Olivier - Our Golden Boy

Many of you know our nephew Olivier. For those who don’t, allow us to tell you a little bit about his story.

 

Olivier is a 5-year-old boy who was sadly diagnosed with a brain tumour on 26th August 2021. Just a few days before his diagnosis his mum and dad thought Olivier was a fit and healthy little boy and had no reason to suspect there was anything wrong with him. He was a whiz kid at maths and was doing really well with his reading and writing.  He loved riding on his scooter, getting as many steps as he could on his Fitbit and playing with his older brother and sisters.

 

After a seemingly innocuous fall in the summer, he started limping a little on his left leg. A few days later he started holding his left arm and hand in an unusual position.  When his parents asked him why he was holding his hand like that he said it was 'stuck'.

 

They visited the doctor the following day and were told to go straight to the Accident and Emergency department at their local hospital. After a couple of scans, approximately 48hrs later, the family were informed that Olivier had an inoperable brain tumour, a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or DIPG.

 

Olivier started his first of 30 radiotherapy treatments on 27th September 2021, which are intended to reduce the size of the tumour and hopefully alleviate Olivier’s symptoms for a period of time. The family are exploring further treatment options not available on the NHS that they hope will give them as much time as possible with their ‘Golden Boy’(#ourgoldenboy).

 

Understandably, the family want to make as many memories as they can together over the coming months, such as visiting the mountains and family in France at Christmas and having weekend breaks where possible. Many of these come with significant additional costs including expensive health insurance because of Olivier’s condition.

 

If you would like to help Olivier and his family make these memories, please feel free to donate as we know many have already expressed a desire to do so. The funds will be used at his mum and dad’s discretion to ensure that, come what may, Olivier, his brother and sisters enjoy as much time together as they can.