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
Lauren is doing super (knock-on wood). She has been a chatter box, which is a sign she is feeling good. She asked to go play with her friend Madyson, our next door neighbor, where she even stayed for dinner, another sign she is feeing good. They then rode their scooter up and down the sidewalk in the front. While it made me and Hilary nervous, it was another sign she is feeling good. With Lauren's next round of chemo starting next Friday, it's nice that she is able to have some fun and be a kid.
It looks like Lauren and I are going to Dr. Finlay's birthday party on Saturday. When Lauren found out that there will be other kids with brain tumors there, she told us that she wanted to go so that she can meet these kids.
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