AIDAN'S DIARY - FEBRUARY 2001

4-Feb-2001
Aidan, Caitlin and I accepted Big Matthew's offer to browse around some jet aircraft. Matthew is a radar technician with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), based at Pearce Air Force Base in Western Australia. We got up close and personal with the new British Aerospace Hawk jet aircraft, used for training fighter pilots. Aidan was quite impressed with the pilot's chair and HUD (head up display), but Caitlin found a torch so much more interesting. For Dad, well, he's always liked a plane and this was his first chance too to see a jet with avionics spilling out of every which orifice. We rounded the day with a BBQ at Matthew's parent's house in Wandi (south of Perth).
- Dad

5-Feb-2001
Today was the start of School Days, according to Aidan.
Aidan started Grade 1 Primary School  (or Elementary for the North American readers), taking the first step towards scholastic bliss (well, maybe). A few directed questions later in the evening revealed the day to be a success. Caitlin also commenced structured learning with her first day at Kindergarten. All went well up until she was "asked" to return inside from the playground.
- Dad

13-Feb-2001
MRI day (again). Aidan usually pulls out of the anaesthetic quite grumpy. This time around, the medication was administered via his infusa-port rather than a mask. According to Trish he woke up almost chirpy. Aidan also decided to take a look at the MRI machine and become a general nosy-body which is good. He's not scared by the equipment. One of the other children from the ward has her MRI scans without medication, so Aidan has decided to go the same route. The results will be few days away (hopefully). If we get a phone call sooner, it's usually a "bad thing".
- Dad

17-Feb-2001
Aidan and Trish featured in The West Australian newspaper for Music-A-Thon.

20-Feb-2001
Trish spoke with Aidan's oncologist today regarding the recent MRI. The scan has revealed "something" in the upper ventricles of the brain. More tests are scheduled.
- Dad 

28-Feb-2001
Aidan underwent his second lumber puncture in which a sample of fluid is taken from the lower spine. The aim was to test for any cancerous cells that may have seeped out of the brain. The tests showed nothing, which is good news. The little guy will be having another MRI in about 2 weeks.
- Dad

I told Aidan about the lumbar puncture just before we put the Emla cream on his back. I said Dr Baker would put a needle in and take out some of the fluid to look at. Aidan asked, "Why does he need to look at it?". I answered as honestly as I could, "To make sure there's no bad cells in there." Aidan thought about this for a while and then asked me, "What if there are?" I told him that " We hope there aren't but we'll just have to wait and see." Aidan looked very worried and said, "If there are they'll go everywhere won't they."
- Mum

Last updated: 03-Apr-2001