News of Paul's Fight Against Osteosarcoma

An opinion by David Haas

2011-08-24T19:53:00.002+01:00

David bumped into this blog and asked to post his take on cancer. Here it is:

Fight This Together

From the time that a person is born until they die, they are faced with many fears and hardships that one must overcome in order to live a successful life. One of the biggest fears that one might face is being diagnosed with some form of cancer. In years past, cancer was most certainly considered to be a terminal disease but giant strides have been made in this field of medicine.

There are many fine doctors and clinics that are dedicated to the treatment of cancer. While there are many different diagnoses of cancer, the most successful treatment for any type of cancer is when it can be 100% removed from the body by surgery. It is very beneficial to keep one’s frame of mind open to all types of treatment including that of support networks. Cancer can devastate so much of our lives but to hear about others going through the same disease and also to listen to people that have gone through it and have beat it can create an optimistic frame of mind. There are support groups all over the country that can help with many different types of cancers including but not limited to breast cancer, colon cancer, and even rare cancers such as mesothelioma.

From the moment a doctor informs someone that they have cancer, dealing with the news can be difficult for a patient to digest. Having a family member or friend present can be very beneficial due to the immediate support that they can provide to the patient. Support is very important to promote emotional well being from the moment a person is diagnosed, during the treatment procedures that follow, through the entire healing process, or through the final stages of the disease.

While family members and friends can provide exceptional support, outside support can also be very helpful. There are books that are available in bookstores or online to help people afflicted with all types of cancer. A couple of websites that can be helpful are people that survived with diseases like mesothelioma and supportive care for cancer patients.

Dealing with the disease of cancer can be very difficult but keeping a positive outlook can promote healing by releasing endorphins, which occur naturally in the brain and function much like morphine.

The “Big C” is a scary topic but the more a person learns about it and reaches out to others for support, the better one can cope with the diagnosis of cancer. At the same time, they can also encourage others who are facing the same disease. One needs to take the attitude, “Let’s fight this together!”

By: David Haas

Supportive care for cancer patients

2nd Anniversary Mass

2011-07-17T10:18:00.002+01:00

Tuesday August 9 17:00 pm St Sauveur Church, Monot area, Beirut

Link to the CNN story on Myschoolpulse

2010-09-11T03:37:00.001+01:00

Here

Myschoolpulse on CNN

2010-08-30T17:27:00.001+01:00

Myschoolpulse will be on CNN on below dates/times (all times are UK):
Saturday 4 Sep: 09.30, 15.30, 21.30
Sunday 5 Sep: 06.30, 18.30
Monday 6 Sep: 04.30

The report will explain why Myschoolpulse was created 4months ago and its mission of bringing the classroom to hospitals' children wards.
It will last about 4 minutes (within the 30mn "Inside The Middle-East" show starting at above times) and will include:
- shots of our first 5k fundraising events in Lebanon and in the US on 8 August 2010
- interviews of some of us, including an oncologist and a child stricken with cancer.

www.myschoolpulse.com

MYSCHOOLPULSE

2010-06-21T22:54:00.006+01:00

Its website is still under construction but www.myschoolpulse.com, a foundation set up in memory of Paul in order primarily to help sick children in Lebanon maintain some normalcy in their schoolwork, is now officially operational.

The Feghalis ran today!

2010-04-25T22:41:00.006+01:00

Here's Marie's account of the run:

Peter who had a sore tummy nevertheless managed to run half the distance before he felt sick (big kudos for him). John decided that he was going to win for Paul and darted in front of the pack (Peter and I were midway, Marc was walking in the back). John followed the orange flags and then took a wrong turn and kept on running. The Golden Gate Park police, mounted police, and runners were sent all over the park to find him. He was found much later, dehydrated and in tears, and reunited with his very teary family. Anyway, the day was otherwise a success. We were happy to be there and Peter and John were given a medal for their fundraising efforts. They were very, very touched to be there.
Thanks for helping them make this day a success. They very proudly announced to the crowd that they raised $1,385.

Keaton, Son and Brother, Lover of Reptiles

2010-04-07T21:22:00.010+01:00

The fail-proof medicine against osteosarcoma has not been discovered yet but Paul's illness has shown us the power of the worldwide web to enable far-flung and yet truly heartfelt solidarities between the families of osteosarcoma warriors. If only solidarity could cure osteosarcoma ...

During the past year, we have exchanged frequent emails and experiences with many parents of osteosarcoma kids, mostly in the United States, some who are doing well so far (fingers crossed) and some whose role is now to look after us from where they are.

We want to acknowledge the departure this morning of Keaton, a beautiful young man from Arkansas who had every promise of intense love in his heart, he who was fond of cold-blooded creatures so many people do not even attempt to understand.

We share in the tears, for the loss, and for the pain these kids endured. Crocodiles too must be sharing in the tears. Sincerely for once.

Puff puff ... The Feghalis are running too ...

2010-03-28T20:30:00.004+01:00

... Here

Below a photo taken in mid July 2008 with Paul, Clara and Peter and John, the two runners from California. What a difference a year makes ... So, run, run ...

And Christian too is running for Paul ...

2010-03-25T21:41:00.023Z

... Here

With the help of Béatrice, Paul's history teacher, Christian had already organized a fundraiser during the last weeks of Paul's illness. For those who don't know Christian, he owns a truly excellent ice cream parlor near the Lycée, on Bute Street, which Paul loved.

We can't thank enough Paul's friends, schoolmates and teachers, who contributed to Christian's fundraising efforts and all those who keep him alive in their thoughts and prayers.

Here is a photo of Paul's classmates in 4è 6 this year, raising funds under the guidance of Béatrice.

In tribute for Paul, for cancer research, they sold cakes and pancakes of their own making, and Sheona Mateos, also a classmate, gave benefit piano lessons. You can see on Christian's Just Giving page the impressive amount they raised.

Below a nice photo of Clara and Paul one and a half month before diagnosis.

Clara, Mireille and Philippe

Running for Paul

2010-03-13T14:42:00.005Z

Here

Paul's photo in the funeral service booklet ...

2009-12-31T06:15:00.002Z

It was a crop from this photo taken during his last birthday party in his favorite Beirut restaurant (we were there yesterday with Léana, Alexandra and Clara).

Mass in London on 9 October 09

2009-10-14T00:01:00.028+01:00

PAUL YARED
(30 OCTOBRE 1996 – 7 AOUT 2009)

MESSE DU VENDREDI 9 OCTOBRE 2009
CHRIST CHURCH, LONDRES

ENTREE Piano, Mot de Béatrice de Beaufort
PRIERE PENITENTIELLE
KYRIE (CHANTE)
GLORIA (CHANTE)
1ERE LECTURE: 1er épitre de Saint-Paul aux Thessaloniciens (lue par Mélanie)
2EME LECTURE: Saint-Augustin (lue par Corinne)
ÉVANGILE Saint-Jean V 24-30 (lu par Hadrien)
CREDO
PRIERE UNIVERSELLE
OFFERTOIRE Composition de Jacques Nazaire à la guitare
SANCTUS
COMMUNION Chant « PANIS ANGELICUS » de Franck
TEMOIGNAGES DE VIE : Elizabeth, Alexandre, Yvan, Lisa, Xenia, Bertille, Félix, Youssef, Gregory, Mireille.
CHANT « AVE MARIA » de Schubert
SORTIE Composition de Jacques Nazaire à la guitare

Tribute from Béatrice de Beaufort
Ce que je peux partager avec vous, je veux le faire non pas en temps que professeur, mais comme maman, comme femme. Je veux le partager avec vous car je sais pourquoi vous êtes, tout comme moi, venus ici ce soir.

Bien que j’aille à UCH pour travailler avec Paul, nous avons en fait beaucoup voyagé ensemble. Voyagé à travers l’histoire, voyagé en étudiant la géographie et voyagé avec les innombrables visites qu’il recevait de gens venus du monde entier, parfois de très loin.
Ce voyage nous l’avons terminé à Rome.
Pourquoi Rome ? Je crois que Paul aimait ses professeurs et il voulait toujours faire plaisir avec tact et finesse. Il me savait professeur d’histoire et catholique, c’est sans doute pour cela qu’il a choisi Rome. Ou bien alors, peut-être car Rome est la ville éternelle.
La dernière fois que j’ai vu Paul, c’était fin juillet, une dizaine de jours avant sa mort. J’allais partir en France pour les vacances. Mireille m’a proposé de venir le voir. Je crois qu’on savait toutes les deux que c’était sans doute la dernière fois que je verrai Paul mais on ne s’est rien dit. Parfois on n’a pas besoin des mots pour se comprendre.
Quand je suis arrivée, Paul dormait. Nous sommes allés déjeuner, tu étais là Corinne, avec Sylvain. Puis je suis retournée voir Paul. Je sais que cela parait surréaliste mais qu’est-ce que vous faites avec Paul, dix jours avant sa mort…. On a discuté de la différence entre l’art classique et l’art baroque ; On a parlé du style des églises, des peintures ; On s’est attardé sur une peinture. Une peinture qui se trouve sur le plafond de l’église Saint-Ignace à Rome. C’est un trompe-l’œil qui représente la montée au ciel de Saint-Ignace. On y voit saint-Ignace montant vers le ciel, accueilli par Jésus, et en contre bas, toute une foule qui le regarde, les yeux tournés vers lui.
A Rome toujours, mais dans une autre église, j’ai souvent pensé à toi Mireille en ayant l’image d’une sculpture célèbre, une piéta de Michel Ange. On y voit Marie avec Jésus mort sur ses genoux. Elle pleure.

Ce que je voudrais aussi partager avec vous, c’est ce que j’ai appris avec Paul.
Je crois que dans la vie, on a tous une petite carapace. Une couverture, une impression qu’on veut donner aux autres. Avec Paul c’était toujours différent. Moi je suis professeur, représentant le savoir, l’autorité, j’explique. Et là quand je venais voir Paul, je ne savais rien. Je ne comprenais pas, je ne pouvais expliquer pourquoi un enfant de douze ans peut être si malade qu’il va mourir. Alors je devais me présenter comme cela. Avec mes faiblesses, mon ignorance, mes doutes.
Pour Paul, c’était pareil. C’est plus facile d’être en classe ou dans la cour de récré avec des habits à la mode que d’être devant son professeur alors qu’on ne peut plus se lever ou aller aux toilettes tout seul. Paul l’a accepté avec humilité et simplicité. Il était vrai, c’est comme cela que je l’aimais. De même pour toi Mireille. Tu souffrais et tu souffres encore. Je crois que lorsque l’on souffre, on n’a pas le temps de réfléchir à ceux que pensent les autres de nous. On se présente tel que l’on est avec ses angoisses, ses douleurs, ses incompréhensions. Tu étais vraie comme cela et c’est comme ca que je t’aime.

Voila, ce que je voulais vous dire, c’est sans doute ce que je savais déjà sans en être peut être tout à fait sûre. On aime vraiment dans la vérité. On peut vraiment aimer celui qui est vrai. Et si il y a aujourd’hui quelqu’un qui est dans la vérité, j’en suis sûre, c’est Paul. Vérité des hommes, vérité de Dieu.

CHANT : PANIS ANGELICUS, CESAR FRANCK
(you can click on the green title to listen to it)

LE PAIN DES ANGES
DEVIENT LE PAIN DES HOMMES.
LE PAIN DU CIEL MET
UN TERME AUX SYMBOLES.
Ô CHOSE ADMIRABLE!
IL MANGE SON SEIGNEUR
LE PAUVRE, LE SERVITEUR, LE PETIT.
DIEU TRINITE
ET UN, NOUS TE LE DEMANDONS,
DAIGNE PAR TA VISITE
REPONDRE A NOS HOMMAGES.
PAR TES VOIES, CONDUIS-NOUS
AU BUT OU NOUS TENDONS,
À LA LUMIERE OU TU DEMEURES.
AINSI SOIT-IL.

