Natasha Anstey
Ollie Anstey - Ollie the Brave
Fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
Story
Ollie was diagnosed with high rIsk Neuroblastoma in June 2015 at just 11 months.
Ollie's Story
After weeks of visits to the doctor with Ollie having an ear infection and Ollie being poorly we finally got referred to Paediatrician. It was a relief that someone was finally listening and helping Ollie.
Ollie was sent for chest x-ray and ultra sound. During the ultra sound we asked if everything was ok, the doctor said there is a lump (at that point our world came crashing down. A Doctor explained that its most likely that the lump is cancerous and if Ollie blood pressure remained high he would have to go to GOSH in the morning.
6th June.
We arrived at GOSH with mixed emotions, we felt safe Ollie was in good hands but scared we were at such a place. The following two wks consisted of Bone marrow, Biopsy’s, Scans & Canuallas which we found horrendous, we were thank full when Ollie got his double hickman line ( used for bloods & chemo). We waited 10 long days for the diagnosis and were told more devasting news that Ollie had High risk Neuroblastoma stage 4 and needs a year of intense treatment.
13th June
Ollie continued to deteriorate the disease had spread to Ollies bones and around his Jaw ( causing the pulling of his ear) Ollie was in so much pain it was unbearable, he had nerve pulsey which caused one side of his face to drop, he was put on Morphine and Ketamine. Ollie also had black eyes caused from the tumour. Chemotherapy was started immediately, the tumour shrunk but released adrenalin in the body. Ollie was struggling to breathe so was rushed to ITCU. We spent 6 weeks in GOSH then Ollie was finally allowed home between treatments.
July - November
Ollie had been in and out of hospital, he had sepsis from his Hickman line and needed to have a new one put it, he has had a few temperatures from effects of the chemo and needed regular Blood and platelets transfusions. Ollie’s bones didn't respond aswell as we hoped so Ollie had another two rounds of chemo, after more tests Ollie's bones still hasn't respond, it broke our heart the treatment was so tough..
We enjoyed every minute of Ollie being at home for the last 5 weeks. We took Ollie to the zoo, parks & farms he loved the Ducks.
November
Ollie started to be sick so we took him to The local hospital where he was monitored the sickness then turned into seizers that were awful. Ollie had a CT scan that showed the tumour had spread to his brain.
We were blue lighted to GOSH that afternoon. When we arrived we were told Ollie had pressure on the brain & to relieve the pressure Ollie was sent for an emergency brain operation to have a shunt. This helped for a few days but unfortunately the disease spread so fast that there wasn't anything more the doctors could do.
Ollie has been so brave & so happy, he never moaned, so much braver than us adults. He has taught us so much and we are so lucky to have had Ollie in our life's. We are the proudest parents.
More research is needed to help cure this terrible disease. A 100 Children are diagnosed with Neuroblastoma each year.
Ollie has a rare type of Neuroblastoma only 4
Children known in the world.
We would like to raise awareness of the terrible disease and help find a cure as no child should have to go through this.
Ollie's Story
After weeks of visits to the doctor with Ollie having an ear infection and Ollie being poorly we finally got referred to Paediatrician. It was a relief that someone was finally listening and helping Ollie.
Ollie was sent for chest x-ray and ultra sound. During the ultra sound we asked if everything was ok, the doctor said there is a lump (at that point our world came crashing down. A Doctor explained that its most likely that the lump is cancerous and if Ollie blood pressure remained high he would have to go to GOSH in the morning.
6th June.
We arrived at GOSH with mixed emotions, we felt safe Ollie was in good hands but scared we were at such a place. The following two wks consisted of Bone marrow, Biopsy’s, Scans & Canuallas which we found horrendous, we were thank full when Ollie got his double hickman line ( used for bloods & chemo). We waited 10 long days for the diagnosis and were told more devasting news that Ollie had High risk Neuroblastoma stage 4 and needs a year of intense treatment.
13th June
Ollie continued to deteriorate the disease had spread to Ollies bones and around his Jaw ( causing the pulling of his ear) Ollie was in so much pain it was unbearable, he had nerve pulsey which caused one side of his face to drop, he was put on Morphine and Ketamine. Ollie also had black eyes caused from the tumour. Chemotherapy was started immediately, the tumour shrunk but released adrenalin in the body. Ollie was struggling to breathe so was rushed to ITCU. We spent 6 weeks in GOSH then Ollie was finally allowed home between treatments.
July - November
Ollie had been in and out of hospital, he had sepsis from his Hickman line and needed to have a new one put it, he has had a few temperatures from effects of the chemo and needed regular Blood and platelets transfusions. Ollie’s bones didn't respond aswell as we hoped so Ollie had another two rounds of chemo, after more tests Ollie's bones still hasn't respond, it broke our heart the treatment was so tough..
We enjoyed every minute of Ollie being at home for the last 5 weeks. We took Ollie to the zoo, parks & farms he loved the Ducks.
November
Ollie started to be sick so we took him to The local hospital where he was monitored the sickness then turned into seizers that were awful. Ollie had a CT scan that showed the tumour had spread to his brain.
We were blue lighted to GOSH that afternoon. When we arrived we were told Ollie had pressure on the brain & to relieve the pressure Ollie was sent for an emergency brain operation to have a shunt. This helped for a few days but unfortunately the disease spread so fast that there wasn't anything more the doctors could do.
Ollie has been so brave & so happy, he never moaned, so much braver than us adults. He has taught us so much and we are so lucky to have had Ollie in our life's. We are the proudest parents.
More research is needed to help cure this terrible disease. A 100 Children are diagnosed with Neuroblastoma each year.
Ollie has a rare type of Neuroblastoma only 4
Children known in the world.
We would like to raise awareness of the terrible disease and help find a cure as no child should have to go through this.