Sîan's Story - Timeline

1984
	Oct. 3rd	Sian is born by Caesarean section at approx. 2:30 a.m., weighing 8lbs. and measuring 21" long. She was delivered by Dr. William Bilek at St. Mary's Hospital in Montreal.
	Oct. 13th	Sian comes home to 570 Graham Boulevard in Dorval.
	Dec. 4th	Her first real laugh is heard during bathtime, when Sharon's washing her neck seems to tickle her.
	Dec. 25th	Sian's first Christmas is spent at 96 Valois Bay in Pointe Claire, the home of her maternal grandparents, Al and Millie de Souza. She is their first grandchild.

1985
	Feb. 21st	Ken, Sian and Sharon travel to England for Ken's father's funeral. Sian is sick once or twice, but otherwise adjusts well to the new environment.
	Mar. 5th	The family returns from England.
	Mar. 7th	Sian is examined for a "click" in her hip by orthopaedic specialist, Dr. Ken Brown
	Mar. 8th	Sharon finds a lump on Sian's left foot, in a spot where an adult may develop a bunion.
		Easter. Sian has an elevated temperature and is obviously feeling unwell. She spends almost the entire weekend in her mother's arms.
	Mar.-Apr.	Sian develops an ear infection and later, jaundice, which forces postponement of diagnostic tests. She undergoes a series of tests at the Montreal General Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH), which turn out to be inconclusive, and finally a tissue biopsy at the MCH.
	May 1st	Doctors announce that the biopsy proves that the tumour on Sian's foot is malignant.
	May	First chemotherapy session. Doctors find a major tumour near Sian's pancreas. They think it started there and spread to her foot through her bloodstream. Sian's primary doctors are Dr. Dixie Esseltine and Dr. Michael Whitehead (head of the Haematology department), two wonderful and caring physicians.
	May 20th	No sign of when Sian will be discharged after her first chemotherapy treatment, so she is baptised by Fr. Emmett Johns, the pastor of St. John Fisher church in Pointe Claire in the chapel of the Montreal Children's Hospital. Sian's godparents are Sharon's sister, Shauna, and brother Brad. Both live in Ontario, and take the opportunity to visit Sian on the Victoria Day weekend.
	June 3rd	An "Infuse-a-port" medical device is surgically implanted in Sian's right shoulder. This procedure is necessary because all her veins have been "blown" by the many chemotherapy dosages and blood tests during the past month.
	June-Aug.	Sian seems to respond well to chemotherapy, and the tumour near her pancreas shrinks.
	August	Sharon's sister, Deirdre, comes from Ontario to visit. She captures some happy moments of the family in the back yard and Sian splashing in a tub on a hot day.


	Oct. 3rd	Sian's first birthday is celebrated with both grandmothers (Millie de Souza and Anne Bradwell), grandfather Al and aunt Tara.
	Oct. 4th	Sian undergoes surgery (modified Whipple procedure) at the MCH to remove the tumour near her pancreas, which has grown again. This is followed by a series of radiation treatments at the Montreal General Hospital, overseen by Dr. Carolyn Freeman, one of the top Oncology doctors in Canada.
	Oct. 16th	Doctors announce to the Bradwells that although the surgery and massive doses of radiation may help Sian survive, the radiation will affect her spine: she will not grow at a normal rate, and will always be small.


	Dec. 25th	Members of Sharon's family (father Al, mother Millie, sister Tara, brother Brad, and Brad's girlfriend, AnneMarie Rudnick) come over to celebrate Christmas. Ken dresses up as Santa to hand out Christmas presents to the family. Sian is not fooled! Later, Sian's temperature rises to a dangerous level, so she is taken to the hospital. The emergency room doctor examines her and finds lumps on both her thighs.
	Dec. 28th	While kissing Sian, Sharon finds a lump on Sian's jaw. Sian is rushed to the hospital once more.
	Dec.-Jan.	More chemotherapy and radiation.

1986
	early Jan.	Sian seems to respond a little to a new chemotherapy protocol. Her appetite improves.
	Jan.28th	Sian is admitted to the Hospital. A series of tests indicate she has an infection.
	Feb. 14th	Sian is allowed to spend the day at home with Ken, Sharon and Millie.
	Feb. 15th	Sian's temperature rises. She must return to the hospital.
	Mar. 9th	Doctors tell Sharon that the experimental drug is not working, and that another will not be given. Life expectancy must be 6 weeks at least; Sian will not live that long. The doctors think she has one week left.
	Mar. 13th	Sharon's sister, Shauna, comes to stay with Sharon at the Hospital. Sian lapses into a coma around 9:20 p.m.
	Mar. 15th	Sian's battle ends at 10.19 a.m.