Tributes from Paul’s friends and classmates

“Cher Paul,
Quand on parlait de toi à la maison, on disait toujours l’élève de maman. Maman dit toujours qu’elle n’a jamais de chouchou, mais moi je sais que ce n’est pas vrai puisque c’était toi.
Maintenant que tu es au ciel, ce n’est pas drôle pour moi car elle a beaucoup de temps pour me faire travailler.”
Elisabeth de Beaufort (8y old)

“Paul était mon ami. Il était intelligent, drôle, et surtout espiègle.
Je me souviens que pour l’anniversaire de ses douze ans, il avait reçu une araignée télécommandée et il voulait absolument la tester. Nous avons decidé que Mireille, sa maman, serait la cible idéale. Paul plaça la bête au fonds du lit et lorsque Mireille déplaça la couverture, on entendit les hurlements dans toute la maison. Il fut ravi de constater que notre farce avait bien marché et il me le raconta dès qu’il me vit le lendemain!
Voilà comment je me rappellerai de Polo, toujours à rire et à faire rire les autres.
Il était comme le Petit Prince dans le conte de Saint-Exupéry: il est venu et nous a tous apprivoisés.
Il sera toujours auprès de nous.”
Alexandre Calamaro

“Mesdames et messieurs,
Je connaissais Paul depuis longtemps. Nous nous sommes rencontrés en CE2.
Je n’aurais jamais pensé que je serai ici, parmi vous, à parler de lui, car Paul était un garcon fort, resistant; il ne se laissait jamais abattre, même au fil de ses malheurs, cette résistance était sa force.
Paul était très gentil, il pensait toujours aux autres. Cette gentillesse laissera à tous un exemple dans les coeurs.
Pour conclure, je n’ai aucun doute que Paul a trouvé la paix éternelle.”
Yvan Lonneux

“Paul tu étais le héros de notre classe, mais avant tout un très bon ami.
Tu étais toujours souriant et joyeux.
Cela nous a fait vraiment plaisir de pouvoir aller te voir à l’hôpital ; on s’est tellement amusées qu’au lieu de rester une demi–heure, on est resté trois heures! C’était trois heures de bonheur.
Tu seras toujours dans nos cœurs et nos mémoires, tu seras comme le soleil, tu nous regarderas den haut et tu nous éclaireras avec ton sourire.”
Lisa, Xénia, Bertille

“Paul, tu étais un garcon vif, amusant, courageux et curieux.
Je n’oublierai jamais la dernière fois que je t’ai vu, tu étais fatigué mais tu gardais ton énergie et ton charme.
Ce qui est sûr, c’est que tu resteras précieusement dans nos mémoires et dans nos coeurs pour les années à venir.”
Félix Mosey

“When I was first asked to speak at Paul’s Mass, I had mixed feelings. I wanted to on one hand, but I was scared and didn’t really know what to say.
Paul and I met when we were very young. We were both 7. The first time we really spoke was on a plane, going to Beirut. We had seen each other at school but we had never spoken. From then on, we became very close friends.
During our time spent in Lebanon, Paul helped my bothers and I to build our tree house at my grandfather’s home. At the end, we were so proud of it. We all painted our names and I felt that Paul was part of my family now.
Paul was very courageous. Once at a Halloween party, my mother had hired a huge vertical bouncy castle by mistake. It was quite scary. She wanted to forbid us from climbing. But before she could say anything, Paul was already all the way up with a huge grin.
What I liked most about Paul was how kind he was and how he always thought about others before thinking of himself. My parents asked me to give an example. The first that I could think of was a simple example. If we were three thirsty friends and there were only two glasses of water, Paul would always say: go ahead, I’ll drink later.
But Paul was also very competitive. If he lost at a game, he would be always finding excuses why he lost. Let’s say he used to have sense of humour failure. I just thought it was very funny and he of course got more angry! But then the next day, all would be fine again.
I still can’t believe that Paul has left us. I was sure that by the time school started again, he would be much better and we would be seeing more of each other. Mireille told us that Paul did not suffer at all and I can imagine him having a winning smile.”
Youssef Rishani

"Je voudrais juste dire quelques mots pour mon ami Paul, mon ancien ami Paul.
Vous savez, c'est difficile d'accepter que quelqu'un de si gentil nous quitte si brutalement.
Paul est une personne que vous connaissez bien pendant une année, et que vous perdez de vue l'année d'après, maintenant j'aimerais juste récupérer ces années que j'ai loupées, avec lui.
Il va beaucoup me manquer."
Gregory Schibl

Tribute from Paul’s parents
I’d like to thank you all for coming today, all you who somehow knew Paul, who loved him, who followed his battle against the monster.
Today we are here to be reminded that in the end, the monster is the one who loses because, on August 7 at 11:02 pm, Paul broke free from its claws and went to where we all belong.
Paul fought his illness largely by ignoring it, by living.
He would want us too to despise the horror that lurks, the way he himself despised it, by living abundantly, whatever the time we may have on this Earth.
And by fighting it, for it is the fight which is the outcome and not the apparent end result.
To him, absolutely everything mattered equally. Enormously. He had an innate sense of duty to himself and to others. Three or four days before the end, he insisted on doing his German homework before going to sleep, his oxygen mask on. On his very last morning, during his last few conscious moments, he asked Philippe to read and explain to him a few pages of a novel Marc, his cousin, had brought to him.
He prayed every night, as he did since he was 3 or 4 years old. But his prayer on August 1st reached yet another level of simple, natural, matter-of-fact intensity when, out of breath because he had removed his oxygen mask, he was singing the Lord’s Prayer while doing his physiotherapy exercises on his good leg (he was no longer able to do any kind of exercise with his bad leg). Three days later, ending his prayer as always by thanking the Lord for a beautiful day, he realised what he was saying, stuttered slightly, but went on anyway. Paul didn't like incantations and he never asked for anything. He didn't even pray to be cured.
Paul just gave thanks.
His life was a prayer.
Paul lived happily and his love for life on Earth was on display until the very end, in its smallest details: By insisting on a daily and difficult "bed bath", by doing breaststroke movements in the bucket of water brought to him to wash his hands and imagining he was on vacation in a swimming pool, by never missing an occasion for laughter, by reading, and playing, and studying for next year. This year.
During his last month with us, Philippe tried his best to protect him, as much as he could, partly by limiting visitors. On one occasion, Paul got upset with Philippe, because he was ashamed that his father had not been welcoming enough to a palliative nurse who used to linger and talk during her visits. Paul was always respectful and invariably happy to see visitors, his family, friends, teachers, doctors, nurses.
To see you, to love you.
Paul remains forever amongst us. And in Clara. In Philippe. In Suzy. In me. This is not always easy.
Paul's legacy is one of love. Who said love was easy?
Our challenge now will be to remain faithful to his legacy - to live, to love as he did - despite the hole in our hearts.
Some challenge.

CHANT « AVE MARIA » DE SCHUBERT

AVE MARIA
REINE DES CIEUX
VERS TOI S’ELEVE MA PRIERE
JE DOIS TROUVER GRACE A TES YEUX
C’EST EN TOI, OH ! C’EST EN TOI QUE J’ESPERE
MON FILS
CONSOLEZ MA MISERE
IL SOUFFRE
HELAS, IL EST MOURANT
COMPREND ET PLEURE, TOI QUI FUT MERE
REND MOI, REND MOI MON PAUVRE ENFANT
AVE MARIA
QUEL BONHEUR
L’ENFANT RENAIT A SA PRIERE
AINSI QU’UNE BRILLANTE FLEUR
TOUT BIEN FAIT ! OH TOUCHANTE BEAUTE !
CE MYSTERE
REGARDE MOI POUR QUE J’ESPERE
MON FILS, TON FRONT EST SOURIANT
MERCI, MERCI DIVINE MERE
C’EST TOI QUI SAUVE MON ENFANT
AVE MARIA

A picture taken discretely as Paul’s first classmates arrived early in Christ Church…

A picture taken on 23 November 2008, ie three weeks before Paul’s cancer diagnosis.
Paul had invited his friends to a football party.
In two instances he had to stop as his leg was hurting.
Three weeks earlier, an X-ray of his leg had shown nothing.

2009-10-03T11:38:00.004+01:00

On August 7th, Paul left us eight months into his fight against bone cancer.
Paul was buried in Lebanon, his home country, on August 13th.

For those in London who knew Paul and wish to tell him goodbye, we have organized a Mass on Friday 9 October at 5:30pm at Christ Church on Victoria Road, W8.
Please don't hesitate to invite all those who knew Paul, who taught him at school, or who loved him.
http://www.ukattraction.com/london/christ-church-kensington.htm

In fact ...

2009-09-22T20:43:00.006+01:00

There is nothing funny or ironic about anything in this disaster. I deleted all that was equivocal in my previous post on Paul's 40th day remembrance Mass and from now on I'll update only dry accounting stuff on where the money you gave went, at least for the amounts I know about, and only if we decide something material not mentioned in this post:

1) $54,600 to the St-Jude-affiiated Children Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL)
2) $35,000 to the Dames de la Charité (Lebanon)
3) $5,000 to the Foyer de l'Enfant Libanais (Lebanon)
4) $1,500 to a lady unable to pay the hospital bills for her mother's cancer
5) 11,000 GBP to UCH T11 North

13,957 GBP were donated half by BNP Paribas employees and the rest by BNP Paribas as matching funds and presumably already sent directly to Cancer research UK (not sure).

We cannot thank enough all those who gave and we may not manage to thank everyone individually. Some may worry that their money never got to the account but this is unjustified as banks return money that they are unable to assign to an account.

Sorry to disappoint both those who loved Paul and the lurkers but I really have nothing left to say.

Philippe

Fourtieth Day Mass

2009-09-20T13:42:00.019+01:00

Fourty days already since the night when Paul's breathing stopped before our eyes and a very moving Mass yesterday for this traditional stage in the mourning process in the Oriental christian tradition. The sermon centered around the testing of Job.

At the short condolences reception afterwards, we were moved to see Teddy, the father of Philippe, an eleven-year old who was crushed by a rock before the eyes of his parents at a wedding reception one week before Paul's death and who is buried a few meters from Paul. In the photo of Paul's resting place below, the flower was placed by Phlippe's mother:

Tribute by Mrs de Beaufort (in English & French)

2009-08-29T16:12:00.002+01:00

Tribute by Béatrice de Beaufort, Paul's school teacher.

To all of Paul’s family

It was rather by chance that our paths crossed: Paul’s illness, the birth of François…
Over the last few months, I have met many of you. From Lebanon, the Middle East, Germany or elsewhere.
You all meant a lot to Paul. Family was so important to him. He knew you all very well. Sometimes, before one of you was arriving and we were working together, he would describe in detail your favourite phrase or a small characteristic detail about you. After you had arrived, I would realise that he had described you with disconcerting accuracy.

Thank you for the example which you have given us. Mireille often told me that you weren’t a perfect family, that it was Dallas. I don’t know what a perfect family is, perhaps a family who poses well in photos, but I know that you are an amazing family. All those journeys back and forth, those nights at the hospital, the constant support for Mireille, Philippe, Clara and Paul. I was particularly touched when his cousin spent the night with him at the hospital. A great example of a family for all of us.

And you Mireille,
I met you as the mother of a student, we have become friends. Thank you for your trust, thank you for sharing with me, simply, your joys, your suffering, your hopes. Thank you for your strength and vitality which you conveyed to me. Thank you for your concern for others. I never understood how it was possible that it was you who kept me going, that it was you who took care of my husband’s little toe when you had so many other worries.
I hope that we will remain friends and I know that Paul up above will ensure that we will.

And Paul, my student.
Paul loved challenges, Paul gave me more than any student could give.
I was the teacher and it was him who taught me.
Paul loved challenges, and so do I.
Paul was very intelligent. I wanted him to be the best student in his “quatrième” class once he was cured: I understood that a student could teach other things to us, the teachers.

Few students could manage to study whilst in pain or suffering the effects of morphine: Paul did it. I would like the students who read these words to think of this when reluctant to go to school in the morning.

Paul loved challenges, he left all of us with a big challenge: to live without him, holding in our hearts all that he gave us and in the hope of seeing him again one day in heaven for all eternity.

French Version:

A toute la famille de Paul,

C’est un peu par hasard que je me suis trouvée sur votre chemin: la maladie de Paul, la naissance de François…
Au fil des mois, j´ ai rencontré beaucoup d´entre vous. Venus du Liban, d’ Arabie, d’Allemagne ou d’ailleurs.
Vous comptiez tous beaucoup pour Paul. La famille était tellement importante pour lui. Il vous connaissait tous très bien. Parfois, avant que l’un de vous arrive et que l’on travaillait ensemble, il vous décrivait en me détaillant votre phrase favorite ou le petit détail qui vous caractérisait. Lorsque vous arriviez, je me rendais compte à quel point il vous avait décrit avec une exactitude déconcertante.

Merci de l’exemple que vous nous avez donnés. Mireille me disait souvent que vous n’étiez pas une famille parfaite, que c’était Dallas. Je ne sais pas ce qu’est une famille parfaite, peut être une famille qui pose bien en photo, mais je sais que vous êtes une famille formidable. Tous ces allers-retours, ces nuits à l’hôpital, ce soutien incessant auprès de Mireille, Philippe, Clara et Paul. J’ai été particulièrement touchée quand son cousin a dormi auprès de lui à l’hôpital.
Bel exemple de famille pour nous tous.

