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
Update:
We just got a call from CHLA. Lauren's next MRI is tomorrow (Wed.) at 12 pm. This is the most important MRI (as every MRI is). With Lauren experiencing headaches and her speech being slurred, Dr. Finlay just wants to rule out that it's not caused by her tumor and ventricles, and that they are due to changes in her steroids. The hardest part other than the waiting, is trying to control the mind games. Trying to keep the bad thoughts from entering your head. I'll just try and concentrate on the lobster dinner that Lauren is going to want afterwards.
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