AIDAN'S DIARY - OCTOBER 1999

11-Oct-1999 to 17-Oct-1999

Aidan complains of headaches all week. Kneels on floor, puts head down, bum up and cries. Getting clumsy with walking. GP suspects viral infection.

- Mum

18-Oct-1999

Dad’s birthday! Aidan vomited several times today. Spent the day with Nanna and by the afternoon Dad took him to the GP very dehydrated. Penicillin injection for tonsillitis and a battle all evening to get Gastrolyte (electrolytes) into him. Mum and Dad’s night out cancelled.

- Mum

19-Oct-1999

Visit to GP – little bit better.

- Mum

20-Oct-1999

X-rays of abdomen for suspected intestinal blockage. Visit to GP – much better.

- Mum

23-Oct-1999

Visit to GP – constipated

- Mum

24-Oct-1999

Aidan hasn’t been to the toilet all week. Off to Princess Margaret Hospital Emergency with Dad for an enema. Aidan dances out of the toilets. Resident doctor fails to tell us anything useful.

- Mum

25-Oct-1999

Much better.

- Mum

26-Oct-1999

Aidan is on the floor screaming. Mum and Aidan go to PMH Emergency. No answers and sent home. Driving home, decide that something is seriously wrong and needs further investigation.

- Mum

27-Oct-1999

Nanna takes very sick Aidan to GP. Sent for blood tests and CT scan. GP rings Mum at work at 4:45 pm to say, "Aidan has a brain tumour. You need to collect him, go to Kalamunda Hospital and collect the scans and take him to PMH Emergency." Call Dad at work and cancel his plans to see The Hobbit with Big James. Sit in peak hour traffic in panic. Finally get to Kalamunda. The hospital receptionist asks if I’m alright, answer "No" and try not to break down. Collect Aidan, wave goodbye to Caitlin and Grandma drives us to PMH. Meet neurological registrar, Dr. Steve Lewis, who explains CT scans, medulloblastoma (suspected tumour), surgery, and hydrocephalous. Finally taken to ward about 9pm. Very welcome moral support from Aunty Mary and Aunty Flo. Ward tour and cup of tea from Aunty Flo who nurses on that ward. Mum and Dad assist with inserting Aidan’s IV (intravenous) drip. IV steroids (dexamethasone) and 4 hourly neurological observations started. We all try to sleep.

- Mum

28-Oct-1999

Aidan feeling a bit better. Steroids working to reduce pressure. Ravenous and waiting for the meal trolley. Surgery scheduled for Monday afternoon (1-Nov-1999). Meet chief neurosurgeon, Mr. George Wong, and told that Aidan will need surgery (craniotomy), radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Butter toast for Aidan and try to hide tears. Run outside at first chance and breakdown. Aidan gets face painted by Connie the Clown. Caitlin takes one look at the clown and screams. She still talks about scary clowns.

- Mum

29-Oct-1999

MRI scan in afternoon under general anaesthetic. Aidan fasting from 7am. Very grumpy by mid morning. Jeannie, the 1 year old sister of another patient, crawls over and enthusiastically joins in a skittles game. Aidan tries to hit Jeannie on the head with skittles. Kevin arrives and thankfully Aidan and Kevin play. We all get driven to Charlie Gardner Hospital for MRI. Aidan is petrified. He doesn’t want the medicine to have a special sleep and he doesn’t want any more pictures of his head. Tip out every toy in the toy box at MRI waiting room. Mum does some colouring in because Aidan knows his hands aren’t working properly and doesn’t like his own colouring in. Pace the corridor with terrified boy who won’t even go to Dad (and is getting very heavy). Take Aidan in for anaesthetic. He refuses to go anywhere near the trolley so is held still on Mum’s lap for IV injection. SCREAMS in Mum’s ear and falls asleep. Mum and Dad carry Aidan to trolley, kiss him and walk out like jelly. We venture to the coffee shop for a late lunch with Aidan’s stuffed Barney. Go back to waiting room to check on things but everyone looks just the same and nobody is panicking. Back to coffee shop. Back to waiting room. After an hour and a half, Aidan is out and not very happy. Return to PMH in ambulance with Mum on trolley and Aidan asleep on Mum. He wakes up to try and climb away.

- Mum

30-Oct-1999

Neuro registrar, Dr. Steve Lewis, explains MRI scans and surgery. Meet oncology team. Oncologist, Dr. David Baker, explains that there is no such thing as a good or a bad brain tumour. He points out that a benign tumour in the wrong place can still kill you and a malignant tumour in the right place is still curable. Lots of visitors outside ward while Aidan is in lots of pain inside. Eventually get him to take some pain relief and he settles down.

- Mum

31-Oct-1999

Visit ICU (Intensive Care Unit) where Aidan will spend the day after surgery. Very nervous but meet another girl called Jada playing on the floor and return to the ward reassured. We decide to cut Aidan’s hair very short before the surgery. Clippers are organised and Big James, an old friend of Dad's, volunteers to do the deed. The clippers arrive and there is no choice of No 1 or No 2. Theatre clippers only shave. Aidan decides, "I want it very very short. I wouldn’t be scared." Aidan shows his new haircut to everyone then falls asleep. Caitlin goes back six times to look at Aidan’s haircut.

- Mum



Aidan with Big James.

 Aidan's hair cut.

Aidan's very, very short hair cut ... before AND after. Courtesy of Big James.


Last updated: 20-Nov-2006