Not the best news.....
20 October 2021
Kayley here giving you the latest update, Heather can barely type and is also having some more trouble with words at the best of times. 2 weeks ago she went in for a routine check up MRI, and the results came in last Thursday. It wasn't the best of news, a little more dim than expected to be honest.
The scans shows the tumour has already grown in size, and is now similar to that of a mandarin. Meaning there is also more swelling and pressure around it causing other issues in the brain. Her right arm has completely given up and she now has a brace she can put her arm in to relieve some of the pressure, as well as a brace to wrap around her right ankle and tie to the laces of her shoe to help her foot from dragging on the ground as she walks, which is also becoming difficult.
She also now needs a seat in the shower as well as a rail to pull herself out of bed in the morning. The wonderful Dr Sullivan (her Dr of 10 years) broke the news and was as empathetic as always, referring to Heather as the "miracle chick" having beaten all odds so far. However the most distressing part of it all is that basically there are no more threads to hang onto, there are 2 potential drugs that may have a 5% chance of prolonging things, but with terrible side effects (ulcers, vomiting and diarrhoea to name a few) so his advice was to make the most of what time there is left......however long that may be (but maybe needing to bring forward the children's birthday celebrations being in February and March next year).
Understandably super upsetting for Heather knowing her days are a little more limited than we initially thought, and also difficult for those around her being in Auckland during this tough time where everything is closed apart from supermarkets and here are strict rules about gathering.
In the photo you can see all the swelling which is the white in the first picture and the black in the second is the tumour. We continue to thank you all for your kind words, support and love and can only ask that you continue to keep Heather in your thoughts and prayers.