Et toi Mireille,
Je t’ai rencontrée comme maman d’élèves, nous sommes devenues amies. Merci de ta confiance, merci d’avoir partagé avec moi, dans la simplicité, tes joies, tes souffrances, tes espoirs. Merci de la force et le dynamisme que tu m’as communiqués. Merci de ton sens des autres. Je n’ai jamais compris comment était ce possible que ce soit toi qui me remonte le moral, que ce soit toi qui te préoccupe du petit doigt de pied de mon mari quand tu avais tellement d’autres soucis.
Je souhaite que l’on reste amies et je sais que Paul là-haut y veillera.

Et Paul, mon élève.
Paul aimait les défis, Paul m’a donnée plus qu’un élève pouvait me donner. J’étais le professeur et c’est lui qui m’a appris.
Paul aimait les défis, moi aussi.
Paul était très intelligent. Je voulais en faire le meilleur élève de quatrième quand il serait guéri : j’ai compris qu’un élève pouvait nous enseigner d’autres choses à nous les professeurs.
Peu d’élèves peuvent travailler sous la douleur ou l’effet de la morphine : Paul l’a fait. J’aimerais que les élèves qui lisent ces mots y pensent quand ils rechigneront à aller en classe le matin.

Paul aimait les défis , il nous en a laissé un grand à tous : celui de vivre sans lui, en chérissant dans nos cœurs tout ce qu’il nous a laissé et dans l’espoir de le retrouver un jour au ciel pour l’éternité.

Tribute by Dominique (in English & French)

2009-08-29T15:28:00.004+01:00

Tribute by Dominique (Paul's aunt) published on 14 August 2009 in L’Orient (a Lebanese newspaper):

Au revoir Paul and never farewell

“Every time a child says 'I don't believe in fairies' there is a little fairy somewhere that falls down dead.”

You remembered very well the lesson of Peter Pan, Paul. You always believed in fairies, my little Paul, my big Paul. You expected the fairy to cure you and bring you back to life, but you knew at the same time that you were going to die and that your fairy would be helpless. This hope and knowledge of life and death has made you a teacher. You taught us that there is no difference between life and death, that death is a continuation of life. But at the same time, you fought against your illness with incomparable strength and you gave us a unparalleled lesson in courage. Never complaining, you kept your wise smile until the very end. You were worried about your mother’s holiday, not about yours. You were concerned about your parents, the inconvenience you were causing them with your illness. You helped them by making them laugh and you even ended up ridiculing the cancer: “With a bit of morphine, one doesn’t feel anything anymore” you said on one day of unbearable pain.

You taught us that with humour and laughter, one can overcome anything, the injustice of the illness which made a child of your age suffer, the injustice of life that separates you from us too soon and finally the injustice of death which takes you away so young, so young. Thank you Paul, a thousand thanks. My only small consolation is that your family is not suffering alone. Because when a child dies, the whole world mourns. Your fairy will take care of this at least.

Au revoir Paul and never farewell.

French version:

Hommage de Dominique paru le lendemain dans L'Orient:
Au revoir Paul et jamais Adieu

« Chaque fois qu’un enfant ne croit plus aux fées, il y a quelque part, une petite fée qui meurt ».

Tu as bien retenu la leçon de Peter Pan, Paul, oh combien.
Tu as toujours cru aux fées, Mon petit Paul, mon Grand Paul. Tu attendais de ta fée qu’elle te guérisse et te ramène à la vie, mais tu savais en même temps que tu allais mourir et que ta fée n’y pourrait rien. Cet espoir de vie et ce savoir sur la vie et la mort a fait de toi un enseignant. Tu nous a appris qu’il n’y a pas de différence entre la vie et la mort, que la mort était une continuation de la vie. Mais en même temps, tu as combattu ta maladie avec une force incomparable et tu nous as donné une leçon de courage à nulle autre pareille. Jamais de plaintes, tu as gardé un sourire de sagesse jusqu’au bout. Tu te préoccupais des vacances de ta mère, non pas des tiennes. Tu te souciais de tes parents, des embêtements que tu leur causais avec ta maladie. Tu les faisais rire pour les soulager et tu as même fini par ridiculiser le cancer : « Avec un peu de morphine, on ne sent plus rien » as-tu dit un jour de douleur insupportable.
Tu nous a appris qu’avec l’humour et le rire, on pouvait tout vaincre, l’injustice de la maladie qui fait souffrir un enfant de ton âge, l’injustice de la vie qui nous sépare très tôt de toi et enfin l’injustice de la mort qui te fauche si jeune, si jeune. Merci Paul, mille mercis. Ma seule petite consolation, ta famille ne souffre pas seule. Car quand un enfant meurt, la terre entière est en deuil. Ta fée se chargera au moins de ça.

Au revoir Paul et jamais Adieu

Paul's funeral service on 13 August 2009 (in English)

2009-08-29T15:07:00.006+01:00

Paul Yared
Thursday 13th August 2009
Church of Saint Saviour

The Chorus “See Upon Your Path” (sung by Clara, Léana, Aleandra, Emmanuelle, accompanied by Michel on piano):

See upon your path
Children forgotten and lost.
Give them a hand,
To lead them
To other tomorrows.

Feel in the the middle of the night
The wave of hope,
The ardour of life,
The path to glory.

Childish joys,
Erased and forgotten too soon.
A golden light shines endlessly
At the end of the road.

Opening prayers

First reading: 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4
But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
And so we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Second reading: Saint Augustine
Death is nothing at all.
I have simply slipped away into the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were for each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together …
Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the ghost of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was: there is absolutely unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind,
Because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner …
You see, all is well.....
You will find my heart again, you will rediscover its pure affection.
Dry your tears and do not cry if you love me …

Third reading: John, chapter 5, vv 24-28
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself,
and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man.
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice.

Homily

Absolution

Tributes

1. Clara (Paul’s sister)

Paul, everything that you undertook, you did with passion and excellence.
You always wanted to go further, and at the same time, you remained very understated.

2. Léana (Paul’s cousin)

I remember last summer, when Clara and I were working hard on our holiday homework. To challenge himself, and because his own homework was too easy, Paul started doing my homework as well as his own.

Paul, your willpower and intelligence always impressed me.

3. Alexandra (Paul’s cousin)

When we were on holiday in the south of France, we discovered an enormous fig tree whose fruits looked delicious. Clara, Léana and I immediately started eating the figs greedily. Meanwhile, Paul peeled the fruit delicately for us like a gentleman.

Paul, I will always remember your kindness.

4. Corinne (Paul’s aunt)

Paul, during the twelve years which you granted us, you made an indelible impression on the lives of all those who knew you.

For your teachers, you were an example, not only because of the excellence of your work, but also because of the energy and enthusiasm with which you inspired the class. You brought your friends together, and during your illness they all gathered around you.

For your family, your joie de vivre and your humour were the sparks which brightened each moment. Young and old alike, we all sought to be with you.

Even once ill, the depth of your character still shone through, without ever complaining, even in moments of suffering. Your generosity, your kindness and your intelligence helped us and gave us strength and courage.

A wonderful circle of love formed around you which wasn’t only limited to your close family, because you always had the extraordinary ability to bring out the best in those close to you.

Paul, your strength and your smile will sustain us forever.

5. Michel

I am not the one who best knew Paul. It was during his illness that I had the opportunity to become close to him and to his family.

How to deal with the feeling of injustice? How to face pain and incomprehension? How can we accept the recall of a pure soul, of a child?

We are partly the result of our actions and partly the result of what others have done for us.

Paul received a lot of love from his family and gave back love in return without counting. So many links, so much affection given and received, leave a painful vacuum when life ends.

We prayed for Paul's cure, but we were not heard. We are mortal, but we are never ready. Paul, like all of us, was going to die one day. But Paul had a life to live first, parents to love, a family to start, love to give to his children. For us this was not his time.

Why?

I have no answer to give. But I can tell you what I witnessed during Paul’s illness.

Firstly I saw an example of courage, a magnificent boy, full of humour, zest for life, sensitivity.

I saw a family overflowing with love living in full communion with Paul.

I saw an extraordinary chain of solidarity uniting men and women of very diverse backgrounds, who would never have woven such links if Paul had not been affected by the disease.

I had on numerous occasions the feeling of God's love in the union which formed around Paul.

Then, even if it is not an explanation, I cannot refrain from thinking of the one who died on the cross, still giving love, and I hope that Paul lives now beside him.

If it is true that man was created in the image of God, if we look like him, it is in Paul's face and in the links woven around him that I was able to recognize the face of the other one, the face of the fellow man, the face of the one who loves us all and who will always love us.

Despite the pain and the incomprehension, I say to the Lord: thank you for having given us Paul.

6. Mireille

Paul, you were much more than just my son.
Your strength of character, your intelligence, your zest for life, your humour, your humanity, made you a unique child, so different.
Yes, I was captivated by your charm, but I wasn't the only one.

Living with you was a constant joy.
You often surprised us.
You made us laugh every day.
But your spirit was as pure as your body was burdened.

You left too early.
You still had so many things to give.
One of your professors wrote at the end of a school year: Paul, you'll go very far in life.
But your life on earth doesn't belong to us.
You remain always present in me, and when I think about you, now, I smile.

Philippe, Suzy and I have two suns:
You, Paul, who will always be in us,
And you, Clara, who we love so deeply, who we need so much, and for whom we'll do the impossible to bring you all the happiness you deserve.
With a smile.
With your smile.

The Chorus “Like a child” (sung by Clara, Léana, Aleandra, Emmanuelle, accompanied by Michel on piano):

Like a child
Who walks on the earth
Head in the air and
Hair blowing in the wind.

Like a child
Who walks on the earth
And smiles while dreaming.

Here I am! Lord!
Here I am like a child
Here I am! Lord!
Here I am like a child.

Paul's funeral service on 13 August 2009 (in French)

2009-08-18T15:43:00.014+01:00

Paul Yared
Jeudi 13 août 2009
Eglise Saint Sauveur, Beyrouth

Les Choristes “Vois sur ton Chemin” (chanté par Clara, Léana, Alexandra, Emmanuelle, accompagnées par Michel au piano):

Vois sur ton chemin
Gamins oubliés égarés
Donne leur la main
Pour les mener
Vers d'autres lendemains

Sens au coeur de la nuit
L'onde d'espoir
Ardeur de la vie
Sentier de gloire

Bonheurs enfantins
Trop vite oubliés effacés
Une lumière dorée brille sans fin
Tout au bout du chemin

Prières d’ouverture

1ère Lecture: 1er épitre de St Paul aux Théssaloniciens
Frères,
Nous ne voulons pas vous laisser dans l’ignorance au sujet de ceux qui se sont endormis dans la mort; il ne faut pas que vous soyez abattus comme les autres, qui n’ont pas d’espérance. En effet, puisque nous croyons que Jésus, est mort et ressuscité, de même, nous croyons, que Dieu ramènera par Jésus et avec lui ceux qui sont morts.
Ainsi, nous serons pour toujours avec le Seigneur.
Retenez ce que je viens de vous dire et réconfortez vous les uns les autres.

2ème Lecture: Saint Augustin
La mort n'est rien
Je suis seulement passé de l'autre coté.
Je suis moi - tu es toi.
Ce que nous étions l'un pour l'autre,
Nous le sommes toujours.
Donne-moi le nom que tu m'as toujours donné.
Parle-moi comme tu l'as toujours fait.
N'emploie pas un ton différent.
Ne prends pas un air solennel ou triste.
Continue à rire de ce qui nous faisait rire ensemble...
Prie, souris, pense à moi, prie pour moi.
Que mon nom soit prononcé à la maison comme il l'a toujours été
Sans emphase d'aucune sorte, sans une trace d'ombre.
La vie signifie toujours ce qu'elle a toujours signifié.
Elle est ce qu'elle a toujours été: le fil n'est pas coupé.
Pourquoi serais-je hors de ta pensée ?
Je ne suis pas loin, juste de l'autre coté du chemin...
Tu vois, tout est bien
Tu retrouveras mon cœur, tu en retrouveras les tendresses épurées
Essuie tes larmes et ne pleure pas si tu m’aimes...

3ème Lecture: Saint Jean V 24-30
Oui vraiment, je vous l’assure: celui qui écoute ce que je dis et qui place sa confiance dans le Père qui m’a envoyé, possède, des à présent, la vie éternelle et il ne sera pas condamné; il est déjà passé de la mort à la vie.
Oui, vraiment, je vous l’assure: l’heure vient, et elle est déjà là, où les morts entendront la voix du Fils de Dieu, et de tous ceux qui l’auront entendu vivront.
En effet, comme le Père, possède la vie en lui-même, il accorde au Fils d’avoir la vie en lui-même.
Et parce qu’il est le fils de l’homme, il lui a donné autorité pour exercer le jugement.
Ne vous étonnez pas: l’heure vient où tous ceux qui sont dans la tombe entendront la voix du Fils de l’homme.

