"Nikki's Story"

Republished with permission from Nikki Hawkin's Caringbridge Website.

All I can say is a visit to the ER changed our life forever. It started out as any other day - but with one TERRIBLE ending. She said her arm felt numb. I told her it was just "asleep" and to shake it off. She then came to me and with very slurred speech - "mom something is wrong with my face". My heart dropped. I thought she had a stroke as it was the same side as the numb arm. She looked very afraid. We went to St.Josephs where her blood pressure was up and she could not say her birthday or the year it was. But after time you could see she was starting to come around. She fell HARD asleep while waiting to see a doctor. The doctor told us it was ANXIOTY and we would be on our way home soon. But the CATSCAN said otherwise. That night will never be forgotten. It will never fade. Nicole was having a seizure due to the hydrocephalus built up in the brain. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor on April 14th and the medulloblastoma the size of a racketball was removed on April 18th. She has since completed 30 days of radiation and is currently receiving chemotherapy.

Nik is now in 6th grade and enjoying being at school with many of her friends. She continues to have some right side "confusion" but with PT and OT that should improve. She is a joy to be around. She loves to dance and she sings like an angel.