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English

Dearest Sebastian,

It’s been a week since I last wrote in your diary. A lot has happened in that time. For a while now you’re looking a bit yellow, and the doctors started to worry a bit. They did all kinds of blood tests to find out what could be causing this. In one of these tests they also found that have very young white blood cells in your blood. These are supposed to reside in your bone marrow.

They immediately started testing for viruses and bacteria in your little body. Turns out you have a bacteria in your stool that is very contagious for other kids so the nurses are now wearing gloves and an apron when they’re changing you. Luckily this is nothing dangerous and the bacteria will disappear on its own again.

Tuesday afternoon, mama and I had a meeting with your doctor and she told us that she does not know where your symptoms originate from. She thought it best to move you to the Sophia academic hospital in Rotterdam. On thursday morning you were moved by ambulance from Delft to Rotterdam. Mama got to travel along with you. You are now lying in a very modern ward, in a very cosy little bed. They have already taken your blood twice today and the doctors are discussing which tests to perform on you. We’ve already had a talk with your new doctor and she explained to us very clearly which tests they are going to perform on you. The first thing they want to exclude is the notion that your symptoms could be a result of leukemia.

When mama and I heard that term we both got really scared. How much bad luck can a fantastic little guy like you possibly have? I totally don’t believe it. I prefer to think you have caught some strange virus that can be cured with some medicine. We’ll try to stay as calm as possible for now, as far as that is feasible in this situation. It is just so difficult to imagine that something really serious could be causing this, because you’re looking so good. You’ve been growing very well. Today you weight 1965 grams. Yes, you heard right! In a few days we can have a little party cause you’ll be passing the 2 kg mark.

Last week in Delft you also had a problem with pooping. You received a so-called “chimney” for a few days. The nurse would stick a little tube in your anus to relieve the air from your intestines. That problem seems to have disappeared now completely. You already pooped 4 times today before we visited you this evening. While changing you, you’ve managed to poop twice on papas hand. You’re such a yummy dirty little man.

Now I’m going to hold you close to me for a while so the rest of the story will have to wait for a while.

Lots of love and kisses and hugs and …

Papa