Homélie

Absolution

Témoignages de vie

1. Clara (soeur de Paul):
Paul, tout ce que tu entreprenais, tu le faisais avec passion et excellence.
Tu voulais toujours aller plus loin, et en même temps, tu restais très humble.

2. Léana (cousine de Paul):
Je me rappelle l’été dernier, lorsque Clara et moi étions en train de peiner sur nos devoirs de vacances de 5ème. Pour se lancer un défi, et parce que les siens étaient trop faciles, Paul se mit à faire mes devoirs de vacances en plus des siens.
Paul, ta volonté et ton intelligence m’ont toujours impressionnées.

3. Alexandra (cousine de Paul):
Quand nous étions en vacances dans le sud de la France, nous avons découvert un énorme figuier dont les fruits nous faisaient très envie. Très vite, Clara, Léana et moi nous sommes retrouvés à déguster les figues avec voracité. Pendant ce temps, Paul, comme un vrai gentleman, nous les épluchait délicatement.
Paul, je me rappellerai toujours de ta gentillesse.

4. Texte de Corinne (tante de Paul)

Paul, durant les douze années que tu nous as offertes, tu as marqué de façon indélébile la vie de tous ceux qui t’ont connu.

Pour tes professeurs, tu étais un exemple, non seulement par l’excellence de ton travail, mais aussi par l’énergie et le dynamisme que tu insufflais à la classe. Tu as fédéré tes camarades, et lors de ta maladie, ils se sont tous mobilisés pour toi.

Pour la famille, ta joie de vivre et ton humour, sont l’étincelle qui embellissait chaque moment. Aussi bien jeunes que moins jeunes, nous recherchions tous ta présence.

Malade, tu n’as cessé de démontrer la profondeur de tes qualités, sans jamais te plaindre, même dans les moments de souffrance. Ton altruisme, ta gentillesse et ton intelligence nous aidaient et nous donnaient de la force et du courage.

Autour de toi, s’est créé un magnifique cercle d’amour qui ne s’est pas limité à ta famille proche car tu as toujours eu cette extraordinaire capacité à laisser s’épanouir le meilleur de ceux qui t’entouraient.

Paul, ta force et ton sourire nous portent pour toujours.

5. Texte de Michel

Je ne suis pas celui qui connaissait le mieux Paul. C’est à l’occasion de sa maladie que j’ai eu l’occasion de me rapprocher de lui et des siens.

Comment faire face au sentiment d’injustice? Comment faire face à la peine et à l’incompréhension? Comment accepter que soit rappelée une âme pure, un enfant ?

Nous sommes pour partie le fruit de nos actions et le résultat de ce que les autres ont fait pour nous.

Paul a reçu beaucoup d’amour de sa famille et il en a donné sans compter en retour. Tant de liens, tant d’affection donnée et reçue, laissent un vide douloureux le jour où la vie se retire.

Nous avons prié pour la guérison de Paul mais nous n’avons pas été entendus. Nous sommes mortels mais nous ne sommes jamais prêts. Paul, comme nous tous, devait mourir un jour. Mais Paul avait une vie à faire, des parents à aimer, une famille à fonder, de l’amour à donner à ses enfants. Pour nous ce n’était pas son heure.

Pourquoi ?

Je n’ai pas de réponse à donner. Mais je peux vous dire ce à quoi j’ai assisté pendant la maladie de Paul.

J’ai d’abord vu un exemple de courage, un garçon merveilleux, plein d’humour, d’appétit de vivre, de sensibilité.

J’ai vu une famille débordant d’amour et vivant en totale communion avec Paul.

J’ai vu une chaîne de solidarité extraordinaire réunissant des hommes et des femmes d’horizons très divers, qui n’auraient jamais tissés de tels liens si Paul n’avait été éprouvé par la maladie.

J’ai eu à de nombreuses reprises le sentiment de l’amour de Dieu dans l’union qui s’est formée autour de Paul.

Alors, même si ce n’est pas une explication, je ne peux m’empêcher de penser à celui mort sur la croix en donnant de l’amour et j’espère que Paul vit maintenant à ses côtés.

S’il est vrai que l’homme a été créé à l’image de Dieu, si nous lui ressemblons, c’est dans le visage de Paul et dans les liens tissés autour de lui que j’ai pu reconnaître le visage de l’autre, le visage du prochain, le visage de celui qui nous aime tous et nous aimera toujours.

Par-delà la peine et l’incompréhension, je dis au Seigneur : merci de nous avoir donné Paul.

6. Texte de Mireille

Paul, tu étais beaucoup plus que seulement mon enfant.
Ta force de caractère, ton intelligence, ta joie de vivre, ton humour, ton humanité, faisaient de toi un enfant unique, si différent.
Oui, j'étais sous ton charme, mais je n'étais pas la seule.

Vivre avec toi a été un bonheur de tous les instants.
Tu nous étonnais souvent.
Tu nous faisais rire tous les jours.
Mais ton esprit était aussi pur que ton corps était encombré.

Tu es parti trop tôt.
Tu avais tellement de choses à donner encore.
Un de tes professeurs avait écrit en fin d'année scolaire: Paul, tu iras très loin dans la vie.
Mais ta vie sur Terre ne nous appartient pas.
Tu restes tout le temps présent en moi, et quand je pense à toi, maintenant, je souris.

Philippe, Suzy et moi avons deux soleils:
toi Paul, qui sera toujours en nous,
et toi Clara, que nous aimons si fort, dont nous avons tant besoin, et pour qui nous ferons l'impossible pour que tu aies tout le bonheur que tu mérites.
Avec le sourire.
Avec ton sourire

Les Choristes “Comme un enfant” (chanté par Clara, Léana, Alexandra, Emmanuelle et accompagné par Michel au piano):

Comme un enfant
Qui marche sur la terre
Le nez en l’air et les
Cheveux au vent

Comme un enfant
Qui marche sur la terre
Et qui sourit en rêvant

Me voici! Seigneur!
Me voici comme un enfant
Me voici! Seigneur!
Me voici comme un enfant

A few very sensitive words (in French)

2009-08-11T20:48:00.007+01:00

I thought I'd share with you the very moving words sent to us by Paul, a friend who is also a philosopher:

"Un calvaire a cessé, un autre commence. La vie est une roue qui broie les âmes et les coeurs et si y survit l’espoir c’est déjà miracle. Mes amis, je suis horrifié par ce qui est arrivé à votre Paul adoré, et je n’ai que ma colère à vous donner en partage, en même temps, il est vrai, que je participe, dans la distance abolie et le silence obligé, à votre douleur indicible. Pourquoi lui? Pourquoi soi? Le mal n’est pas un châtiment. Le mal est sans pourquoi, comme la vie, comme la mort, comme tout ce qui nous concerne au plus profond et nous remplit de questions sans réponses. Et de fait, l’abîme des questions sans réponses s’ouvre à nouveau devant l’ignoble souveraineté, l’intervention despotique et désinvolte de ce qu'il est convenu d’'appeler le destin. Maudit soit-il, ce destin. Et Dieu dans tout ça? Lui dont on dit que tout lui est possible? Qu'a-t-il fait de cette réserve de possibles dont il a fait naguère sa Création? On veut bien espérer qu’il fera une place de roi à l'ange qui l’a rejoint. C'’est tout ce qu’il nous reste, dans le fond: cette foi dans la foi, qui console à peine des cruels assauts du réel, mais occupe la part d'imagination sans laquelle nous ne tiendrions pas une minute sur cette terre. Une chose pourtant est sûre: toutes les fois que le doute vous frappera, que l’angoisse vous saisira, que vous ne saurez pas où aller, quoi faire, quelle couleur donner au monde, quel futur libérer devant soi, alors murmurera en vous, à sa place dévolue, la voix de l’enfant chéri, et c’est elle qui vous soufflera la réponse. Paul: désormais votre témoin intérieur, votre rempart secret contre les blessures de l’existence. Il vous protègera comme vous-mêmes l'avez protégé au-delà du possible. Il a la clé de l’avenir. Faites-lui confiance, vous remonterez à la surface. Écoutez-le vous remercier des efforts déployés et de la confiance dans la vie que vous lui avez apprise tout au long de ces mois de maladie. Ecoutez-le vous dire: je suis là. Écoutez-le vous dire: ne contrecarrez pas les battements de votre coeur. Écoutez-le vous dire que l’absence est une présence d’un autre genre, une présence qui n’'est plus affectée par sa disparition prochaine, une empreinte éternelle, une trace privée d'effacement, un essaim insistant de signes parlants, vivants, que seuls ceux qui ont eu à souffrir le martyre au nom de l’amour ont la capacité de percevoir."

Practical info

2009-08-10T18:12:00.004+01:00

In French:

Les obsèques auront lieu en l’église Saint Sauveur des Grecs-Catholiques, secteur Rue Monot, Beyrouth, jeudi 13 août à 11h
Les condoléances seront reçues au salon de l’église mercredi 12 Août de 11h à 19h, jeudi 13 Août de 14h à 19h et vendredi 14 août de 11h à 19h.

En hommage à Paul, plutôt que des fleurs, la famille souhaite recevoir des dons à: Bank Audi - Audi Saradar Group - Bab Idriss branch, Account No. USD 997732–01 in the name of Philippe Yared and/or Mireille Nassif, SWIFT: AUDBLBBX. Ces dons seront répartis entre diverses oeuvres charitables et centres anti cancer au Liban et en Angleterre.

And in the official language of the blog:

The funeral will take place in the Saint Saviour church of the Melkites, Monot street, in Beirut Thursday August 13 at 11:00. Paul's family will accept condolences in the church hall on Wednesday August 12 from 11:00 to 19:00, on Thursday August 13 from 14:00 to 19:00 and on Friday August 14 from 11:00 to 19:00.

In remembrance of Paul, instead of sending flowers, please wire any contribution that you'd like to make to: Bank Audi - Audi Saradar Group - Bab Idriss branch, Account No. UUSD 997732–01 in the name of Philippe Yared and/or Mireille Nassif , SWIFT: AUDBLBBX. These donations will be distributed amongst Lebanese charities and hospitals specialized in treating cancer in Lebanon and in the UK.

Finally, I cannot thank enough all those who sent us expressions of support from all the over the world in these difficult times.

Paul 30/10/1996 - 7/8/2009

2009-08-08T22:08:00.005+01:00

I write this post as an announcement. Mireille will surely want to say more during the next few days.

Yesterday, our courageous, beautiful, gentle Paul went away to take care for us, to live in us forever at 23:05, after receiving the last rites in early afternoon. His breathing had been weakening steadily during the past ten days and he spent most of his last day sleeping, probably mostly unconscious.

Paul was reading this blog and we were unable to post the terrible truth that transpired since the biopsy of his lymph node at the left groin which proved cancerous, a rare and disastrous development. A re-staging done just afterwards had shown that his popliteal lymph node of the same leg was involved, most of his left leg, and that he had tumours near his liver and in his chest.

The goal of treatment was then to control the disease by changing the chemo regimen and giving it aggressively in order to possibly open some window of opportunity for dealing with separate tumours.

But the cancer was spreading ferociously. His left leg swelled through the chemo and in between the two cycles he received, tumours appeared on his skin and it became clear there was nothing left to be done.

He was incredibly courageous during all the process, taking a full bed wash every single day, studying his German, doing his physiotherapy, reading, playing, remaining what he always was: A full joy to all for every second of his life.

We are sure he is happy where he is, probably playing football on the best lawns and with the best players ever, swimming in the purest, gentlest waters imaginable, making great friends, under the loving care of Jesus.

We returned to Lebanon today to stay with Clara and be the first to break the news to her. Alexis and Anne-Marie will follow us with Paul's body towards the end of next week. Funeral arrangements will be announced then.

Philippe

2009-08-05T12:22:00.002+01:00

Over the last few days, Paul spent some fun time with his cousins Robert and Marc.

Robert came on purpose on a three-day trip from the US to teach him some tricks on the xbox, the playstation and other computer games. So did Marc on his transit between France and Lebanon.

Suzy arrived for a few days... and will not escape from some German duties with Paul (Paul has chosen German at school for his step-mother Suzy precisely, as well as for his German swiss grand-mother Ruthly, and Suzy's family).

As Paul is optimising ressources, he is asking Jeddo to help him out for better understanding his english book.

2009-08-01T06:32:00.008+01:00

Paul is focused this week on improving his language skills and was eagerly looking for an interesting english book to read. So he reads until late at night.

He also revises his German lessons everyday consciously and asked for Mr.Fuzak's visit again yesterday. Another one-hour class which stretched for more than two hours as Paul never wanted to stop...

Clara, Corinne, Jean-Paul and Robert arrived yesterday.

2009-07-30T17:42:00.010+01:00

Paul had a busy day yesterday.

