massage my toes
as when i did the walked i got lots of blisters
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH
my brother john is only 11 months old and he walks and
talks and he say dad mum/ what that / he keeps doing a funny laugh
and its funny he sleep in my room and we play together and he don't they
cuddle only if he's tried i am a 2 mummy to him i help a lot he goes up
the stairs and we have to get him and he
has lots of teeth he has 2 teeth up the top and 2 teeth down the bottom
he puts all his food in at once and we have to fight with him to get it
out
25/09/08
Last week I was at Great Ormond street for scans and tests but because I
wasn’t that well and having the cannuala put in without numbing cream
was too painful, my parents decided to change the dates for this week.
So, Monday the 22nd was my brothers birthday, he was 1.
We spent it up the hospital having a CT scan.
Tuesday was a day off.
Wednesday and Thursday is spent up Great Ormond for the MIBG injection
and the scan which is over two hours long.
I chose to have the injection through my Hickman lines this time, it was
much better, it wasn’t painful.
I have been feeling okay. My Mum
and Dad want me to start eating a lot more fruit and vegetables,
uuuuurrrrggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!
My brother is a pest, he is really annoying me, he walks everywhere now
and is always touching my things.
And he has got a temper on him because if we take some think of on him
he gets on the floor and cry and it is sometimes funny and he likes
playing football and he kicks it around the house and soon me an my
brother is always laughing and falling over
10th October 2008:
Hiya everyone.
I've been up great Ormond street hospital for my
results. Looking good!
nowhere else and bit in neck got smaller,
yeah!!!!!! just waiting now to hear from doctors what's happening
next, its boring.
I've been asked to go to my school on Monday or
Tuesday hopefully I'm well enough to go.
I'm looking forward to seeing my friends.
I've been turning my tummy peg now without has
many arguments, it still hurts but not as much,
my dad brought me a new pram has a reward. it's lovely and big and
purple. i take it everywhere.
if i am allowed to im taking it to my school and
if it is sunny we might walk there.
had a good time at the mill house on Friday 3rd
Oct night, didn't stay to late but enjoyed myself dancing on the
dance floor with a few friends.
lots of love courtney
ps best wishes to all the people that support me
16th October 2008
Was a busy day today, Courtney went to her school to catch up with
her friends and teachers, she was very surprised when she was told
that they had a
none uniform day and raised some money for her. She went in class
and answered questions from her mates.
She hopes that soon she can have photos done with her friends as
soon as their parents consent to do so.

Courtney said "I know its not the best picture but it was nice to
have one done", she will be returning to school to catch up soon.
Later that day she had to go to GOSH for an update on her results
which was decided to continue with another 2 sessions of chemo
followed by having a PET scan.
We know that its not nice to undergo this treatment but Courtneys a
strong girl and we will all be giving her much needed support.
she should be ok for the Sunday 9th November for
the Rugby and she's looking forward to it very much.
21st October courtney started her chemo treatment which is daily at
GOSH.
27th October GOSH
Courtney met a group of girls can you guess who?

Give you a clue A day of the week?
Vanessa, Una, Mollie and Rochelle with Courtney
Frankie who was recovering could come.
They are better known as The Saturdays would be nice if they came to
the rugby match on Sunday 9th November
Looking forward to Sunday and the Fancy Dress Rugby match, will have
to keep warmed up for this one.
2nd December 2008:
Courtney celebrated her 10th birthday with a nice high school
musical cake, whilst she still needs to gain weight and regain her
appetite
she spent some of her birthday money going to smiffys the toy store.
You know sometimes it gets so boring going to GOSH that i take photo
of the buildings that we pass like the following.
 
CAN YOU ALSO SEE THE BUILDINGS? 16th December
i went to Queens hospital today with my mum and brother and we met
the WEST HAM Football team, i was a bit worried as i like Arsenal
i said to the players that i like Arsenal and they said "well we
better start playing better", it was a fun day and i the players
gave me lots of presents
signed photos, hats, scarf's, jewelry and lots of other bits, i
think i like West Ham a little bit now.
Hammers Bring Christmas Cheer

16th December 2008 (info from
http://www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk )
Top players from West Ham United came along to deliver
Christmas gifts to youngsters at Queen’s Hospital.
The first team, along with manager Gianfranco Zola,
surprised youngsters at the Romford hospital with goodie
bags and presents for every patient, and a host of gifts
for the wards.
The players spent a long time talking to delighted
patients and their families, happily posing for
photographs and making every child fell special.
A spokesperson for the hospital said: “The team were
absolutely fantastic. They were really taking the time
to get to know the children, playing games with them and
chatting away.
The smiles on the patients’ faces were priceless.”
As well as handing out individual gifts, Lucas Neill
also presented play workers with a PlayStation 3,
several Nintendo DSs and a wide selection of games for
the wards.
• Pictured are Julian Faubert with nine-year-old Tom
Page from Rainham, and Lucas Neill with Courtney
Richards, 10, from Dagenham.
18th December
Finally had my PET Scan will await the results soon
19th December
i visited the local radio station and helped by donating some toys
for their appeal for children.
 
i went and see the grotto full of other donated toys and met those
who work on the radio station.
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