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 still not feeling that great. She's been sick every morning since Saturday. Also, I forgot to mention that she has lost 5 lbs. While she is still puffy, her face is becoming recognizable again and she is no longer out of breath from climbing the stairs.
Just a quick little story: On the way home from granny's house yesterday, Lauren said her hair is not falling out as fast as Zoe's (one of her roommates, when we were at CHOC) and some of the other kids. But when it does all falls out she is going to draw some hair on paper to wear around, so that people won't notice. We thought it was both sad and funny since 90% of her hair is already gone except for a few long strands here and there and anybody who sees her can tell she barely has any hair left.
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