He had his second German tutorship with Mr. Fuzak which was meant to last an hour. But he had so many questions and wanted to write so much in his notebook that they stopped more than two hours later.. as Paul had to be taken out for some tests.

As if this was not enough, he insisted in doing an hour of maths with Anne-Marie as late as 10pm.

Paul's aunt, Marie, is spending a few days with us.

Catching up German

2009-07-28T19:44:00.003+01:00

Paul felt better over the last two days.

Since chemo is over since Sunday, he had two continuous and restful nights.

Paul got a new wheel armchair which allowed us to tour the upper adolescent floor to borrow DVDs.

Today he did his german homework in preparation of his class tomorrow.

Suzy left and Anne-Marie is rotating nights with me.

2009-07-26T15:59:00.006+01:00

Paul finished his 5-day chemo cycle yesterday.

Suzy arrived on Friday for the weekend and is doing all the night shifts.

Paul spends his days watching movies and playing with his playstation and Xbox.

Today we did some maths exercises and he insisted we start next year's program.

Paul sleeps quite a lot otherwise, due to the morphine intakes to control the pain in his bad leg.

2009-07-23T12:43:00.003+01:00

Paul is in his third day of chemo (out of 5).

His friend Bertrand came from Paris to see him and they played with the xbox.

Paul watches movies quite late everyday (yesterday "Slumdog millionaire", kindly offered by Pat).

Corinne and Sylvain left to Hamburg today.

Chemo resumes

2009-07-21T22:48:00.005+01:00

Paul has started chemo tonight.

Sylvain and Corinne came from Hamburg and Paul is particularly happy to spend some quality time with Sylvain and they are catching up on many things since last summer.

Paul asked for his German lesson to be reorganized for today and Mr. Fuzac was able to make it.

Then Béatrice de Beaufort came and distracted Paul with some history searches on internet.

Then, after a well-deserved nap, Paul had the surprise to see his cousin Marc arrive with an Xbox and they played Halo until late this evening.

2009-07-21T00:04:00.004+01:00

Paul's platelets are finally up and, if they are confirmed tomorrow, chemo should then resume.

We have transformed his room into a movie theater with powerful speakers, and Paul watches one or two movies a day.

He cunningly diverted the doctors and nurses' usual questions to a computer game.

Some visits over the last few days, including the German teacher, but Paul fell asleep just before his arrival and missed his first class (it is the only topic he did not have time to catch up this school year, as yet).

In the open ward

2009-07-17T07:11:00.009+01:00

UK hospitals have wards full of children with swine flu. Thus yesterday, we were moved from our room to the open ward.

Our room and the ones aside have all been given to cancerous childrens with no immunity, who were themselves moved from distant rooms which got assigned to swine flu patients. More than ever, hospitals are understaffed and it does take a lot of energy to get medication quickly when required.

Paul has enough white blood cells and doesn't need to be isolated. It is the platelets we're waiting for to resume chemo.

Needless to say, his night was not great in the open ward.

Luckily, late today, our initial room freed up and we moved back to it again.

Corinne left for Hamburg.
Suzy arrived yesterday and is doing two night shifts.

Clara left today for Beirut. She is joining her cousins Léana, Alexandra, and the many others. Her aunts will take good care of all this crowd, with plenty of things to do in the next few weeks.

2009-07-15T13:21:00.005+01:00

We are still at UCH waiting for platelets to increase to resume chemo.

Paul feels more comfortable at hospital for the moment, despite not having chemo and being allowed to go home meanwhile.

His classmate Hadrien visited and they played computer games.

Alexis offered him an ebook which he liked a lot.

Chemo delayed

2009-07-12T18:55:00.005+01:00

Paul had a good time at home but preferred to stay at UCH on Saturday as we had to go there for IV medication (any IV intake has to be done at hospital).

Given his bone marrow still not producing platelets nor white blood counts, he prefers staying in his confortable room at UCH to avoid having to go from home to Chelsea Westminster hospital for potential transfusion or antibiotics.

Chemo is therefore delayed (potentially resuming end of week).

Paul is well but sleeping quite a lot in the mornings given the morphine daily intake (to control the pain in the affected leg).

Yesterday a few visits (pictures below).

Corinne is spending a few days with us .. and doing all the night shifts.

Home !

2009-07-09T09:41:00.013+01:00

Yes, we're at home!

Paul had a good night with no pumps bleeping, no nurse coming in the room for observations every two hours, no doctors asking the same questions everyday (despite Paul repeating everyday: no change, as I said yesterday, ...). Because of the rotation of many doctors and nurses, each of them needs to get updated everyday from talking and examining Paul.

As a result, Paul slept serenely until...1pm.

The community nurse came to give him some medication and trained me. This way, we can surely spend more time at home in the future, away from hospital.

Mrs Cardle, the Latin teacher, visited him in the afternoon.

Then Mrs de Beaufort came and we saw a Louis de Funès movie "Le gendarme de St-Tropez".

Paul also played a computer game with Clara.

In the evening, Michel, Zeina and Jimmy came over.

2009-07-07T21:28:00.004+01:00

Clara, Léana, Alexandra, with the help of Agnès, spent the last two mornings preparing a comic book for Paul, which they offered him today.

Paul's cousins will be leaving tomorrow to Paris.

But the good news is we will return home tomorrow evening for two days (after three weeks at hospital)!

2009-07-06T23:24:00.004+01:00

Just as we were pleased the temperature settled and we could go home tomorrow (after three weeks at UCH..), Paul had a low grade fever and IV antibiotics had to be given again.

Chemo should resume next week (date depends upon blood counts which are still too low, although on the way up). In between, we hope to have at least two days at home.

Francis brought Paul's PSP from Beirut today and Paul was very excited to play with it.

Léana, Alexandra, Clara and Agnès also visited, as everyday.

2009-07-04T07:52:00.014+01:00

Suzy arrived from Abu Dhabi for the weekend (as she does every weekend !).

Paul's blood counts are increasing very slowly which makes the presence at the hospital mandatory given IV antibiotics.

His body is very weakened from seven months of chemotherapy, so he sleeps on and off during days and nights (nights are always interrupted by nurse observations every two hours as well as by medication pumps bleeping continuously).

But Paul is feeling better and had a few visits today: Esther, Gael de Beaufort, Adel.

Agnès, Léana, Alexandra and Clara also kept company to Paul, after their picnic in Hyde Park (pictures below).

2009-07-01T22:29:00.007+01:00

Paul's blood counts are starting to increase finally today. Also his fever has settled down. Recipe for ..home soon?

Paul is doing his physio exercices with lots of discipline and willingness.

He had a few visits over the last few days: Michel from Paris, Esther, his aunt Marie from California, Mrs. de Beaufort, Joe, his physio Laura who brought him a T-shirt from Wimbledon.

His cousins Léana and Alexandra arrived from Hamburg yesterday to spend a whole week with us. They all watched a movie today and played computer games.

Léana and Alex's grand-mother Agnès arrived from Paris today and the house is full and cheerful.

Jogging in Hyde Park for Paul

2009-06-28T05:18:00.023+01:00

Mrs. Delphine Botbol (on the left in the picture above), Paul's science teacher, organized an 8km jogging in Hyde Park for Paul.

Many students from Paul's class who were eager to do something for Paul, as well as Mrs. Botbol's other class students, participated in the run, wearing T-shirts with Paul's name.

A few teachers were also present: Mr. Tagarist (maths), Mr. Cadeddu (physics and chemistry), Mrs. Rotureau (sports), and of course Mrs. de Beaufort (who was going back and forth from the ice cream event that she helped organize with Clara, and Hyde Park to support her fellow joggers).

Paul loved the pictures.

Some did it on a bicycle..

Mr. Tagarist (in yellow short in the picture below) who left last (with Geneviève de Beaufort on his shoulders) arrived second (the first is a student who is very worried to fail his maths year next year...).

2009-06-27T17:52:00.009+01:00

Paul is feeling much better this afternoon and his muscular pain is fully controlled.

He had to extend his hospital stay due to fever in neutropenic days post-chemo.

Today Vivien visited and Paul challenged her at Scrabble.

Then he wanted to do some maths exercices (Paul, school is over, remember?).

Corinne and Dominique left. Suzy and JP arrived.

Clara's ice cream sale was a great success !

2009-06-26T13:27:00.022+01:00

Clara organized an ice cream sale at Oddono's, near the Lycée, to raise funding for Cancer Research.

Over the last few days, she was busy organizing the event with Mrs. de Beaufort and Mrs. Zbairi, preparing and posting the leaflets across the school, and discussing with Christian, Oddono's kind owner (in blue T-shirt in the picture above).

Many students from the Lycée came, as well as friends of ours, and there were often long queues.

Christian told us sales reached a few thousand pounds!
Christian went to another charity later in the evening; some people knew about Clara's event and contributed further.

Paul enjoyed seeing the pictures this morning and is convinced they will all end up with indigestion... given many kids had a one-off go-ahead from their parents to have up to six gigantic scoops.

Another event for Paul took place also yesterday, which I will write about tomorrow.

Paul had an upset stomach lately but feels better today.

2009-06-23T19:27:00.005+01:00

Paul has days in two-stages: lots of sleep in the mornings, then visits in the afternoons.

Yesterday Jacques, his piano and guitar teacher, came and Paul played guitar.

Alexis and Dominique also spent some time with us.

Téta and Jeddo returned to Paris.

Visit from classmates

2009-06-22T19:01:00.007+01:00

Yesterday Paul had the visit of his classmates, Lisa, Xenia and Eugenie who offered him a comic book and some swiss chocolates.

They spent almost three hours together: the girls told him about the school news and they all drew and wrote on Eugénie's goodbye book as she is leaving the UK next year.

Stephane also visited and made him a demonstration of a georgian dance, his new hobby. Along with Nathalie, they all surfed on You Tube.

Today we watched Wimbledon and Paul is feeling much better.

2009-06-21T15:01:00.003+01:00

Paul, in the picture above, is not with his latest chemo companion (aren't they as bald..?), but with Philippe's cousin, Michel, who visited by surprise from Paris.

Paul is sleeping quite a lot, given a few days of chemo.

In the evenings, he enjoys watching movies. His cousins Robert and Marc downloaded many of them on his computer at UCH.

Paul passes in 4e with congratulations !

2009-06-20T19:59:00.005+01:00

Paul had a visit from his school teachers, Mr. Dreyfus (maths) and Mrs. Botbol (science), as well as Mrs. Zbairi (in charge of all the 5e and 4e).

They gave him his grade book which is excellent and he got the "Congratulations!".

A visit from a BBC movie star

2009-06-18T20:37:00.006+01:00

Paul is spending the week (probably till monday) at UCH for chemo.

He is starting to regain the lost weight thanks to the NG tube.

Clara came back from Hamburg and spent the day with him.

We had a surprise visit from a BBC movie star, Michelle Ryan (in the picture above), who Paul and Clara know from her "Doctor Who" series.

Earlier Mrs de Beaufort came for an ice cream party as Paul is done with his school lessons and exams. She also gave him two excellent results in his french latest exams.

Xenia and Lisa ran for Paul !

2009-06-16T18:19:00.005+01:00

What a surprise in the mail today: Paul received a big enveloppe from his classmates Xenia and Lisa, with a letter (in picture above) saying they ran 5km for him in the Race for Life. They also succeeded in raising 397 pounds from friends for the Cancer Research.

He received many pictures from the race as well as a medal they generously offered to Paul.

Xenia is a regular jogger but it was the first time for Lisa who ran non-stop.

Paul is now at UCH and chemo continues.

He had a french lesson today and Mr. Tagarist made him a surprise visit.

Dominique and Philippe arrived from Beirut.

Still at Stanmore

2009-06-13T14:47:00.007+01:00

Paul is still at Stanmore as his leg is painful and he needs regular morphine to control it.

So, in between his foot microfracture (slow to heal under chemo), his new wound from the lymph node surgery, his thigh pain (from inflammation?) and the prosthesis that is slightly stiff (as not mobilized), his left leg is not moving much, which in turn, worsens the pain.

He is in bed all day long (for a few weeks now) as he is very lethargic after six months of intensive chemotherapy and five weeks of continuous antibiotics (given low immunity and low grade fever).

We forced him today to do two sessions of physio exercices to build up the body muscles.

He is fed by the NG tube and is gradually reaching the daily minimum requirement.
We have stopped the weight loss (-4kg ie -10% of his initial weight).
He will slowly gain weight as we increase the feeding debit and he eats normal food (still almost nothing).

In between the nurses and doctors ongoing visits, reading, playing on the computer, watching a movie, days do go by...

Suzy left today to Dubai. Corinne arrived from Hamburg.

And Clara is having a great time with Sylvain, a talented tennis coach, and her cousins Léana and Alexandra.

