AIDAN'S DIARY - JUNE 2002
Today was a day of awakening for Aidan and Caitlin's bedroom, a day for discovering many things once lost and others that needed to remain lost. Yes, it was cleanup day. Banal and cursed, but a necessity all the same. It was becoming increasingly difficult to cross the room without first clearing a path using a snow shovel. Once pressed into service Aidan set about collecting and sorting the lost world under his bed and the buffer which surrounded it. Caitlin was keen at first with her zone, but soon became lost in the joy of unearthing a once favoured doll, stuffed toy or knick-knack. She has many treasures, the shinier the better. About half way through the process I returned to find Aidan watching Caitlin's pile and Caitlin coveting Aidan's pile. My arrival did not go unnoticed. Aidan commented, "Bit of a disaster, eh?". Our vey own poet laureate.
- Dad
7 June 2002
A small setback for the young man today. He was unable to participate
in the much anticipated cross-country event at school due to a sprained
foot, but was philosophical and stoic all the same.
- Dad
9 June 2002
After five years, Aidan, Cait, Trish and I were reunited with Cristian,
a Chilean national and former colleague of mine from Denver, Colorado.
Cristian and his family returned to Chile in 1997 just before we returned
to Perth. Cristian's daughter Araceli and Aidan were close in age and knocked
about together until Aidan was almost two years old. Cristian returned
to Denver briefly just after Caitlin was born in April 1997 and we have
a photo of her in Cristian arms as a bundle of blankets. He was a little
surprised to see her at the airport as a "big girl" who wheeled his hand
luggage to the car. Cristian is in Perth for a short period for work/study,
but the family have remained behind in Santiago. Bummer.
- Dad
12 June 2002
MRI
- Dad
14 June 2002
Bad news. The MRI revealed the largest tumour (in the left caudate
nucleus) is now about 21 mm, up from about 15 mm on the last scan. The
tumour in the right caudate nucleus is an equivalent size, the smaller
tumours (many in the cerebellum) have grown and new tumours have appeared.
Aidan has been taken off the intrathecal Topotecan protocol and placed
on oral Etoposide (VP-16) for 3 weeks to gauge if it has any impact. At
the current rate of growth we only have a few more months with our little
man before his condition becomes fatal. We will have a meeting with Dr.
Baker next week to discuss what options are available, if any.
- Dad
16 June 2002
The Boys (Liam and Evan) are making another guest appearance. They
joined me for a "spin" arouind the block in the bike trailer and rather
dug the ride.
- Dad
Liam and Evan ready for a neighbourhood adventure.
Click to enlarge.
18 June 2002
A lighter moment or two with Aidan and Caitlin bouncing about the lounge
room to the Shrek karaoke rendition of I'm A Believer (originally sung
by The Monkees). The kids have watched the green ogre on a good many occassions.
Apparently, their father has been known to watch it too.
- Dad
22 June 2002
Small boys are taken with action heroes. What
better hero to join on a Saturday afternoon than a friendly neighbourhood
spiderman. Aidan, his friend Nat and I followed the webbbed-one's adventures
from the comfort of a cinema chair. It's worth noting that Aidan and Nat
ate the equivalent of their own body weight in lollies. Whether they were
more intent of the bag of sugar comestibles or web spinning is hard to
gauge, but my money is on the lollies.
- Dad
23 June 2002
Aidan was one of two boys invited to Emma's faery theme birthday party
today. When asked why there were so few boys invited to the party by her
mother she indicated that it was important for Aidan to attend and the
rest were not so important. That's my boy !
Not content with letting the day pass him by, Aidan enquired of other
activities to pursue. We suggested a visit to an indoor climbing gym and
were swamped with applications for just such a visit. Imagine our surprise
to find the two people most keen on the trip having fallen fast asleep
upon arrival. Not just sleeping but snoring with gusto.
The Boys (Liam and Evan) were very much awake and in need of further
stimulation so the Telcik Bus headed west to the coast, the lapping waves
and eventually to the Green residence hosting small people who answered
to the names Sophie, Amanda and Matthew. The young ladies transformed Aidan
into Snow White. Our bus-load plus their house-load made for quite a festive
afternoon and evening. I would be wary of alluding the symphony to an Opera,
but the sounds certainly reached new highs and lows of the aural spectrum.
- Dad
Wizard Aidan. Click to enlarge. |
Aidan as Snow White. Dip the apple in the brew ... Click to enlarge. |
24 June 2002
The meeting with Dr. Baker, Aidan's oncologist, was no better and no
worse than we expected. Dr. Baker informed us his magic hat contained no
more rabbits. He (and we) have little faith in the effectiveness of the
Etoposide (VP-16) in slowing the growth.of Aidan's medullo monster. Dr.
Baker will take a CSF sample in 2 weeks to gauge the number of free medulloblastoma
cells. No more MRI are scheduled. The only meter we now have as to the
rate of growth is whether he exhibits symptoms such as headaches, dizzyness
and vomiting related to increased intra-cranial pressure. Paradise lost
?
- Dad
25 June 2002
My father (Grandad Michael) to Aidan and Cait returned to Perth today.
Currently a native of Florida (USA) it was a most timely visit.
- Dad
26 June 2002
The Sunday adventure to the indoor climbing gym was resumed after school
with some local triplets, Kate, Sam and Michael. Liam and Evan grew bolder
as time passed and soon found themselves climbing amongst the pipes with
the Big Kids. Did they enjoy ? I dare say so.
- Dad
27 June 2002
Grandad Michael returned to our humble abode once again after nearly
a year. We were also joined by Flipper's cousin, Bluebottle.
- Dad
Aidan and Caitlin with Bluebottle (courtesy of Heather Cato).
Click to enlarge.
28/29/30 June 2002
The local chapter of Camp Quality summoned us away to yet another magical
weekend away from the hustle and bustle at a nearby camp ground. While
Friday night was the customary meet, greet and settle in, Saturday picked
up with some amusing team building exercices and the construction of a
new "vehicle" for Santa Claus using cardboard boxes. Santa was arriving
on the Saturday evening to help celebrate "Christmas in July". Our vehicle
of choice was a submarine ? Why a submarine ? Why not !
We detoured "en masse" to a bowling alley to whack some skittles and
returned for a bit of feasting and gift giving with the aid of Santa in
his chosen sled.
When Santa departed, things really started happening with a bit of
"bootie time" on the disco floor. Caitlin had long since "crashed out",
but Aidan was there on the floor strutting his stuff amidst the other kids
and adults. It can be scary when this particular father hits the floor.
Fortunately, no body was injured.
With the imminent arrival of Sunday there arrived a wide range of beasts
and vehicles to entertain, carry people and make noise. A travelling farm
arrived early for the kids to get some hands on with chickens, rabbits,
and baby pigs and cows. About the same time, a Clydesdale and buggy and
two camels were plodding their way around the camp grounds. All good.
As the animals made a graceful exit, the fireman, policemen, military
police and Harley-Davidson fan club made a noisy entry. The kids
and adults were taking turns to "hoon" about on the back of the motorbikes,
ride in the fire trucks, police cars and military police truck. The firemen
and kids unleashed many frothy litres of water into the carpark in grand
style.
We saw some familiar faces, met the owners of new faces and returned
home well and truly "pooped".
To the cast and crew ... thankyou.
- Dad
Last updated: 26-Oct-2002