The big 'C'

One in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85 (www.cancer.org.au).  So in my little family of three, there was basically a guarantee that one of us would develop cancer at some point.  

I just never thought it would be our 13 month old son.

Following on from the routine paediatric check, where an enlarged liver was diagnosed, has been one hell of a ride.  If we thought we had a lot to deal with before, we were so wrong!

A week of anxiously waiting by the phone only to find out the paediatrician was on holidays was horrible.  But the next week, all the answers and thousands more questions started flooding in.  This is how it transpired:

Monday – call from the paediatrician confirming that there is a mass on his liver needing further investigation, which he had arranged at Randwick Children’s Hospital.  ‘You will be there for one night’ he assured me – only because he had to go under a general anaesthetic for the MRI.

Tuesday – frantically cancelling and rescheduling appointments and trying to sort out the mess that was our heads (I've since come to the conclusions that that will never be sorted!).

Wednesday – Admission to the Oncology ward and meetings with the Oncologist.  He prepared us, that although he hadn’t seen the scans yet, it was more than likely cancer that we would be dealing with.  Our one night stay was never mentioned again.  We were looking at a one to two week stay while they did further testing and sorted out treatment.  We met Rehabilitation consultants for his CP; play therapists; nurse consultants; anaesthesiologist and surgical team representatives.  So many people, so many names, so much information.

Thursday – a fasting boy for almost 22 hours while we waited for the CT scan.  What we were going through slowly started sinking in.  Nerves were well and truly frayed – but it was and continues to be the strength of our relationship that held us together.

Friday – The confirmation that Dexter has a tumour in his liver with a lesion in his lung.  Our worlds collapsed.

More tests will confirm the extent and type of cancer.  Once we have this, we will discuss and commence treatment.  My little man, who has only just started getting his hair, will undergo chemotherapy.  We don’t know how intense at this point, only time will tell.

We once again start the waiting process.  

In a freaky twist of fate, we were sent home for the long weekend.  Driving back in the dark on Friday was reminiscent of one year ago.  I had my first day away from Dexter over the June long weekend.  When I returned, we were hit with a big slap in the face and told of his PVL.

But, once again, we are not alone.  Love, laughter, support, food, alcohol and care packages have been provided.  Dexter has touched so many people in his short life and they all want to help.  He is one lucky little man to be loved by so many people.  And once again, it is this support that will get us through this shitty time.