The Nihei's: Our Story

On April 1, 2008, our 4-year-old daughter, Lauren, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After her biopsy on April 8th it was determined that she had a bithalamic anaplastic astrocytoma with extension into her brain stem.

In the beginning of March we noticed a personality change in Lauren who normally is a very outgoing and happy-go-lucky kid. She became very clingy and shy. She didn't want to talk on the phone anymore, or play on the slide with the other kids at pre-school. By mid-March, Lauren started complaining about headaches. Her pediatrician thought it might be a sinus infection or that she may need glasses. He put her on antibiotics and we made an eye appointment.

A few days later when she started holding her head funny and her headaches returned we insisted on a CT scan. That's when her pediatrician sent us to the ER at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) for a CT scan, and when our world was turned upside down and our nightmare began...

Story continues at bottom of page

Friday, May 2, 2008

Wednesday, April 30

Bad day on Wednesday. While getting ready to go to the hospital, Lauren became sick. By the time we got to the hospital she had difficulty walking and staying awake. We were admitted to the oncology floor, however, her condition digressed so quickly that they rushed her to the ICU where they took another CT scan.

I think we got the most scared when our oncology coordinator started crying and telling us how sorry she was.

The CT scan revealed that the tumor had gotten larger causing her brain to swell. After review of the CT scan, the neurologist is recommending radiation treatment immediately (two weeks ago he was totally opposed to it). Lauren is now back on the steroids. She is now mentally back to normal, except her body appears weaker and she is starting to cry more, telling us she is scared of the doctors and being at the hospital. She was moved out of ICU and back to the oncology floor that same night. She will now stay on the steroids indefinitely.

Posted by admin at 9:21 AM

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