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

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Just got word that Lauren's ANC dropped again. It's now at 500 down from 690. 1,500 is considered normal. So she'll be kept n at the hospital for at least one more day. While me, Hilary, and especially Lauren are stressed, tired, cranky, and bored, the doctors don't seem to be too concerned. They said when people are sick their immune system (ANC levels) are affected, except the doctors are concerned to hear that she isn't really eating. We just wish that Lauren could get a good night sleep without being awakened by the nurse, doctor, or her coughing. We also wish the family was together. We haven't seen Marissa in two days. We last heard she graduated from college and has moved into an apartment.

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