Isabel - *NEW UPDATE #346 10th November *

[Floridatilly]

Isabel is in my prayers. I hope she is doing well and staying strong.
Take care x

[hermione25]

How lovely to see our Dibb family thinking about and asking after us.

Isabel started the new targeted therapy 18 days ago. There were some issues as she’s never been able to take tablets - and of course it was a tablet which the drug company said couldn’t be crushed! As she had an NG fitted because she’d been unable to eat (the radiotherapy on her jaw had caused terrible ulceration), the consultant agreed the only option was for me to crush the (cytotoxic) tablet and administer it via the NG tube. Not ideal but it meant it would go straight into her stomach and not damage her oesophagus on the way down. We also took her from Clatterbridge to see a hypnotherapist in Rodney Street to see if that could help overcome her tablet phobia.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating to say the transformation in just 72 hours was incredible. From being in almost constant pain, topping up with morphine every couple of hours and being almost bed bound as sitting in a chair was too uncomfortable, Izzy was almost pain free. She has a morphine patch which has been reduced by 20% and pregablin twice a day - and that’s it - she isn’t even needing paracetamol and ibuprofen!

We were discharged finally 12 days ago and have been having full nights sleep - bliss!

Last weekend however we had a blip. Izzy vomited on Friday night and brought up the NG tube. I gave her the option of heading back to hospital to have it refitted or finally trying the strategies from the hypnotherapy session and she chose the latter. It took about 40 minutes but last Saturday, for the first time ever she swallowed her first tablet! Unfortunately the vomiting continued and we did end up back in hospital for a couple of nights, but we got on top of the nausea and headed home again on Monday where she’s managed to take the therapy tablet each morning.

Physically she’s weak - she’s lost nearly a stone and a half and was only just over 8 stone before, but the shrinkage in the tumour in her jaw is huge meaning she can begin to eat a wider range of foods again, and she’s doing more and more each day. 3 weeks ago, she couldn’t manage the stairs in our house, now she can get up and down them independently.

Here she is just after starting the therapy as the tumour in the jaw had begun to shrink.

Here she is ready for our (second) discharge this Monday. NG tube gone, able to sit comfortably in most chairs, the tumour in her jaw noticeably smaller and feeling more positive!

She still has a wheelchair if there’s lots of walking involved but shorter walks are ok. She’s most excited as we’ve had tickets for Les Miserables in Liverpool booked for a year (she loves the theatre), and none of us thought it’d be possible to even access the Empire, never mind sit in a seat for a few hours. Now, we can’t wait for 18th October - a family dream that seemed impossible this time last month!

Thanks for all your kind wishes and prayers - let’s hope they keep working 🤞🏻

[Mickie]

Fantastic news hope things keep getting better for you

[Anne]

Wonderful news xx Will keep thinking of you all xxx

[Stardust5]

So pleased to read your update, what positive news and fantastic that Isabel is doing so well. You have such an amazing young lady and I do hope that you have a wonderful time together watching Les Mis. I will keep watching out for your updates and really hope that Isabel keeps making such positive steps forward.

[Kat11]

Aww that’s amazing news. Long may it continue! Thank you for the update. Lots of love. X

Kat

[Scott family]

Have been thinking of you all. So happy to read how Isabelle is improving. Xxx

[katiec68]

Oh my - what a roller coaster but fingers crossed things carry on improving.

xxx

[JoJo88]

Simply wonderful news, thank you so much for taking the time to update us xx

[3disneykids]

Great news. Lovely pictures of you both looking positive. Sending hugs and tell Isabel she is amazing a true inspirational young lady xx