2009-06-12T05:11:00.003+01:00

Paul is fine. His post-op pain is controled with oral morphine.

He is starting to eat normal food (in addition to the NG tube).

On the same day of surgery, he insisted to watch a movie with Anne-Marie till midnight.

The good news is the liquid aspirated from the knee area is free of infection.

Suzy, his step-mother, arrived yesterday from Abu Dhabi and Paul is happy she is spending two full days and nights with him.

Paul might be discharged today from Stanmore.

Clara left yesterday to her cousins in Hamburg for a whole week (as it is the Baccalaureat week in her school).

At Stanmore

2009-06-10T13:12:00.017+01:00

We got transferred yesterday late afternoon in an ambulance from Chelsea & Westminster hospital to Stanmore hospital.

The surgeon, Mr.Skinner, reassured us upon arrival as he believes the titanium prosthesis is not infected (if it is, the prosthesis has to be removed to resume chemo with no more delays).

Paul is fine with no temperature, but the swollen lymph node at the groin and the thigh are painful although controlled with pain killers. He is very patient, played a game on my blackberry (he is working on challenging Jimmy who's beaten records..), played online on computer games, read.. then fell asleep from so much work.

Later he had an ultrasound of the upper body and leg which did not reveal any visible infection.

He was operated on at 4:30pm, the groin lymph node was removed and some liquid around the knee was aspirated.

One hour later, Mr. Skinner appeared in my bedroom to reassure me: Paul is fine and the lymph node was easy to remove and looked like an ordinary lymph node (biopsy results in the next few days).

His post-surgery pain is controlled with morphine.

Anne-Marie, my nephrologist sister, is taking over for the night. Paul is in good hands.

From C&W to Stanmore Hospital

2009-06-09T17:27:00.009+01:00

Paul is getting a little used to his NG feeding tube but was still hoping he would encounter a good soul today to remove it for him.

His morale post-tube only improved when Mrs de Beaufort visited (for a graded dictation though).

Then the psychologist Anne-marie (in the picture above) had a chat with him.

Paul has no fever but his leg and lymph nodes are hurting despite pain killers. His white blood counts dropped again.

His oncologist and his surgeon, organized to have him transferred today from Chelsea & Westminster Hospital to Stanmore Hospital (where Paul had his surgery) to investigate the potential cause of the swelling of his lymph nodes.

Chemo will be postponed until this is assessed and managed in Stanmore.

Back to Chelsea Westminster Hospital

2009-06-08T18:06:00.006+01:00

Last minute change of program this morning: As we were ready to go to see Mr.Skinner, Paul had a 39 degree fever at 8am, so instead we rushed to Chelsea Westminster.

There we were served with the usual cocktail of wide range antibiotics. Given both his swollen lymph node at the groin (indicating an inflammation or infection) and the prosthesis (which love bacteria), we have no choice but to be very aggressive with antibiotics.

The good news of the day is that his bone marrow is back in action, with platelets and white blood counts back up to decent levels.

Paul was in such a good mood this morning that he did a science exam in hospital.

The doctor discovered a second lymph node behind his affected knee (popliteal) and he sent him to do an ultrasound.

Paul was very cooperative with the nurse who put him the nasal gastric tube in, and the experience turned out smooth and quick. But he quickly hated the feeling of it and asked to have it removed. The medical staff convinced him he would get used to it after a day or so (like for the picc line).

Paul will have his first food intake through the tube overnight.

A long day for both of us.

Meanwhile at home, Robert was kind enough to visit Clara and help her out in reviewing her maths for her exam tomorrow.

This pesky lymph node again ...

2009-06-07T11:13:00.014+01:00

Paul has been suffering from a strong pain at his swollen lymph node and leg over the weekend.

Pain killers are helping but we're looking forward to see his surgeon, Mr.Skinner, tomorrow morning.

Mr.Skinner will likely remove the lymph node on Tuesday in Stanmore, assuming blood counts are back up.

Chemo is again delayed (Wednesday?), the lymph node winning in terms of priorities.

Yesterday Paul spent the afternoon at his cousins' and played at the Xbox, guided by Marc who is also reviewing for his Baccalaureat exams. But Marc is a brilliant multitasker so ...

Today we watched the Roland Garros final with Domenico, Stefania, Bianca and Federica, while Paul preferred to stay in bed.

He is tired and sleeping often. He has now been under antibiotics for about a month (mandatory as he had several bouts of low grade fever in times of low immunity).

He is making good efforts to swallow some proteins in order to avoid spending additional nights at hospital just for food intake (through the nasal gastric tube due as soon as we return to UCH for chemo) but he feels full very quickly.

A busy week next week.

Federer and Red Meat

2009-06-05T19:52:00.009+01:00

We went to UCH yesterday in order to have the nasal gastric tube put in. But as they asked us to sleep over in order for me to learn how to operate the pump, Paul preferred to postpone it till next Monday when we'll have to stay anyway for chemo. We do our best to minimize hospital sleepovers since we're there most of the time these days.

So focus back on eating yesterday and today. I still don't believe I just managed to make Paul swallow 250g of filet while watching Federer win a great semi-final. Thank you Federer and no the title of this post was not meant to suggest that he made minced meat of Del Potro which he did anyway in the end: Some filet!

Paul had a maths tutorship today and another very good grade on his maths exam.

Despite being very tired, he remains interested in his school work.

Paul's lymph node located at the groin of his affected leg was again painful over the last two days. Despite being under antibiotics for about three weeks, the lymph node is not going away, which made Maria decide to have it removed as soon as Paul's blood counts permit (still low). Mr.Skinner will do the procedure so we'll be returning to Stanmore soon.

Otherwise Téta and Jeddo are spending the days with Paul while I am at work. Isabelle was also of great help for a few days.

Clara is doing very well.

Chemo delayed

2009-06-03T18:59:00.005+01:00

Paul's white blood cells and platelets remain too low to resume chemo.

We saw Maria today at UCH who postponed it until next Monday... and Paul happily organized his afternoon at his cousins' and reappeared late this evening to say he's sleeping there.

This time, his blood marrow got very depressed by chemo but this is normal as we're heading towards end of treatment. Only 10 weeks to go (assuming no more delays)!

The lost weight didn't escape to Maria.. and the nasal tube is planned for tomorrow. Paul is not unhappy about it as he will feel stronger and, most importantly, he won't have to take the unpleasant phosphate tablets anymore.

Yesterday we also saw his surgeon, Mr. Skinner, who told him to remove the splint, and gave him instead an air-cushioned boot, the one David Beckham was wearing if you happen to be a football (soccer) fan.

Both doctors expect quick improvement right after chemo is over. Paul is now very tired from an accumulation of five months of high dose poison in his body. In addition, his bones are weak and his foot is micro-fractured. So conditions are not present to improve his walking now.

Paul is home!

2009-05-30T21:15:00.005+01:00

Finally Paul got discharged from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital after a night with Marc.

I thought they were going to sleep when I left them at 10:30 yesterday evening but they had other plans. In the morning, an Ali G. DVD left on the tray was testimony that they had decided they could not go to bed without a few laughs.

Today was mostly a day for resting at home with Clara and the visits of Téta, Jeddo, Isabelle and Michel.

Tonight we saw the crowning of Diversity on Britain's Got Talent and both Paul and Clara were disappointed that, respectively, neither Susan Boyle nor Shaheen Jafargholi won the contest.

Otherwise paul is fine, in good spirits and eating quite well.

Unless there are changes, no update before Tuesday when and if he is admitted for chemo.

Back home ... for four hours

2009-05-29T18:35:00.007+01:00

Dr. Elsawi from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital didn't fail us!

After a platelets transfusion (for the road), once more she allowed Paul to go home for four short hours before coming back at 10pm for IV antibiotics, a G-CSF injection and another night under the watch of the excellent team there.

Today was marked by acceptable food intake, the visit of Rosemary for a few hours between her arrival from Brussels and her departure to New York, the arrival of Téta, Jeddo and Isabelle, a maths class and some very physical physio with Laura:

At home finally he sped to his bathtub like a seal to the sea:

Old boys club

2009-05-28T19:07:00.010+01:00

(Paul, Robert, Philippe)

Paul spent last night with his cousin Robert who stayed with us until mid afternoon. This morning, I first brought breakfast to the pair (at 10am they were still sleeping), then I ran an errand at the Lycée before coming back one hour later. They were eating the stuff I had brought them earlier and watching a very funny movie, despite this review. Well it was funny in French anyway.

The day's efforts were spent on trying to make him eat and Robert showed some real gifts in this respect:

We managed to make Paul eat quite a bit by nibbling basically all day long.

On the medical front, no fever, counts still nil to very low. Paul is still under antibiotics. Tomorrow's blood results could show some serious improvement and he may be discharged.

More bothersome is his micro fracture on the left foot which may have worsened in an accident yesterday. We still await the results of an X-ray Paul took this afternoon.

Update: The X-ray seems to show a fracture (perhaps not so micro anymore) on the exterior of the foot. If this is confirmed, this will make physio less optimal as there is probably no real way to heal this fracture before end of treatment.

Back to Chelsea Westminster Hospital

2009-05-27T23:00:00.003+01:00

Paul had a low fever today, and given his neutrophils are still at zero, we're back at Chelsea Westminster hospital for I.V. antibiotics.

He will be there for at least two nights to check there is no bacterial infection.

Paul remains in relatively good spirits despite the fact he now finds all this too long.

His ulcers improved but he has still little appetite and feels full quickly.

Philippe arrived today from Beirut for a few days.

Paul asked Robert to repeat the night experience with him. I believe they watch movies quite late, for the part that is officially reported to us.

A small incident today: as the very helpful Pat was carrying Paul down the stairs, he slipped and Paul hit his bad foot (already micro-fractured) on the wall. He is complaining it hurts and we might do another Xray tomorrow if the pain pesists. An additional delay for walking..

Back home

2009-05-26T20:43:00.006+01:00

Paul is back home tonight.

He in such a good mood ..that he accepted to do a maths exam.

He made an effort today to eat more.. which ended up in moderate vomiting. But all in, he was better off eating than not.

Out of desperation earlier in the day, I called our friend Nabil, a famous cook in his out of office hours, for urgent help in preparing tasteful soups for Paul.

We keep trying ...

Down inside out

2009-05-25T22:03:00.010+01:00

Rosemary spent a second night with Paul.

Zeina and Jimmy visited monday morning.

Blood counts were not improved: neutrophils (white blood cells) are at 0.0 and platelets remain very low. Sunday's platelets transfusion was a top-up for one day only as only the bone marrow can provide some continuity.

Neutrophils slightly improved to 0.1 today, as he is at day 9 (out of 10) of his G-CSF injections which should help trigger the bone marrow.

Paul was quite unhappy yesterday and the doctor allowed him to spend the afternoon at home given he is under antibiotics and with no fever.

Hadrien visited him at hospital and accompanied him at home to play on the Wii.

Rosemary and John (who took Clara out all of sunday's afternoon) held us company and stayed for dinner.

But the most difficult task is to make Paul eat. He continues to loose weight. He can't swallow due to his mouth sores and he is full just after a few spoons of liquid foods.

Anne-Marie and Alexis took him back to the hospital in the evening where he spent the night with his cousin Robert.

Today Tuesday, he'll have another platelets transfusion and will go home in the afternoon (to stay there).

Blood counts nil

2009-05-24T11:08:00.011+01:00

Paul is at Chelsea Westminster Hospital since Friday evening, due to a low grade fever.

Given he has no immunity (neutrophils are again at 0.0), we have to be prudent and cover him with various antibiotics.
On the positive side, he has no fever.

All blood counts drop post-chemo: hemoglobin and platelets are also very low and both a blood and platelets transfusion are on the program for today.

Persisting mouth ulcers and loss appetite made him loose further weight. We're trying all day long to find new recipes as he only tolerates liquids.

Rosemary and John spent the afternoon with Paul, and I'll let Rosemary write the subsequent events (she kindly did the night too).

"We had a delightful evening with Paul playing Hotel (an upgraded version of Monopoly). Of course, Paul trounced us both, building large luxurious properties and charging exorbitant rents.

Paul managed to down a few nacho chips (largely by sucking them) and we all enjoyed a "fizzy strawberry lance" for dessert. Paul took good care of me throughout the night ensuring that the nurses provided me a toothbrush and a blanket. He has certainly charmed the entire hospital staff - they all seem to enjoy coming in and sharing a laugh or a story with Paul while they do what they need to do."

At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

2009-05-23T05:20:00.014+01:00

Yesterday Leana and Alexandra returned to Hamburg.

Rosemary and John arrived from New York and Boston for a few days in London. They are Philippe's American cousins and Clara and Paul's true (and infinitely patient) friends too, having shown repeatedly an admirable disposition for spending days with them at the water park or hours around a game of Monopoly.

