10/23/07 1150

Hello all! I will try my hand at posting a blog, hopefully I won't mess it up. One correction from a 2 blogs ago. The tumor is not considered malignant. It has not spread to any other spots. The MRI of her entire spine was negative and tumors arising in the brain essentially never spread to sites outside the brain and spinal cord. I think what Elsie meant by malignant was that it is a type of cancer. Essentially when these cells grow abnormally they can be low grade (slow growing and less aggressive) or high grade (rapidly growing and more aggressive). Mikayla's is fortunately low grade. Now the oncologist we spoke with today feels low grade could be considered more closer to benign rather than a true cancer. I think it is all in how you look at. Benign or cancereous or malignant the mass itself is what caused all her problems. This morning she is in more pain, and needing pain medicines. The medicine makes her stomach upset so she is not eating the best. The plan is to move her out of the ICU today if a bed on a regular unit is available. Last night was good for neither Mikayla or myself as she couldn't get comfortable, she vomited, and she would not let me watch the first half of the colts game. I did get about 2 hours of sleep at the Ronald McDonald house after Sasha came back this morning. Sasha was able to talk with the oncologist this morning. He feels there is about 75 % of these tumors will respond to chemotherapy that would go on about 70 weeks (yes over a year) in cycles. Those who fail to respond (either it fails to shrink or starts increasing in size) will require radiation treatment in Bloomington, IN. The chemo would probably start in the next couple weeks at Riley then transition to Lutheran's Pediatric Clinic in Ft Wayne. Sasha or myself will let you all know more when there is more definitive plans.
Even though I am a doctor and have to rely on science based medicine, I truly have faith in our God and know that all of your prayers will get Mikayla through this. They have already carried us through the first stage. Please prayer for Grace and Jacob, Sasha as well. To all my doctor friends, I have told many people they have cancer and helped them through it , but I never dreamed I would diagnose my own child. Take the time to hug your kids and don't sweat the small things (even if they seem so big at the time).
Chris