Hello little sister
CANCER BATTLER KIAN MUSGROVE CELEBRATES BECOMING A BIG BROTHER
THIS is the moment Kian Musgrove met his baby sister after becoming an older brother for the first time.
The six-year-old wrote “she’s so cute” as he thanked all those who helped fund his treatment which allowed him to be here to enjoy cuddles with his newborn sister.
Kat Musgrove, 30, and fiancé Leon welcomed baby Leona Kathleen Musgrove-Paul into the world on Friday.
In a message on the Caring for Kian Facebook page on Friday, the youngster wrote: “Meeting my new baby sister in hospital this evening. Leona Kathleen Musgrove-Paul, born at 12:24pm today weighing 7lb 12 1/2 oz. She’s so cute.
“I would like to thank all whom donated for my treatment abroad as without you all I would not even be here to meet my gorgeous baby sister today. Love Kian x”
The family are all back together at home and proud mum Kat says the children have welcomed the new addition with open arms, and lots of cuddles.
She said: “I’m tired and drained but I’m getting better each day. The kids are ecstatic about her being home; they can’t get enough of her, want to hold and cuddle her all the time. It’s lovely.
“Kian’s face lit up when he saw her, his jaw just dropped, he couldn’t believe it. He was so happy, bouncing round, looking over the cot at her and his face was so happy.
“It brings tears to my eyes knowing that, if all those people who donated to get Kian to New York for treatment, he wouldn’t be here to meet his sister. He seems to be doing really well,” Kat said, despite recently being diagnosed with the rare blood condition Köhlers disease that has caused problems with blood getting to one of Kian’s feet.
“I was so relieved when I was told it wasn’t the cancer returning,” she explained, adding: “I was a complete mess thinking that it had come back just as I had a baby on the way. I’m just hoping and praying that there’s nothing there.”
There has been good news on that front: although the family are still awaiting results of bone marrow and blood tests, recent scans suggest there has been no progression of the cancer.
Kat says she is still fundraising in case Kian does relapse once again and they need to return to America for more treatment, but if he remains cancer free, the money raised will go to other charities and children in similar circumstances.
One battle the family are currently fighting is efforts to convince the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle to prescribe Kian with a hormone treatment he received in the US which Kat says dramatically improved his appetite. That treatment has now run out and Kian has very little appetite something Kat suspects is due to the youngster only having one adrenal gland - and she says the is trying to get the hospital to prescribe the treatment.
The day before baby Leona was born, Kian celebrated his sixth birthday surrounded by family.
“The kids just really wanted us to come home that same day, even asking the midwife if I could be let out,” said Kat.
After seven hours and 35 minutes in labour, Kat said: “I stayed one more day - although I didn’t get a wink of sleep as she was feeding all night - but because I didn’t want to upset the children I came home the next day and I’m really glad I did.”
Back at their Prudhoe home, Kat says the five children, Kian, Nathan, Ellie, Natalie and Katie, are all delighted to welcome their new sister.
She added: “We are just so grateful for all the people all over the world for donating because without them he wouldn’t have been there to see his little sister.”