Troy Shantz
Jessica and Stephan Nadeau received the devastating news Dec. 9.
Doctors at Children’s Hospital in London had found a tumor in the brain of their five-year-old son, Lucien. They needed to operate quickly and the parents were told to prepare for the worst, recalled family friend Joeleen DeGurse MacDonald.
“It was more than likely terminal, so they should get their family together.”
Three days later, on Dec. 12, Lucien underwent complex brain surgery that took 10 hours.
His parents hadn’t noticed anything irregular in Lucien’s behaviour until early November, when he complained of hearing difficulties and tripped and fell occasionally. Eventually the headaches and seizures began.
“Things just weren’t quite right,” DeGurse said. “He would be awake one minute at school then fall sound asleep.”
During the operation, three neurosurgeons removed 90% of the tumor, which was the size of a grapefruit.
“The doctors were really happy,” said DeGurse. “They were dumbfounded” by how well Lucien did.
The following night Lucien could wiggling his toes and squeezed the surgeon’s hand, easing fears of paralysis or blindness.
A day later, another positive sign. The little boy complained about the hospital food.
“He said he was starving and all he wanted was a Happy Meal, so his doctor let him have a hamburger,” DeGurse said.
StephanNadeau is laid off and Jessica is still off work following the recent birth of their youngest, Etien. With more surgeries, prescriptions and a long and arduous recovery ahead, the financial strain on the family is becoming apparent.
DeGurse has launched an online fundraising campaign and set a goal of $50,000 to help her friends.
More than $22,000 was raised the first five days.
“The community has been awesome,” she said.
“People have big hearts. They’re very willing to donate to something like this.”
One of Lucien’s friends, Nathan, put Lucien’s name on his hockey stick prior to a game the day of the surgery, and he and others are using orange hockey tape, Lucien’s favourite colour.
At Lucien’s school, École élémentaire Les Rapides, students and staff are organizing other fundraisers and were planning to wear orange at their Dec. 21 Christmas performance.
At presstime, doctors still weren’t certain if the tumor was cancerous and follow-up surgeries will be necessary. But things are looking up for the family, DeGurse said.
Anyone who wants to help can make a donation at www.gofundme.com/luv4lucien.