First Symptoms

After our holiday in Tenerife, I was talking about it for ages to my friends at school. I had given Greg and April their presents, which they were over the moon with as they did not expect anything from me. And life went back to normal in our house, with Greg and April coming over to mine, as I went to theirs to hang out. Mother was allowing me to leave the house more without adult supervision, as I freely walked to the next street to Greg and April's; as well as now walking to school more on my own. Well it was not quite on my own, as I often met up with April as I walked down her street; as Greg did not always walk with us because he sometimes walked with his friends from football.

Another year had passed us by, and as a treat for April and Greg; father invited them and their mother to come and spend Christmas day with us. My parents got to know more about them at this stage and found out that Mrs Chambers, their mother had spent the last few years bringing up the twins all on her own, which my parents gave her so much respect; as they knew it was hard bringing up children as a two parent family, never mind a single parent. Mrs Chambers introduced herself, and told my mother and father that her name was Helen; and she often said that it was ok if I called her Aunty Helen; but I was always told to call her Mrs Chambers. Their father walked out on them when they were two years old, and she had never heard from him again. My mother felt sorry for her, but not in a patronising way, more of in a way that she would not know what to do without her husband's help. They often said that it must be hard on her as well as the children, but she just told them that you have to learn to cope the best way that you can, and always put your children first. I think it also broke the ice, as Mrs Chambers knew that her children were safe, when they came round to play with me; now that she had seen where we lived. Well it was not as though their mother was struggling, as she did have her own house; and often she said she was so glad that she never put her husband on the deeds as he was a money grabber, which confused father. Mrs Chambers told him once she signed the divorce papers his solicitor had sent through; her parents helped her with the deposit to buy her home so the children would be in a much safer environment. She told my parents when her ex-husband heard this, he tried to get some extra money from her; but he failed as the house was purchased after her divorce; and he even tried to get back with her just for the sake of the house, which she ended up seeing through his scheming rants. Yes April and Greg did go without certain things, but they had a healthy upbringing, and a knowledge to know that they had a home and would not be up rooted by having to sell because of the greed of their father. Their mother worked part time, even though she was working two jobs and keeping a home in order. It was then that father respected her even more by thinking of her children, that he often told her that if she ever needed anything that she was to come and see them; and that her children were welcome to come over anytime. I think she appreciated that, although she never did ask for anything except if they could look after the children when she was on a late shift; which was not that often. A few times that we went to see my grandparents, April and Greg would come down with us; to give their mother that much needed space of having to work late, and not having to worry too much about her children. It was not as though their grandparents could not look after them, it was more the fact that they lived too far away; as they lived in Hemel Hempstead. My grandparents liked them both, as they were never any trouble; and grandma always used to say that they were well behaved and good mannered. This weekend though, we were going to go to Ramsgate without them, as it was the usual family summer holiday, and time to just relax and not think of school. Rebecca had been a little bit poorly over the last few weeks, starting with a fever and a rattley chest. Mother put it down to a chest infection which was confirmed by her doctor, and was told that she would be fine in a few days' time. So with enough medicine to last us for our holiday, we went to visit our grandparents. This holiday was a little different to the other ones I had, and it was not just because I had a sister. Rebecca had come down with a few chest problems lately, and was spending a considerable amount of time just sleeping. So on this holiday, I was looked after by father and grandpa a lot, so mother and grandma looked after Rebecca. Father and grandpa did also help mother, by taking over to give them a break so I could spend time with them; but mother was so like my grandma who was very much protective of Rebecca. And being old fashioned like grandma, she often placed a mustard plaster onto Rebecca's chest, as well as reach for a very old book, which had lots of grandma's medicine recipes. Not my grandma mind you, it was the title of the book.

"This will work dearie, as my mother used to do the same with me; and my chesty cough soon disappeared Pam." Grandma would say.

"I have medicine mom, from the doctor. Do you not think all of this will be too much?" Mother replied, rather concerned.

"Well it cannot do any harm to try dearie; besides you never know where you are with these new fandangle medicines that the doctors offer you these days." She would reply.

