Parents take joy in greatest gift of all

By Bridget Brady
AFTER a year of tears and triumph, this Christmas will be extra special for the Wallace family.
In February surgeons told Cranbourne parents Scott and Tracy Wallace that their son Cody would have been dead in six weeks had doctors not found a brain tumour in the then 22-month-old.
Five major operations later, Cody has defied the odds and cannot wait for Santa to arrive.
Mrs Wallace said she realised something was not right with Cody, one of her three children, from an early age because he screamed and vomited frequently and had not started crawling.
“We were told he had Global Development Delay but he would still vomit every two weeks without fail,” Mrs Wallace said.
It was not until one doctor suggested an MRI scan that the Wallaces realised what was troubling their son.
“We got the call on 13 February at 5.15pm to tell us that there was a blockage in his brain. We cried,” Mrs Wallace said.
“What we felt was indescribable,” Mr Wallace said.
Mr Wallace said the tennis-ball-sized tumour caused Cody headaches, which explained his screaming.
“As parents it is hard to take knowing that for nearly two years he was in agony,” Mr Wallace said.
Surgeons removed 40 per cent of the Choroid Plexus Papilloma tumour, which they said Cody would have been born with.
But after a second operation in March, Cody’s parents feared the worst after Cody had a brain haemorrhage in April at their home. “That was scary, it was nearly death,” Mrs Wallace said.
Cody was rushed to hospital where he had burr hole surgery to remove the blood and fluid.
Mr Wallace said he was “ecstatic” when Cody started walking after his third operation, but a routine scan in June found there was still too much fluid in Cody’s brain, so more surgery was needed.
Mrs Wallace said after another operation in September Cody started to run and climb and she noticed improvements in his speech.
She said Cody had his photo taken with Santa recently, and is excited about Christmas.
Mr Wallace said Cody was a fighter, and he was delighted his son could spend Christmas with at home with sister Hayley, 11, and brother Tahj, 11 months.
“We didn’t think we would have him for his second birthday, let alone Christmas,” Mrs Wallace said.
“He has got into the Christmas spirit and recognises Santa. That’s what makes this Christmas special because he knows Santa Claus is coming. We smile at the fact that he is still here … we are going to have a great Christmas.”
Cody is due to have another MRI scan on Monday, and Mrs Wallace said she still felt nervous before each scan.
“He is not in the clear. We have had our ups and downs and it has been stressful. One day you think you’re doing really well then the next you’re an absolute mess.”
Mr Wallace, a teacher at Haileybury College in Berwick, said his work, family and friends had shown great support during their year of turbulence.
“Doctor Hugh Kelso and all of the nurses are amazing. We cannot fault them,” he said.
Mr Wallace said the family has spent about four months of the year at the Ronald McDonald House while Cody was at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
“Now he plays, sings and runs away from you at the shops … all of the normal things. It is great to see.”