Conner’s Story

Site created on March 1, 2019

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.

On February 18, 2019 Conner was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a malignant tumor in his brain and spinal chord.  The next day he underwent a 10-hour surgery to remove the tumor. The weeks prior to the diagnoses were filled with increased nausea, headaches, and malaise. On February 7, our first appointment with neurology, the thought was that he had stomach migraines which creates the same symptoms. We started a medicine for the migraines but it didn't end up helping. Our neurologist scheduled an MRI but Conner couldn't get in right away. February 16th he threw up blood during a nauseous episode. Unsure what to do on the weekend, we called to our neurologist. The on-call neurologist said to watch it and to stop the Ibruprofen we were giving in case that was irritating his stomach. Monday, we couldn't take seeing him like that anymore. Something else had to be going on. We took him to our local hospital. Instead of the CT scan we opted for an MRI in Wausau. We then drove there and after an MRI were told it was a tumor. Devastating.

Conner was taken by ambulance to UW Health in Madison, an AMAZING hospital, with surgery to follow the next day. We're so lucky to have had the best surgeon who works on cases like his every day! He removed the brain tumor but, unfortunately, a full head/spinal chord MRI showed that the malignant tumor had spread down his spinal chord. The current plan is that once he's recovered from the surgery (still in PICU) and completes rehabilitation, he'll need to undergo weeks of chemotherapy treatment known as Head Start 4. (  https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/clinical-trials/17-475 ) First, he would need stem cells harvested and stored. Then he'd undergo intense chemotherapy in the hospital for two weeks, off a week, on two weeks, off a week, on two weeks--replacing his stem cells once complete (which will also need a recovery period). 

As we've already discovered the long cancer journey will have unpredictable ups and downs. Please don't feel obligated to donate--well-wishes, thoughts, and prayers are plenty. But if you are interested, the donation would help with medical expenses, travel costs, and supplement household income (we'll be returning to work slowly, spending as much time with Conner and his sister as needed).

We're holding strong, alternating caring for Conner and spending time with our 10-year-old daughter--taking it day-by-day. 
We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.

Newest Update

September 15, 2020

Journal entry by Amber Olszewski —

Conner's scans are clear! It all went pretty smoothly yesterday. Conner had no anxiety with the IV placement thanks to the nitrous and a couple drugs. The nurses were amazing. His scans only took 1 hour 10 minutes when they normally take over 3! They said they were using a new protocol for Conner where the Neuroradiologist stays in the room for imaging and approves the pictures quickly. Before this, the tech would take the images and send to the Neuroradiologist for approval. Seems kind of time-consuming to me especially when waiting for answers prolongs these little kiddo's sedation time. I hope they continue this and hope it's not just because of things shaking up due to Covid.

Conner had a harder time coming out of sedation than usual. He was really groggy and there were many tears. We were able to settle him and let him sleep it off. He woke happy and even ate a cracker for the doctor (in order to go home).

I can't begin to tell you how stressed I was about this scan. It just kept eating at me and couldn't concentrate on much else. I don't know if it'll ever get easier. Time to enjoy this news though! 
Read More of the journal titled "September 15, 2020"
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