Ollie Bear

Sunday 18th September, I'm sitting in the children's ward next to Oliver healing from his surgery.

Its been 9 days since we packed our bags and started our road trip from Wyong to Lismore. Nathan had been working away for a little bit and we'd managed to organise a 3 day holiday with him.

On the drive up Olivers eye turned slightly inwards, he started seeing double and was suffering from occasional headaches that left him holding his eye. We weren't to worried but after a quick call to the medical help line, knew it needed to be checked sooner rather than later.

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It's been 8 days since we took him to the emergency department in Lismore and were told, not so nicely, to go away because 'it isn't an emergency'.

8 days since I got him an emergency appointment with a local optometrist who was so kind to Oliver and did all the tests possible. They sent him straight back to hospital with a refferal and told me to stand my ground to get him seen.

8 days since his CT scan left a group of Drs who had been in the field for 20+ years, scratching their heads as to what was causing his symptoms.

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It's been 7 days since our wonderful family day at the water park and Crystal Castle in Byron Bay. The sun was shining and our hearts were full.

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5 days since his MRI scan.

5 days since our world was flipped upside down.

5 days since we were told Oliver had a brain tumour.

Nathan left his job and packed up his rental that evening.

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4 days since I drove myself and our 2 daughters 7 hours back to the Central Coast, whilst having constant panick attacks. Thank God for giving me the strength to stop being stubborn and accept help from my parents, who drove half way to meet us and drive me and the girls home.

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3 days since Oliver was flown from Lismore hospital to Sydney children's hospital via ambulance and a private patients plane.

3 days since Marley first said ‘Ollie’ wondering where her best friend had gone.

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2 days since his Neurogologist updated us.

- There was a good chance it was cancerous as it had been eroding the bone.

- He might have facial paralysis from the biopsy

- He could have severe hearing loss on one side

- They might not be able to get the biopsy the safest way and have to go through the brain

- The tumour inoperable, due to its location in the head. So it was down to chemo or Radiotherapy

Only good news was he had the best specialist in Australia doing the biopsy.

2 days since more blood test, audiology assessments, physical assessments and fasting for his 2nd CT scan to assess the safest possible route to get a biopsy.

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1 day since his Auntie Lala and Uncle Taz flew all the way over from Perth to surprise him.

Perfect timing to cheer him before he had general aesthetic and was put to sleep for 3 agonising hours.

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21 hours since we got the news that they received the sample safely, he had pulled through fine with no long term effects. We could breathe a sigh of relief. The first hurdle was over.

Unfortunately, it was most certainly an aggressive cancer.

The team organised a leave pass for Oliver before he would be passed over to the oncology team and started on Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy.

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12 hours since we picked him up from the hospital and surprised him with a visit to the aquarium with both sets of Grandparents and his Auntie Lala and Uncle Taz. It was the perfect day out, but so hard to see him struggle through the pain.

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It has been a roller-coaster of a week, im sitting here bawling my eyes out thinking how on earth has this become our reality. There are no words to describe the pain Nathan and I have felt, for how scared we are or for how much we love our Oliver.

We are so grateful for all the lovely messages and support we've received. The video messages put a big cheeky grin on Olivers face.

This week we'll have an idea of what the future might hold, for now we take it day by day... hour by hour. Loving our beautiful Oliver and keeping his spirits high. ❤️