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, November 21, 2008

Day 7 of 12. Lauren is still doing good (knock on wood). She and I played Wii Fit for an hour last night. We did some yoga and went on a long distant run (it took a little over 5 minutes). Tonight, in addition to the chemo she is taking, she starts taking the Temodar. In the past when she's taken that medication, she'd get a little sick the next day. If she is feeling okay though we might surprise her and take her to see Bolt, the new Disney movie. She'd have to wear her mask though.

Also, we took Marissa to the doctors today because she has been really congested lately and the antibiotic aren't working. It turns out she has a sinus infection that could cause Lauren to get sick. Since Lauren's blood count should be going down and it will be very dangerous for her to get sick right now, we are banishing Marissa to granny's house for the weekend. Poor Marissa, but we can't take any chances.

Posted by admin at 2:10 PM

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