ASIA-LEE TAITOKO 🧡🧡🧡

This is our baby – Asia-Lee

Asia is 4 years old. Generally fit and well, full of zest for life. Such a strong beautiful tough child with a smile that lights up the room when she enters.

This is her story as told by her mother - Nikki

Asia Lee had Craniotomy (Brain) surgery where the surgeons removed her bone to get to a Tumour which was by her main Artery. They managed to remove only 80% of the Tumour.

Unfortunately the remaining 20% sits under her main artery. Tumour's are not meant to be in your body but whatever was growing in her brain grew slowly into something that has now been diagnosed as Cancerous. This Tumour that Asia Lee has is a "High Grade Tumour" which means it has the potential or is already growing back fast and doesn't behave.

Our babies Tumour is Malignant with a name of Stage 4 Glioblastoma. Glioblastoma, also known as Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive cancer that begins within the brain. Initially, signs and symptoms of Glioblastoma are non-specific. They may include headaches, personality changes, nausea, and symptoms similar to those of a stroke.

Our next step is to set up a suitable treatment plan which will most likely be Radiation. That seems to be the only option for her rare type of Tumour.

Prior to all of this we were in Waikato for 3 weeks. Being misdiagnosed with urine infection, infection in the brain & spinal fluid, meningitis and everything else. Discharged with urine infection and sent home. Then re admitted because she got worse. They refused a CT scan because they said it'll do more damage then good. I demanded to be transferred to Starship because we weren't getting anywhere in Waikato and felt like they were playing games with us so I asked to be transferred and not even 8 hours in Starship we had a CT scan done and that is how they found the Tumour in her brain. Symptoms were vomiting, headaches and poor oral intake.

It is going to be a tough road for my niece and her wee whanau with both mum & dad having been off work for the past 2 months with their baby.

This is our little way of helping them through this trying time.