Paul had his platelets transfusion yesterday afternoon and was both excited to see Rosemary and John in the evening and quite tired too.

Alice also visited from Beirut and joined for dinner.

At around 23h, Paul had a 38.4 deg. fever and it was time to rush him to his other home in neutropenic times.

Below a few photos from the great time Clara and Paul always had with the Moukads.

Hard to believe that in July 2008, Paul was probably already ill.

2009-05-21T21:44:00.005+01:00

Paul is less nauseous but still has no appetite due to mouth sores. Obviously this is otherwise a normal effect of chemotherapy.

He has been eating very little for a full week now and has consequently lost a precious kilo. The threat of the nourishing tube is of no help. But Téta is coming next week so we hope she'll give him new tasty incentives to go back to eating more respectable quantities.

Over the last three days, he had some good moments and laughs with his cousins Leana and Alexandra.

Dominique has taken good care of all of them, including lunches outside (provided the brave Pat would carry Paul up and down the 35 stairs).

Today Paul had a physics and science tutorships.

Laura gave him a physio session. Paul is still putting little weight on his foot due to the micro-fracture which is likely to heal very slowly as long as he is under chemo. Paul can now bend his leg almost as much as the good leg (picture below).

Update on bone scan

2009-05-19T14:42:00.000+01:00

"Clear"

2009-05-18T19:13:00.008+01:00

Paul went to UCH for a bone scan today. Results probably towards the end of the week.

He is excited by the presence of his cousins Leana and Alexandra (while Clara wonders why she still needs to go to school and miss the party at home).

Paul is less nauseous today but he is still eating precious little.

As he spent enough time at University College hospital today, we took the liberty not to go to Chelsea Westminster hospital for the G-CSF injection that boosts the bone marrow (to offset the white blood count drop post-chemo). Instead, Anne-Marie gave it to him at home. A big luxury to have a doc in the family!

Dominique arrived today for the week.

The Wii guitar Wajdi brought to Paul made (almost) everybody happy.

2009-05-17T22:25:00.008+01:00

Paul rested at home today with a continuous but lower nausea.

We went to Chelsea Westminster Hospital for a quick antibiotic shot through the picc line.

Paul, Clara and Jean-Paul prepared crepes.

Newly wed Roula and Olivier visited.

Leana and Alexandra arrived from Hamburg for a week of vacation.

2009-05-17T10:20:00.004+01:00

Paul had two long and restful nights at home.

He was still very nauseous yesterday with no way to make him eat until late in the day.

We went to Chelsea Westminster hospital for a short visit as Paul had to get the I.V. antibiotic through the Picc line (during the week days, the community nurse does it at home).

Paul felt better in the evening as the Cisplatin effect is reducing (it takes about four days) and as he is taking anti-nausea medications.

Max and Paul Berstein spent the evening with Paul and Clara.

Back home after five days and four nights in hospital

2009-05-15T20:28:00.016+01:00

Paul is back home tonight.

He is happy to be done with one of the three drugs, the Cisplatin, which is the one giving the strongest nausea. The rest of the treatment till August will consist of Doxorubicin and Methotrexate.

Because of nausea, he ate next to nothing over the last two days.

Cisplatin made him also lethargic so he went straight to bed upon arrival.

Anne-Marie spent all of today with him.

Yesterday we had a fun episode when Anne-Marie arrived for the night shift and summoned the nurse to give some extra nausea medication to Paul to relieve him. As more than one hour was not enough for the nurse to get hold of the doctors to approve it, Anne-Marie (a very active nephrologist for those who don't know her) tried herself to bleep the doctor on call from the nurse desk. The nurse threatened to call Security to have her expelled from the hospital. Paul found that very entertaining. The ladies finally reached a consensus late in the evening as Paul finally got the extra medication.

Amid the excellent care Paul has generally been getting, we can't help but notice the general under-staffing of the ward, either because hospital management recognized beforehand that kids would anyway never be left alone by their parents or because parents are just present, making extra staff redundant.

But sometimes parents may have things to do and in this case, patients can be left alone for some time, often quite sick and in dire need of help. One Saturday three weeks ago (one notoriously understaffed day as patients somehow always seem to get better for the weekend), Jon's mother had to go on an errand and Jon was not feeling great. Mabel, the otherwise excellent nurse, was busy elsewhere and it is basically us, with Philippe, Corinne and Clara who took care of him as best we could.

So at least Paul is at home for the weekend. This is good for Clara too as she has been too often left to her own devices since the beginning of Paul's treatment. She is doing well at school, she appears to be doing fine generally but it is important for her and for everybody that we get back to some normalcy from time to time, around the dinner table, in front of the TV screen and the Wii, in the morning when Paul is in a playful mood ...

Have a nice weekend!

2009-05-14T17:37:00.019+01:00

Paul had many visitors today while I was at work: A friend with whom he enjoyed building a Lego motorcycle, Rima who stayed for a few hours, then Imad.

Mrs de Beaufort gave him a french lesson.

He went to the playroom and played with Tom.

He is still under antibiotics and the swollen lymph node at the groin has consequently shrunk and is hurting less.

In the afternoon, he had a strong nausea and a headache. Cisplatin is the chemo drug that is the nastiest in terms of nausea. We can't believe it's the last time he takes it (no more in next two cycles).

Paul hasn't eaten much over the whole day.

He finally had a nap in late afternoon after a take of painkiller and anti-nausea medications.

Then Vlad visited. He showed him his own scar and told him about the titanium in his arm.

Anne-Marie is doing the night.

Paul will be discharged tomorrow...for a two-week luxurious rest at home (hopefully).

2009-05-13T21:14:00.007+01:00

Paul is less nauseous than usually with Cisplatin and Doxorubycin and is eating relatively well.

He is still on antibiotics to deal with the inflated lymph node at the top of the affected leg.

He tries to do his physio but it's difficult due both to the foot micro-fracture and the lymph node.

Maminou left this morning.

Nadine replaced me for most of the day so I could go to work.

In the evening, Paul had successive Skype discussions with Philippe, Suzy and Maminou.

Then he did some homework and slept early.

Chemo Cycle 4 started

2009-05-12T19:51:00.004+01:00

Paul was admitted to hospital yesterday to start chemo cycle 4 (out of 6).

On Sunday evening, he felt an inflated ganglion in the upper part of his left leg, so he started antibiotics yesterday (with the titanium prosthesis, we have to be very cautious when we suspect an infection as bacterias go first to the metal where they stick). Needless to say physio is now more difficult.

We slept very well at hospital given we had a private room (due to infection).

After ten hours of deserved sleep, Paul was well this morning.

He did his homework, went to the playroom, then had a private tutorship with Mrs. de Beaufort.

We met the nutritionist to advise us on how to catch up with the slight 5% weight loss given continuous slight nausea. She suggested a list of meals that anyone would dream of (Paul first), in terms of high calories.

Paul had a long nap in the afternoon.

Maminou spent most of the day with him and is doing the night shift.

2009-05-10T20:06:00.011+01:00

Paul is well and was in no need for any pain killer nor anti-sickness medication for the whole weekend.

He studied this morning, then put the last touches on the Hansel and Graetel house with Maminou and Clara.

Laura, the physio, made Paul bear weight on his leg today without splint support at the knee level. The splint is normally set to prevent the knee from bending when Paul is walking. As the quadriceps is weak, the knee may not have withheld the pressure and Paul was in danger of falling. This is a real improvement!

Philippe left midday to Beirut and we went out for lunch. Esther joined us there.

Paul had a good appetite despite persisting but diminishing ulcers.

In the afternoon, Mrs de Beaufort and her family came to see the famous Hansel and Graetel house.

Then we all tried the newly acquired Wii-fit (we all failed miserably in skiing).

Afterwards Paul and Clara had a piano lesson.

Sweet feelings of a normal day

2009-05-09T21:12:00.017+01:00

Paul was very well today (despite persisting mouth ulcers).

He worked on Hansel and Greatel's house with Maminou in the morning, after doing his physio with her (Suzy had left very precise instructions..).

He lunched at the Habibs' and enjoyed watching a video taken when he was in his "paradise" in Grasse last year, boating and waterskiing; this should be our first trip after chemo, just before the start of the schoolyear.

In the afternoon, we all went to the Harbour club to watch Clara take part in a tennis tournament.

Paul was happy to see his tennis teachers and his friends.

He asked to have dinner there.

2009-05-08T22:23:00.013+01:00

Paul had his ritual breakfast with Suzy today before she left for Dubai.

The community nurse Anna came home to take a blood sample and Paul enjoyed doing it himself.

Philippe arrived from Beirut for the weekend and he took Paul out to eat a hot dog at South Kensington which Paul declared almost as good as in New York and then an ice cream at Odono's.

Paul and Maminou started the house of Hansel and Graetel by cooking the dough (it's a four-day program).

Laura the physio trained Paul for one hour. She declared that things are improving, slowly but surely. His foot is still hurting (due to the micro-fracture), so he still can't bear weight on it.

Suzy left him a reminder note (picture below) of all the things Paul needs to do several times a day.

It's Christmas all over again ...

2009-05-07T21:04:00.010+01:00

Angela, Suzy's mother, arrived this morning and will stay with us till Wednesday.

Paul and Clara are very excited as they will build an off-season Hansel and Graetel house with Angela ("Maminou" for her grand children).

Paul is better today with ulcers diminishing and a more peaceful stomach.

He had a french tutorship with Mrs de Beaufort then lunch in a restaurant with Maminou and Suzy.

Esther visited in the afternoon then Alexandre stayed for dinner.

The house is full and that's great.

Below a picture of Paul with his new splint which he doesn't need to remove in order to bend his knee.

Cycle 4 of chemo delayed

2009-05-06T21:45:00.008+01:00

Dr. Michelagnoli didn't like Paul's ulcers this morning and she postponed the Cisplatin and Doxorubycin chemo until next Monday as it would have made his ulcers worse. Paul was thrilled!

He still manages to eat food, not only liquids, despite the ulcers being localised not only in his mouth, but all along the digestive tube (it was much worse in Cycle 1 when we ended up at Chelsea Westminster hospital as he even got fever from ulcers).

He finally agreed to try Marie's Glutamin and he said he doesn't dislike it. Let's hope it'll work against ulcers.

Paul rested at home in the afternoon.

He showed off his physio exercises to Philippe in Beirut through Skype.

Philippe's comment: Paul, you are IMPRESSIVE from head to toes (on the left foot)!

2009-05-05T21:43:00.003+01:00

Paul has his cute "ulcer smile", which unfortunately I didn't manage to take a picture of, as he's on the verge of destroying my camera.

His mouth ulcers are not as bad as in Cycle 1, so I believe Maria, his oncologist, will not postpone chemo tomorrow as we meet her at 10:30am in her clinic.

Suzy spent the whole day with him (as everyday for the last few days), which allowed me to stay longer at work.

Paul took a stroll with Suzy and they met Esther.

He had a science tutorship with Mrs. Botbol.

Later he had a physio session with Laura who is pleased with his progress.

The healing of the foot micro-fracture will however take longer than normal given Paul is under chemo. This will delay his walking.

Otherwise morale is fine.

2009-05-04T17:57:00.017+01:00

Paul was better on Monday despite a continued light upset stomach and minor mouth ulcers (both secondary effects of Methotrexate).

He did his physio exercises three times today and is becoming more and more independent in daily life.

Mr.Dreyfus gave him a maths lesson.

He had fun preparing his own milkshake (easy to swallow when you have ulcers).

He was very talkative with Philippe this evening, talking about grades, then evoking the mouth-watering spinach fatayers of his great grand-mother when Philippe told him he was on his way home after dinner with her, now mostly well after three grueling months in and out of hospital and a few brushes with death. Below, a photo of the two together on Paul's 12th birthday on October 30, 2008:

2009-05-04T09:48:00.004+01:00

Paul had a restful day at home yesterday.

The secondary effects of Methotrexate are still present: upset stomach and minor ulcers (much less than in cycle 1 when he couldn't swallow anything).

His appetite is reasonable but we're still working on making him gain back by natural means the two kilos he lost (it's eating or the feeding tube).

Laura, the physio, gave him an excellent training session with a new set of exercices to build the quadriceps muscle. Paul almost walked normally on five meters (with crutches of course). And Suzy is pampering him with massages.

All this help allowed me and Clara to go for a jog in the park as we've set running targets for the next three months.

Back home

2009-05-03T10:01:00.006+01:00

Paul returned home yesterday evening.

Cycle 3 (out of 6 ending in early August) is now finished !

He had a good appetite, did some homework, had a walk (in the wheelchair) in the hospital with Suzy, then a french tutorship with Mrs de Beaufort.

