Oliver’s Story - fighting Medulloblastoma
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Oliver’s story - Medulloblastoma.
Written by Oliver’s mum, Kirsty ❤️
Oliver is 8 years old and has mixed grade 3 and 4 medulloblastoma brain cancer. Words I never thought I’d place together. Words I never would have imagined becoming our reality.
On the 5th of May 2024 I took Oliver to out of hours in the royal Gwent, where we told the doctor he had repetitive morning vomiting, persistent headaches and his coordination and balance was becoming progressively worse. We were turned away and told it was viral and to see how it goes. After another 48 hours, I took Oliver back to our gp and explained his symptoms, I insisted he had no fever or temperature and to me, something didn’t seem right. I wasn’t happy with being turned away once again to this being “viral”. I waited in the reception area with Oliver until the doctor returned with an admission to the grange hospital that day for review.
After being seen by lots of different people, it was settled that Oliver would have an MRI scan. I waited anxiously outside the room, when a radiologist walked past and I asked him what was taking so long, Oliver had fallen asleep in the scanner and had been there well over an hour. He told me, they had found “something”. The results finally came back and I was told to call Oliver’s dad, before we received the news together.
Our boy had a brain tumour.
We rushed Oliver to Noah’s ark hospital, a drive I will never forget. Two days later on the 9th of May Oliver had an 8 hour operation to remove his tumour, quite literally the worst day of our lives. We received his diagnosis on the 15th of May. 3 weeks later on the 31st of May Oliver received emergency surgery to fit a spinal drain as he suffered a build up of CSF in his brain, causing compression to his spine. This was removed a few days later, followed by 7 days of antibiotics.
Fast forward to where we are today, we are looking at 6 weeks proton beam radiation therapy in London. With a 6 weeks break. Followed by 16-36 weeks of chemotherapy to fight Oliver’s cancer. A nightmare we are stepping forward into, that I wish I had a magic wand to wave away. Oliver has shown us every day, the meaning of the word brave. He has been strong, understanding and so incredibly resilient to every challenge sent his way and I am in awe of him throughout. My awe continues towards Oliver’s little brother Tomos, he too has amazed me every day with his love and strength towards our journey as a family. I am in no doubt that we are the proudest parents.
However we as a family would not be able to go forward in this journey without the care, compassion and support from various charities, which is what leads us to telling our story. I have read so many stories of families that have touched my heart, and always wished I could do something to help but never thought my family would be on the receiving end. It is so important to support these wonderful charities that do so much to pull families, including us, through.
Written by Oliver’s mum, Kirsty ❤️
Oliver is 8 years old and has mixed grade 3 and 4 medulloblastoma brain cancer. Words I never thought I’d place together. Words I never would have imagined becoming our reality.
On the 5th of May 2024 I took Oliver to out of hours in the royal Gwent, where we told the doctor he had repetitive morning vomiting, persistent headaches and his coordination and balance was becoming progressively worse. We were turned away and told it was viral and to see how it goes. After another 48 hours, I took Oliver back to our gp and explained his symptoms, I insisted he had no fever or temperature and to me, something didn’t seem right. I wasn’t happy with being turned away once again to this being “viral”. I waited in the reception area with Oliver until the doctor returned with an admission to the grange hospital that day for review.
After being seen by lots of different people, it was settled that Oliver would have an MRI scan. I waited anxiously outside the room, when a radiologist walked past and I asked him what was taking so long, Oliver had fallen asleep in the scanner and had been there well over an hour. He told me, they had found “something”. The results finally came back and I was told to call Oliver’s dad, before we received the news together.
Our boy had a brain tumour.
We rushed Oliver to Noah’s ark hospital, a drive I will never forget. Two days later on the 9th of May Oliver had an 8 hour operation to remove his tumour, quite literally the worst day of our lives. We received his diagnosis on the 15th of May. 3 weeks later on the 31st of May Oliver received emergency surgery to fit a spinal drain as he suffered a build up of CSF in his brain, causing compression to his spine. This was removed a few days later, followed by 7 days of antibiotics.
Fast forward to where we are today, we are looking at 6 weeks proton beam radiation therapy in London. With a 6 weeks break. Followed by 16-36 weeks of chemotherapy to fight Oliver’s cancer. A nightmare we are stepping forward into, that I wish I had a magic wand to wave away. Oliver has shown us every day, the meaning of the word brave. He has been strong, understanding and so incredibly resilient to every challenge sent his way and I am in awe of him throughout. My awe continues towards Oliver’s little brother Tomos, he too has amazed me every day with his love and strength towards our journey as a family. I am in no doubt that we are the proudest parents.
However we as a family would not be able to go forward in this journey without the care, compassion and support from various charities, which is what leads us to telling our story. I have read so many stories of families that have touched my heart, and always wished I could do something to help but never thought my family would be on the receiving end. It is so important to support these wonderful charities that do so much to pull families, including us, through.
Organizer and beneficiary
Saffron Bierczak
Organizer
Kirsty Lane
Beneficiary