Medulloblastoma - Radiation Treatment

Sharing this with you. I hope aspects of this video clip helps a family member heading into Radiation or starting this chapter of their life.


This video clip was given to us by the Radiation Team at Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand of our sons treatment for radiation.
Radiation Treatment: November 16th 2015 - 28th December 2015 (Monday-Friday)
Protocol: Treatment plan ; Headstart 2. 3 Surgeries, 5 cycles of Chemotherapy (21 days), 1 x Stem Cell Transplant (21 days), & 6 weeks radiation, surgery and then recently cleared of Cancer.


The song in the background is one I sung to Jacob every night he spent in Hospital - CHOC (Child Haematology Oncology Centre) and there were many. Music played another big part in his healing/recovery.


Our boy Jacob (3½yrs at the time) was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma Highrisk (Stage 4) a form of Brain Cancer early April 2015. This diagnosis was given approx 7 weeks after my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bowel Cancer in Lower Hutt, Wellington New Zealand and recovering from surgery.

A family of 6, moved to Christchurch (ChCh) from Wellington for 9 months with under a days’ notice. Both the boys underwent, surgeries/chemo/stem cell transplant & radiation together and for most of the time underwent treatment during the same week.


We were absolutely blown away by the high level of medical care we received for both my husband and son. Through our experiences with Canterbury DHB (Christchurch Hospital) we believe other DHBs need to look at Canterbury (medical) to see how well they conduct themselves.

All the teams we interacted with while in ChCh were consistent and kept us well informed throughout. They showed absolute sincere kindness and love towards both the boys and our family in general. I cannot express enough how grateful we are.

Canterbury staff, in particular Dr Simon John (Neurosurgeon), Dr Saxton Connor (Pancreatic Surgeon), CHOC - Child Haematology Oncology Centre, Toriana Hunt (Maori Health Worker Kaiwhakamahere Hauora Tamariki), Dr Amanda Lyver (Paediatrics Oncologist / Clinical Director), The Radiation Team, Natalie Brown (Radiation Therapist), Anaethetists Andrew & Peter, ICU / HDU departments and all the loving wonderful nurses, Raeleen Marshall (ICU) and specialists Phychologists, Speech Language Therapists linked to CHOC.

You all gave us the tools through education and expertise medical care to find our strength and voice and when we finally returned home, which we were desperate to do, we were armed with knowledge and a humble confidence and strength to find our way again and we have, thank you.

Hoping that our story resonates with you in some small way.


Much love
The Comerford Whanau (family)
traukawa@gmail.com

• Category

  Medulloblastoma - Childhood