Kessia's house rules!

 

  1. No more than two visitors at a time.Picture of Kessia
  2. No questions!
  3. Don't say silly things to me.
  4. Don't talk to me while I'm trying to sleep.
  5. Don't be noisy.
  6. If you've been in lots of times, don't come in again.
  7. Don't disturb me.
  8. Just be normal.
  9. Be happy in my house, but no stupid or silly laughing.
  10. Please check everything with my mum or dad first.
  11. Don't drink in front of me, especially water.
  12. Don't pray out loud.
  13. Don't talk to me like I'm a baby.

KESSIA'S WARNING

If you break any of Kessia's Rules,
you will get squirted by
Kessia's super-duper water pistol!

This is your first and last warning!



A note from Denise: While we were in Sydney Children's Hospital, I was thinking of ways to help Kessia feel she had some control over what was happening around her. Kessia had just undergone her first (and only) round of radiation and was in a precarious state. I remember praying to God that he couldn't let her die on my birthday. That night, Kessia's heartrate and breathing slowed and became irregular. Doctors were on standby, and Geoff and I called the Catholic chaplain sometime after midnight.

Kessia pulled through the night, and early the next day as we waited for her second round of radiotherapy, I told her my idea of "Kessia's Room Rules". I told her she could make up the rules, and noone could come into her hospital room unless they obeyed. She liked the idea immediately, and was able to tell me some splendid, sensible rules straight away. The rules are all Kessia's own words which I wrote down for her on Tuesday 24 September.

After being at home for a week, and realising people weren't respecting her wishes, Kessia told us she had a really good idea involving a water pistol. My first reaction was "No! You can't squirt people, especially adults --- they'd be shocked!" but then I thought "Well, why not indeed!" and told her it was a great idea. Kessia is now the proud owner of a pump-action water pistol, so take heed of her warning!



Updated 12th October 2002 Site hosted at immir.com.