Whilst mother and grandma were fussing over Rebecca, father asked me if I wanted to go into town with him and grandpa. I jumped at the offer, because otherwise I would have had to stay in the back garden all day; and I loved going into town because it was close to the beach. Father fetched his coat, as grandpa got ready and then helped me put on my coat. It was a nice day, but it was not as warm as it usually was for a summer's day; and as grandpa lived close to both the town and the beach, there was no need to take the car. We said our goodbyes, as I told mother I loved her, and kissed both her and grandma; before placing a kiss on Rebecca's forehead. I then took hold of my dad and grandpa's hand, where we then walked into town. As we walked around the town, father always made sure he ended up at the marina where he was always very fascinated with the boats and yachts; and where he would say to grandpa that one day he would buy one. I too liked to see the big boats, but I was more interested in wanting to go for a paddle; than just stand for a while gazing at boats all day. It was then that grandpa looked at me and asked me if I wanted an ice-cream, and I was so excited about it, that I could not contain myself as I jumped up and down clapping my hand like a seal. Ramsgate has a wonderful ice cream shop that was called Mr Frosy's, which not only pleased me but pleased father, as it too overlooked the marina, and we could either sit inside or sit outside as it was a very large shop. So grandpa took hold of my hand, as we walked around the other side of the marina. When we got inside father asked me what I would like, as there were so many choices to have. I ended up with vanilla and strawberry with lots of sprinkles and a chocolate flake, where father and grandpa went for normal soft ice cream.

I was a strange little girl as I loved chocolate, yet I did not like chocolate ice cream. It was the same as almonds, because I like the almond nuts, but did not like marzipan. So when Christmas came along and mother put the cake in the centre of the table, I would eat the icing and cake and leave the marzipan on the side of my plate which grandma soon picked up and finished off. This also followed me with Sunday dinner, as my favourite was always chicken or fish. I did not mind roast lamb, but could not eat it cold as it made me feel sick because it felt dry and greasy. I also loved spaghetti Bolognese, yet disliked roast beef or roast pork. Father always called me a fussy madam, as did mother; but at least they were pleased that I ate all of my greens. When we were finished in town, we would have a slow walk back to my grandparents, where father and grandpa would take over to give mother and grandma a break. Sometimes they would go into town on their own, and other times they would ask me, which meant I went in twice and got two lots of ice cream. On our return from holiday visiting our grandparents in Ramsgate, Rebecca was not her usual self as she looked pale and was continuously pale and very tired. Mother was beginning to get more worried, as Rebecca had only just got over a chest infection; and now mother was all over the place. Rebecca had got yet another fever, and at first mother thought that maybe it was because the weather was too hot for her; as it was a real hot month with sunshine almost every day. When we got home, mother phoned the doctor to make an appointment, and she was able to get in the following morning. She was advised to keep her cool over night, but not to be placed where there may be a draught. The next day when mother took Rebecca to the doctors, the doctor put it down to another chest infection, as she was also having breathing problems. Mother thought that she may have had asthma, as her breathing was very erratic, but that was soon dismissed. After a week of no change, my mother phoned the doctors again and got an emergency appointment; as by now mother was quite beside herself. She constantly phoned grandma for advice, and she used to tell my mother not to worry; as I heard mother cry on the phone to her with worry. This did not really help as mother always did worry about Rebecca, and she could not understand what she was always poorly. Like me Rebecca had all of her vaccinations within the first year of being born, and mother became even more concerned as she thought no child can catch a cold as many times as Rebecca did. When we went to the surgery, mother was surprised as it was not her usual doctor; so again she had to explain everything that had been going on the last few weeks. Mother explained that Rebecca had no appetite, and she had since found some red blotches on her body. The doctor first of all thought it may be meningitis, and he referred her to the children's hospital. He phoned the hospital, and mother was told to go there straight away so that they could check Rebecca over. Once we got to the hospital, Rebecca was rushed straight through, where they took some blood tests. After such a long wait, and pacing up and down the waiting room; her blood results had come back, and mother was asked to come through to the doctor's office with him. He told her that they have looked at her bloods and it seems like she has leukaemia; but he wanted her to make an appointment to bring Rebecca into hospital for further testing. Mother was so beside herself, as she kept asking the doctor how and why? After mother saw the doctor this last time, she only had to wait for a week before Rebecca was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for tests.