Lil Jake was born on the 20th November 2014, weighting a healthy 9lb 13 oz. He was a normal, happy baby doing every thing lil babies do. Then at 4 weeks old we notice a lump on the left side of Jakes head and on the 23rd December 2014, Jake was taken to his local hospital, after an x-ray and ultrasound we were informed that there was a mass on Jake's brain and he was swiftly transferred by ambulan
ce to Temple Street Children's University Hospital. On Christmas Eve, Jake went for his 1st MRI and we were given the devastating news that the doctors had found a very large brain tumour. Jake underwent brain surgery on the 30th of December and a tumour the size of a mans fist, was removed from his tiny head. A biopsy was taken and Jake was diagnosed with Grade IV Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). GBM's are one of the most common and aggressive brain tumours in adults and are usually fatal, this type of tumour is extremely rare in children but can have a slightly better outcome. After the removal of the tumour, Jake started to suffer from hydrocephalus(too much fluid around the brain) which resulted in severe seizures. During these seizures Jake has difficulty breathing and on 1 occasion his heart stopped and he needed CPR chest compressions to help start it again. Jake had a VP shunt inserted and this along with his anti-seizure medication seems to helped. Jake was referred to the oncology departed of Our Ladies Children's Hospital Crumlin, and started intensive chemotherapy on the 4th February 2015. Lil Jake has completed his 1st round of chemo with another MRI booked for the 13th April. The result of this deciding whether chemotherapy will be continued. Jake has had to overcome so much in such a short period of time, so far he as had 4 surgeries, and 4 blood transfusion , he has regained movement in his right arm and leg after continuous physiotherapy sessions after almost total paralysis and is still battling to try and learn how to feed normally after having an NG feeding tube inserted in his nose during the 1st initial surgery and he does all this with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. We don't know what the future will bring for lil Jake, but have been informed that if treatment is successful he will continue to have scans every 4-6 months due to the aggressiveness of his tumour and the high relapse rate. We can only hope that a clinical trial or ground breaking treatment is discovered in the many children's cancer centres in Europe and America, that would be of benefit to our lil superhero, Lil Jake.
