Thursday, December 31, 2009 9:37pm

Hello dear friends,

I just wanted to thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers and to fill you in as to the events of this past week.

Aidan's pathology report came back to us early this week. He has the most aggressive type of Medulloblastoma. We have learned that the cancer has spread to his spine and is in the subarachnoid spaces. This has lowered his 5 year survival rate to 30-50 percent. Due to his age, he is considered high risk.We met with his neuro-oncologist and he said that he has seen high risk patients with tumor spread respond to high dose chemo alone and of course, that is our hope. We are enrolling him in a clinical trial using biologic agents in conjuction with high dose chemo that has shown promise in the laboratory. We are anticipating beginning chemo within the next couple of weeks.

In addition to this news, Aidan has been unable to keep any food down despite the anti-emetic drugs. You would not believe the vomiting unless you saw it. They are starting him on nutrition through his IV because he is expending many more calories than he is taking in. Shockingly, Aidan was back in surgery again this evening because his ventricles were filling up again so they had to replace the external drain. They are alluding to the fact that this is only a temporary solution and that early next week he will need yet another surgery to place a permanent shunt into the ventricle.

All of this has already been too much and chemo hasn't even started yet. My poor Aidan is braver than any little boy should have to be.

Please continue to keep our family in your prayers. I will keep you updated as I am able.