Hurry up and wait
As I mentioned in the last post, the start of the week has been filled with scans and a surgery to better diagnose Ethen's tumor. The first scan was on Monday at 1:00pm. The doctors wanted to do an MRI to get a better image of what sort of interaction the tumor has in relation to the spine. Unfortunately this scan was not too helpful in determining the extent of the tumor's engagement with the spine—although it does appear that some parts of the tumor weave in with the vertebrae. Another MRI will be tacked on to Ethen's test tomorrow to hopefully get a better image.
Today Ethen went in for a surgery around 9:30am. The surgeon biopsied a lymph node near Ethen's left collar bone for a pathology workup of the cancerous tissue (which had spread to the lymph node). The surgeon also installed a Hickman line, or a two lumen catheter that accesses the vena cava superior to the heart. This line will be used to draw blood and administer chemotherapy treatment. Surgery went well and Ethen was out of the OR by 10:45am or so. We are hopeful that the biopsy will be sufficient for the pathology.
Monday and today have had lots of downtime, which has been good and bad. It's given plenty of opportunity for our minds to skip ahead. We've tried to occupy ourselves with the present tasks and to rest as much as possible. The doctors's mantra has been "Hurry up and wait," which has been an apt description of the past few days as we rush to our appointments on different floors of the hospital only to wait for results.
We hope that we will begin to see some results in the next couple days. Tomorrow Ethen will undergo an important test for diagnosis and staging of what the oncologists believe to be neuroblastoma. For those interested, this test is called an MIBG scan, which utilizes the radiopharmaceutical metaiodobenzylguanidine to locate cancer cells. If the tumor is neuroblastoma the cancer cells will absorb this radiopharmaceutical and illuminate on the scan to indicate how far the cancer has spread throughout the body.
Please pray for Ethen as he undergoes another round of anesthesia for tomorrow's scan. He's been been knocked out most of today because of the anesthetic, and as a result he's required oxygen via mask or cannula most of the day. The oxygen supplement is just another stressor as we have to spend energy on keeping the cannula in position. We'd like to avoid the oxygen supplement after tomorrow's scan. Pray also for grace and strength for Christie and me to care for Ethen well in spite of weariness. On a different note, we get to spend a nice chunk of time with Hudson and Mikayla in the morning—pray it can be a good time where we can invest in and make memories with them.
Today Ethen went in for a surgery around 9:30am. The surgeon biopsied a lymph node near Ethen's left collar bone for a pathology workup of the cancerous tissue (which had spread to the lymph node). The surgeon also installed a Hickman line, or a two lumen catheter that accesses the vena cava superior to the heart. This line will be used to draw blood and administer chemotherapy treatment. Surgery went well and Ethen was out of the OR by 10:45am or so. We are hopeful that the biopsy will be sufficient for the pathology.
Monday and today have had lots of downtime, which has been good and bad. It's given plenty of opportunity for our minds to skip ahead. We've tried to occupy ourselves with the present tasks and to rest as much as possible. The doctors's mantra has been "Hurry up and wait," which has been an apt description of the past few days as we rush to our appointments on different floors of the hospital only to wait for results.
We hope that we will begin to see some results in the next couple days. Tomorrow Ethen will undergo an important test for diagnosis and staging of what the oncologists believe to be neuroblastoma. For those interested, this test is called an MIBG scan, which utilizes the radiopharmaceutical metaiodobenzylguanidine to locate cancer cells. If the tumor is neuroblastoma the cancer cells will absorb this radiopharmaceutical and illuminate on the scan to indicate how far the cancer has spread throughout the body.
Please pray for Ethen as he undergoes another round of anesthesia for tomorrow's scan. He's been been knocked out most of today because of the anesthetic, and as a result he's required oxygen via mask or cannula most of the day. The oxygen supplement is just another stressor as we have to spend energy on keeping the cannula in position. We'd like to avoid the oxygen supplement after tomorrow's scan. Pray also for grace and strength for Christie and me to care for Ethen well in spite of weariness. On a different note, we get to spend a nice chunk of time with Hudson and Mikayla in the morning—pray it can be a good time where we can invest in and make memories with them.
Praying for comfort and peace to you all. Praying that God's mighty Hand stretches out and touches that baby boy right now! I will be praying for you all!
ReplyDeleteOur love and prayers as you go through this with Ethan. We think we can empathize and feel ur emotions and heartache but "not likely to touch even closely" . But we care as the Father has put it in our hearts to love you through this journey. Gerald & Charlene Broome
ReplyDeletePraying you feel the Lord close as you go through this. Love your family so much. Alie Simpson
ReplyDeletePraying for an anointing of healing to flow in and through Ethen body. No weapon formed against his body can prosper. One thing I do know Ethen has a family that is full of faith. Jean and I and Life Church come in agreement with your faith. We love ya and are here for you. Billy and Jean Gowan.
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