Andrew and Eva Miller’s wish this Christmas is to spend at least another 12 months with their youngest daughter, Alexandra.
Five weeks ago, the four-year-old was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare and incurable brain tumour in the middle of the brain stem which affects only children.
Only about three cases are seen by doctors at the Royal Children’s Hospital each year. Alex is the second child diagnosed in 2013.
Doctors initially told Alex’s parents that she would live between three and 12 months. But after visiting Sydney-based neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo, they are hopeful she will live another one to three years.
Mr Miller said Alex’s diagnosis had come out of the blue.
Doctors discovered the tumour after she had an MRI scan to try and work out why her left eye was turning inwards.
“Prior to [the diagnosis] we had no idea at all,’’ Mr Miller said.
‘‘We were talking to an eye specialist about correcting her eye and they noticed a tumour … it was devastating.
“When my wife found out, she couldn’t talk at all.’’
Since finding out about the tumour, Mr Miller has quit his job in Western Australia to spend as much time as possible with Alex and her siblings Ash, 19, Shana, 18, Brooke, 17, and Tessa, 16.
The Wyndham Vale youngster undergoes radiation therapy at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre from Monday to Friday in a bid to stunt the tumour’s growth.
Mr Miller said it broke his heart to watch Alex endure the treatment, but he knew it was for the best.
“It’s draining. She has to fast from midnight so lunch is her first meal.
‘‘She doesn’t like the anaesthetic, so she struggles. It breaks your heart to see her looking at you crying but we have got to try everything.”
Alex’s treatment will continue until mid-December. Once it is finished, the Millers plan to take Alex to their property in the southern Grampians and allow her to enjoy being a four-year-old.
“My goal is to provide her with memories with what time she has left,” Mr Miller said.
“Alex loves animals, especially horses, so we will go up there and let her run around and chase animals like a four-year-old does.
“We hope to go to Australia Zoo to see Bindi Irwin and go to the snow next year.
‘‘In summer, we will camp and be outdoors.’’
Mr Miller said he knew Alex was “one of the strong ones” and he hoped the family would have more than 12 months with her.
He said the family was overwhelmed and humbled by the support of the Wyndham community, with local businesses, groups and Alex’s swim school organising fund-raisers to help cover the cost of her medical bills.
A Facebook page has been set up to document Alex’s journey and includes information on how to donate money to help with her treatment.
