Post Biopsy Surgery and Costume Party

~ Oct 29th We are in a room and Amy is in pain but resting. When she awoke from the anesthesia we explained to her that she has a chest tube in to help drain excess fluid from the surgery site. Her doctor came in to say that he is still very optimistic that this is benign but that the surgery to remove the mass will be extensive. The tube should come out in the morning and we will be going home soon! 

~  Oct 30th Bryan and I attempted to get some sleep on the small couch in Amy's room but she was restless most of the night. We were not aware that the chest tube would cause so much discomfort for her. Thankfully it is out now and we are going home. The hospital has a costume party planned for 1pm and Amy is excited to be going as a MOUSE! She is weak but is insisting that she is energetic enough to attend the party and have some fun. 

  Amy stayed for a little while at the party but I think it got the best of her. She is exhuasted and requested to go back to her room. We are going home! 

Time for the Biopsy

 On Tuesday, October 28, we received a phone call from the surgeon team. We had an appointment with the surgeon team to consult with them about the taking the biopsy at 2pm on Wednesday. We met with the surgeon on Tuesday and he was very optimistic about the mass and thought maybe he could remove it and not just take a biopsy. The surgery was scheduled for 7:30 am on Thursday morning. We left the doctor's office with high hopes that this would be done and over by the weekend. We checked in our hotel, had supper at Appleby's (because that is were Amy wanted to eat, she really wanted crawfish), did some shopping and headed back to the hotel for some much needed sleep. On Thursday we arrived at the ACH at 5:30 am with Amy in good spirits, we had talked about all that she may experience and talked with nurses, doctors and anesthetist about any questions she may have. She was taken in to surgery at 7:50 am and we were told that it would take up to three hours and that we would be updated on the hour. An hour later the receptionist notified us that the Doctor needed to speak to us in the consulting room, our hearts dropped and we immediately sent up a prayer asking for peace. The Doctor told us it was not what he expected. The mass was very vascular and that she had lost more blood than expected however she did not need a transfusion. He was only able to take a small biopsy. She was doing well, her vital signs were good, but she had a chest tube that would continue to remove the blood and fluid from her chest cavity.   

Finding the mass.



On Thursday, October 23, Amy begin to run a low grade fever it continued through the night. Friday morning her fever was 102 and she was complaining of severe stomach pain on her right side. Her Daddy was convinced that it was appendicitis due to the fact that he had his appendix out at the age of 13 and had the same symptoms. We headed to the hospital prepared to stay a few days. After arriving at the hospital the Doctor told us that it was probably a virus that causes the lymph nodes in the stomach to swell and cause the pain and fever. However to be sure it was not her appendix he decided to run a CT scan. The results were that she did have the virus but it also showed that there is a mass the size of a soup can connected to her spine at the T10 vertebrate. She was then sent to AR Children's Hospital (ACH). We arrived at the ACH around three in the afternoon and begin testing, meeting doctors and waiting, waiting and waiting for results. MRI did agree with the CT scan that a mass is there and is around her T10 vertebrate. Basic neurology test were given and due to the fact that she has absolute no symptoms we were to take her home, watch her closely for symptoms, and wait for a phone call from the surgeon team who would conduct her biopsy.   I was blown away by the news of her mass, but Amy in her calm positive manner said "Mom, it is going to be OK." Thank God for a husband who insisted that we take Amy to the ER and for a God that knows all things.