One More Day

Well we arrived in Palo Alto yesterday and had the ultrasound done. The radiologist and an intern joined the tech in the room. They did not see the vascularization that they had expected to see. We weren't exactly sure how to interpret that but figured it didn't matter at this point-surgery remains the only option. We met with the nurse practitioner and Dr. Guzman this morning. We left the appointment feeling reassured that we are at the right place. They answered all of our questions and Dr. Guzman was quite confident that he will be able to remove all of the mass. Since the ultrasound didn't show what he had expected, he is leaning away from the idea that this is a vascular malformation. However, he would not speculate on other possibilities. As he said he won't know anything factual until he goes in surgically...so why speculate. They will remove a sample of tissue at the beginning of the surgery to send for pathology. They will have preliminary results within one hour and full results in 5 days. It is amazing to think that by tomorrow at this time we just might have some answers! The surgery itself should last 2 hours or so. There is a chance that Matthew won't need PICU, it will all depend on what they find when they get in there. He will stay in the hospital for about 4 days so we may even have official pathology results by the time we head home. So, now we pray and hug and kiss our little man as we wait for tomorrow to come. Please continue to lift us up in prayer, we will update everyone tomorrow.

Waiting Anxiously

As I sit here tonight I am filled with more anticipation and questions than ever. We will be leaving for Stanford on Wednesday. I received a call from the neurosurgeons office today to tie up any loose ends and answer questions. Even being a nurse, some of the things I was told caught me off guard. Among the normal lab work we will be doing they also have to type and cross Matthew's blood type to prepare for transfusions in the OR and recovery. DUH..most of you would say since we do know this is a vascular mass. But as a mom I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. Then came the news that he would spend at least the first 24 hours in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). There came the second punch to my stomach. Again..medically this all makes perfect sense but my emotions overwhelmed me. And just when I thought I couldn't handle anymore a friend of my mom's came to the house to pray over Matthew. She read several scriptures to me and the kids, we all held hands and prayed. Even Sami laid her head on her brothers as we prayed. The Lord has led us to this place for a reason - I cannot imagine what that reason is but He has led us. I pray he is glorified!

Sami Turns 5

The first post was there to give a little history and update...now on to something a little more uplifting! Yesterday we celebrated Sami's 5th birthday with a swim party at our house. She was so anxious for it to start all day! We had all of our family and most of her closest friends there to help celebrate. We swam, played outside and ate! Sami's first little boyfriend came over for the party this year. Those two are as cute as they come...they act shy when adults are around then stayed glued to one another's side when we aren't looking! It was a great day to relax by the pool and enjoy good food with some good people. We can't believe that 5 years have already flown by. It seems like just yesterday she was born. I can remember always hearing adults say how fast time goes by and it seemed to go so slow as a kid. Now I know what they meant! We try to just enjoy each moment for what it is. This is a lesson we are learning more with each day..to slow down, relax and enjoy the blessings that surround us.

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!!!