Our little Aiden

Pete and Alyse’s little boy Aiden, aged 15 months, was unexpectedly diagnosed with a Posterior Fossa Ependymoma on the 7/6/2024. This is a rare primary brain cancer, and he was airlifted to Starship from Whangarei. Aiden had an MRI which showed a large tumour, alongside this came the complex location of it. After an 8 hour surgery, Aiden began having frequent seizures over a 48-hour period. A 2nd surgery was required where a drain was placed to help the fluid/pressure build up in his brain, and then following this has had a third surgery to add a permanent shunt in to his brain.

Aiden is currently spending time in Starship recovering. They have held off with this page in the hopes that they would be back home by now, but with the next part of treatment, their little family will be in Starship for months. Aiden is now facing a long course of Radiotherapy to beat this cancer which after recovering from his 3 surgeries, Radiotherapy will begin to give him the best chance at beating this. The specialists in Starship are currently deciding if Florida or Auckland will provide him with the best treatment. This is due to the cancer being in such a difficult part of the brain to treat and his young age.

Pete and Alyse have had to leave their farm which is 4 hours away from Starship and rely on family to care for the farm as get ready for calving. Aiden will need 24/7 care and we wait for Aiden’s little sibling to arrive in October.