Let the blogging begin...

I wasn't quite sure of this blog until my sister-in-law recommended it today. Our son, Matthew, is having medical issues and we are wanting to keep all of our loved ones updated of his status. This does seem like the easiest way to accomplish that. Most people reading this will be aware of the situation, but some may not be so here is a brief update. About 4 months ago my dad noticed that Matthew's back was swollen on one side. We had been up to the snow just a couple of days prior so I assumed it was from a stumble there. When I got home with him from work I put him on the changing table to take a peek. When I turned him on his side out popped a lump the size of a small egg or so. I panicked...truly panicked because I knew this was not in any way normal. We saw the pediatrician the next day who thought it was a completely benign lipoma and set us up to Fresno for a consult with a pediatric surgeon. Several tests later (x-ray, ultrasound, MRI) and months later it was learned that there was a quite large mass in the muscle of his lower back. The options for diagnosis were narrowed down to hemangioma or sarcoma (tumor). We felt like the wind had been knocked from us. We felt uncomfortable with the surgeon in Fresno and our gut told us to go elsewhere. We ended up at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford the end of April. They took the studies and had their radiologists and vascular malformation clinicians review it also. We were told the end of May that they were not convinced it was a vascular malformation although they were "still leaning towards that." It was recommended we see a neurosurgeon and have an additional ultrasound done there.

So...here we are the beginning of June. Over 4 months after my dad initially felt that lump on his back, we are finally getting answers. On Friday, June 13th, Matthew will have surgery to remove the entire mass and send it for pathology. We are feeling scared and anxious, but we do find some relief that the best of the best is on the case and an answer should be on the way. It has been a long road to get to this place. We have seen what will be 3 surgeons, 3 pediatric radiologists, 1 pediatrician and the advice of countless medical professionals. No one is quite sure what we are dealing with. So we are preparing for the worst but hoping for the best and praying relentlessly. The Lord is in control of this we know...his comfort is the only comfort we can find. SO prayers, prayers and more prayers!!!