Memories of Max - A Father's Story

Chapter 11 - Terminal

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The last entries in my diary regarding Max's treatment were made in mid July of 1996. There were no more until the end of October. I went back to work and life resumed an uneasy but welcome normality. We were shaking off the chains of the treatment much better this time. Max was relatively well. There were no more entries in the diary because I was no longer being tortured by the thoughts of his illness.

We became concerned when Max got very bad diarrhoea and ear ache. We called out a doctor and he was rushed to the Royal Marsden Hospital. They diagnosed an ear infection and possibly a perforated eardrum. It was nothing to worry about. We relaxed.

Everything changed in October 1996. The alarm was raised, the siren sounded, the red button was pressed and the bomb was dropped.

The bomb exploded.

Max relapsed.

Max had been uncomfortable and also had sporadic pains in his legs. Sara suspected the worst. We took him back to the Royal Marsden Hospital.

We had not mentioned relapse when Max had problems with his ears but this time we suspected something was seriously wrong and were very concerned. This time was different.

We met our regular consultant who listened to our concerns and took them very seriously. She examined Max and could find nothing conclusive but obtained immediate X ray and Ultrasound scans. We were very grateful for her efforts because there is always a waiting list for these procedures. An MRI scan was booked, but then she heard that Sara was due to take the children back to Wales for a break. The MRI scan could wait because the holiday was more important. If Max had relapsed a scan would make no difference and so it was postponed.

I did not go on the holiday. I had just returned to my job and did not feel I could ask for a holiday having spent nine months off work.

Prior to taking Max to the hospital he became very upset when I told him that the holiday might be shortened or cancelled if he had to return to the Royal Marsden Hospital. I was glad that the Royal Marsden felt that the holiday took precedence because he had been so looking forward to the break. I was very apprehensive about the family going back to Wales. I was worried that if Max had relapsed then we might get into a situation where we couldn't easily get him back to the Royal Marsden and he would have to be admitted to a local hospital