Now that he knows about the mini-fracture in his foot, he is more prudent when walking. He does regularly his other leg exercises and the quadriceps is starting to regain some volume.

Paul is well apart from his upset stomach which means it is difficult to go out today.

2009-05-02T05:34:00.017+01:00

Paul had a gargantuan breakfast. This is good as he needs to make up for a lost kilo.

He is doing his physio diligently and improving his mobility.

He did some painting in his room where he remains isolated. This is actually beneficial as he needs some calm and rest, away from the continuous movements and noises in the ward.

Thanks to Skype, he had a long discussion with Peter in Germany with whom he spent some great time last summer:

Paul had a chest Xray today which was normal. These are done regularly as lungs are the preferred location for metastases.

We also got the result of his foot MRI: Mini fracture which explains his pain over the last four weeks and which is probably due partly to a physio who hurt Paul when doing some exercises post-surgery and partly to phosphate deficiency which Paul is now making up with supplements. Physio will continue, focusing on the whole leg, away from the foot which should heal by itself over the next few weeks.

The surgeon is otherwise happy of the wound healing and the overall mobility.

And Paul's spirits remain as good as ever.

2009-04-30T16:38:00.010+01:00

Paul is better today: he is less nauseous and has a good appetite. However Methotroxate is giving him very loose stools and he has been quite uncomfortable in this respect.

He had a painting session in his room as he is isolated due to his upset stomach, just in case it is something else (which it isn't) but they can't take any chance on the ward.

Suzy and Paul also listened to music. Paul is discovering Edith Piaf (a small let down after this which Paul sings not too bad at all but at least he had a lot of fun).

Jenny, the new physio, trained him to muscle his weak left quadriceps. It is a prerequisite for walking with no splint, otherwise the knee will not hold the weight and he could easily fall.

Paul also did his maths exercises.

Another busy day at UCH

2009-04-29T22:35:00.015+01:00

Paul and I emerged at 9am, enjoying our temporary private room. These rooms are normally reserved for patients with infections and who need to be isolated.

Big news today: Paul walked, with his crutches of course, bearing weight on his left foot, from his room to the playroom. This is quite a distance that feels like 50 meters or so to me.

Suzy took over by midday. She will be with Paul for the next three nights.

Paul had a busy day: A French lesson with Mme de Beaufort (even more fruitful in a closed environment), two visits to the playroom, and a visit to the day school with painting exercises on the computer.

The 4-hour high dose Methotrexate infusion went almost unnoticed.

Paul got a new splint which will help him be more mobile as it will allow him to bend his knee without having to remove it first.

Otherwise he has been quite nauseous and he didn't eat with a lot of appetite during the past two days.

On a personal note, in the take-everything-positively chapter, I have been bombed on the head by a feathered flying machine of the type nurtured by Philippe in Beirut. I am told this is good omen ... from the behind of a bird unfortunately not rare enough to be of any omen but I tend to welcome all potential omens as good these days, in all shapes, forms and smells.

Last week of Cycle 3 (out of 6)

2009-04-28T08:14:00.014+01:00

Paul had his foot MRI scan this morning (results in a couple of days I guess).

Late afternoon, we headed to UCH for the second week of high dose Methotrexate and the last week of cycle 3 (out of 6 cycles ending early August).

I'm trying to encourage Paul by convincing him he is approaching the end of his treatment, as when counting from December 24 when chemo started, we're already at 60% of treatment duration.

We were happily surprised to be given a private room this time (which is really the only way to have some sleep).

We had a fun evening with Joe listening to music.

Paul is well.

2009-04-27T17:29:00.006+01:00

Paul made a short attempt at school today but had to come back home to rest.

After a nap and light lunch, we had an appointment with Mr. Skinner, the surgeon, who was very pleased with the wound's healing, as well as the leg Xray. He removed the bandage completely and suggested Paul should start the physio exercises in a swimming pool to get used to walking on the leg.

This could seem minor but it is really a significant detail in his daily life: he can now spend a long time in the bath as his wound is fully healed.

Paul will have a foot MRI scan tomorrow to make sure all is fine as he's been complaining about not being able to bear weight. Until today that is as he told Philippe. When Philippe reacted "but this is a miracle", he answered "oh we've been so unlucky that it's ok to have a miracle once in a while."

Suzy arrived from Beirut for a two-week stay with us.

Barbecue in the square

2009-04-26T21:01:00.011+01:00

Paul had a good night of sleep and is doing mostly very well save for the occasional sickness and his ankle which insists on hurting when he puts some weight on it.

He did a maths exam in the morning, then Corinne left in early afternoon.

Around 3pm, as the weather was quite warm, we went for a walk as Philippe was rushing to catch his train and we started by having an ice cream.

Then we joined Francis, Rima, Yasmine and Rayan in their square garden where we improvised a barbecue ... on a disposable barbecue. I didn't know these things existed.

Mr. de Beaufort came early in the evening bearing a gift from his wife in the form of an exam which Paul took immediately.

Once done, both ended up at the Wii.

Back home

2009-04-26T09:12:00.007+01:00

Paul is well and returned home yesterday afternoon.

Philippe arrived from Beirut.

Yesterday was a long day at UCH waiting for the Methotrexate to clear from his body.

Both Paul and Jon were moved overnight to the upper adolescent floor (not enough patients in the children ward).

The advantage is the large playroom with the pool, the electronic piano, the playstation and the large TV screens, where we all got distracted.

Paul wanted to go out for dinner. We went to the nearby steakhouse but he was unable to finish his hamburger.

Corinne is returning to Hamburg today.

One birth in Beirut. One to go.

2009-04-23T20:44:00.002+01:00

2009-04-23T17:20:00.010+01:00

Corinne spent the whole day with Paul in hospital.

And it was a long one as it started very early: The newcomer's father from Bangladesh did his 5am prayer 2 meters away from Paul's bed, a bit noisily, but hopefully his prayers will have been heard and everybody around him will benefit (the halo effect). Obviously, there is nothing prayer-like in Philippe's snoring and since it doesn't wait until 5am to wake up everybody, on balance the Bangladeshi father is probably a better deal for the ward.

Corinne made Paul review his history lesson on the Middle Ages in preparation of an upcoming exam this weekend (with Mme de Beaufort whose gentle but demanding style is absolutely ideal for Paul right now). But Paul managed to quickly divert Corinne to the playroom to play a game of Wii Football in which he beat her 13 to zero.

Clara visited Paul then left for her tennis lesson.

There was a party in the ward for Henry's last day of treatment.

In the afternoon, Paul and John went through their common routine: Day school then playroom, then Nintendo DS.

This morning I had a long meeting with Maria, Paul's oncologist. Maria is very pleased with Paul's progress so far.

New picc line and Methotrexate

2009-04-22T14:47:00.014+01:00

Paul had his new picc line put in this morning under general anaesthesia. He doesn't seem to dislike the process as much as you'd think as he always loves counting down until vanishing.

Chemo started straight away with a 4h high dose of Methotrexate.

Paul will be discharged on Saturday afternoon as it takes three days to get the Methotrexate out of the body.

He had a long chat with his bed neighbor Jon (in the picture above). Jon had a tumour in the femur, and is two weeks ahead of him in the same seven-month protocol.

They both (along with an 8-year old newcomer with another tumour from the infinitely varied menu of cancers) went to the day school and did some work (?) on the computer. They ended up in the play room.

Clara and Corinne arrived tonight from Hamburg.

Corinne replaced mum for the night in hospital.

On Chemo Eve ...

2009-04-21T21:45:00.012+01:00

As planned, Paul was admitted today at UCH to resume chemo cycle 3 (out of 6 in total).

Mrs de Beaufort is back and gave him a French class in hospital.

In the evening, after all checks and blood samples were completed, we went out for a few hours. We had a walk around the hospital and Paul insisted we stop in a pub so I could enjoy a beer with Jean-Paul. Then we had dinner in a restaurant.

Paul will have a new picc line put in early tomorrow under general anaesthesia. Then chemo will be given straight away.

Meanwhile in Hamburg, Clara, Leana and Alexandra were having an egg tapping contest.

Tests Galore

2009-04-20T19:36:00.011+01:00

Above is a drawing Paul did yesterday evening.

He is doing very well and spent the day with Jean-Paul doing God knows what but they seem to have had fun together, including a long stroll in the afternoon.

He had a maths tutorship in the morning then he took a physics exam (at home).

He then went to a clinic and took an ear test which turned out fine.

Meanwhile Clara is having a good time in Hamburg.

Two days at home

2009-04-19T12:52:00.017+01:00

We had the traditional Saturday lunch at the Habib's yesterday, with a wider fan club: Dominique, Wajdi, Christianne, their children, Zeina and Jimmy.

Paul played with Andrea and Pierre the whole day. Perhaps too much as he woke up in the middle of the night with a headache that lasted until early afternoon today.

We then had a walk (in his wheelchair as he can't bear weight on his left foot yet) and visited the Nardelli's new home.

Then his cousin Kathleen and friend Vanessa visited.

Christianne, Andrea and Pierre left today for Beirut.

His new picc line and chemo are scheduled for Wednesday.

Easters in Beirut

2009-04-18T23:05:00.009+01:00

Normally, Paul and Clara would be celebrating Easter in Beirut. In Lebanon, there are really two Easters, officially in the name of equality between the Catholic and Greek Orthodox sects, but in reality in order to have two Good Fridays and two Easter Mondays to rest and celebrate (yes: 4 days off in two weeks).

A pigeon chose this auspicious time to lay two eggs in the planter of our dining room.

Happy Greek Orthodox Easter to all (especially to Michel ... and Esther and Anna and Sophie)!

Here is also some music for Michel (and his godson who loves music too)

Paul rebounds!

2009-04-17T21:38:00.008+01:00

Paul is well.

He studied in the morning, did a physics exam, then had a physics tutorship.

Results of the blood sample today: neutrophils jumped to 2!

Thus Paul's isolation ended and he was finally able to play with his cousins Andrea and Pierre (below) from whom he was separated the whole week.

Rest at home

2009-04-17T08:22:00.004+01:00

Paul is fine this morning (and yesterday) with no fever. He's resting at home.

We have to be prudent as the neutrophils count is still low and he is therefore isolated (with me) in my bedroom (that was a condition for being discharged from hospital). His cousins Andrea and Pierre can only talk to him from the bedroom door (yesterday's photo was a blatant transgression).

Yesterday he had a physics tutorship with Mr.Cadeddu at home.

We had to make a short visit to Chelsea Westminster Hospital for his last dose of antibiotics through the canular which was removed afterwards (what a relief!).

The physio Laura came in late afternoon for a torture session. It is still difficult for Paul to walk. Again it should take 3 to 6 months before he can walk without crutches.

A surprise in the mail today: Paul's school report with congratulations. Bravo Paul!

Out of hospital !

2009-04-15T22:33:00.007+01:00

Paul was impatient to get out of hospital today.

Luckily the blood counts increased, not substantially, but enough for the doctors to feel confident the bone marrow is back on track and thus discharge Paul.

He is still under antibiotics until tomorrow as the low grade fever he had (no more now) could have signalled an infection which would first hit the prosthesis (the metal is the first spot the bacteria goes to).

He had a physio session with Laura.

Dad left to Beirut today.

Home is full with Paul's cousins, Andrea and Pierre, and their mum Christianne.

Clara spent the day with them touring in London, and is again flying to Hamburg tomorrow as she's on vacation next week too.

Have you seen my neutrophils?

2009-04-14T22:20:00.006+01:00

Very slight improvement in the neutrophils level today: up to 0.2 from 0.1 yesterday (normal 2.5 to 7.5). Unless it goes up substantially, Paul will remain in hospital. The daily injection of G-CSF should finally kick-off the bone marrow anytime now but he may still need a platelets transfusion.

Next chemo is planned for Monday but all depends upon his blood counts.

Clara is back today from Hamburg and enjoying the presence of her other cousins, Andrea and Pierre. A good surprise: Her grades booklet arrived by mail and was good. Congrats Clara!

Meanwhile Clara in Prague ...

2009-04-13T21:55:00.019+01:00

Clara is having a good time with her cousins Léana and Alexandra visiting Prague with the tour guides Corinne and Sylvain. She'll be back tomorrow evening.

Paul has no fever since yesterday but has to remain in hospital, isolated in a cubicle, as long as his white blood counts are at zero (again today).

Since he is vulnerable to infection, he hasn't been able to see his cousins Andrea and Pierre yet who arrived from Beirut two days ago, both with a low fever.

Dad spent most of the last four days with Paul.

Paul had a few visits though: Daniele and Farid, Nanou, Elena, Zeina and Jamil, Esther and Michel.

He had a physio session today with Laura. It is difficult to work properly under antibiotics and with low blood counts but results were good nonetheless. Paul is truly making progress.

Also, he did his French and History homeworks.