Tuesday October 18, 2011

Haven't posted in awhile as everything was going along smoothly.  Elaina had her first Oncologist appointment and it seemed that the wait and see approach was to be taken.  Yesterday Elaina did not eat all day and was cranky.  A call to the Oncologist brought her to the ER at Health Park last night where she was admitted due to fever, mild dehydration and some blood in stool.  Another battery of blood tests, x-rays and cultures were performed.  So far all tests are back as negative except we are waiting on some cultures.  IV antibiotics were administered and she will spend 2 or 3 days in the hospital for observation and final delivery of antibiotics.  So far today, the fever is down and her appetite is returning.
The Hemangioma  is at the same size as before and has not grown, nor is it the source of infection.
It is great to have Lauren here as she is attending to the other kids, getting them to and from school while Frank returns to work.
I will post again as I know how she is doing.

Monday October 10, 2011

Elaina had her first Oncologist appointment on Friday October 7, 2011.  The Doctors were well received by Meghan and she felt very comfortable being there.  They made it a point to let her know they are on call 24/7 and she is not to hesitate in calling on them if she has a concern.  The Doctors felt given the placement of the tumor that a wait and see attitude was the best course of actions to take at this time.  Treatment to shrink the tumor is with steroids and the side effects that accompany this course of treatment are riskier than doing nothing for now.  The Doctor felt that the tumor would likely grow until she reaches the age of two and at that point the mass should begin to shrink on its own.  We are all hoping he is correct.  So for now we wait, examine test and retest.
Elaina also had her first pediatric appointment and is doing fine.  She was almost at birth weight and her billie rubin is in the normal range.
I will keep everyone posted as I can.  Thanks for the well wishes and prayers.  Please keep them coming as continued support is appreciated.

Monday October 3, 2011

Good news keeps rolling in.  Elaina was released from the hospital late on Friday night September 30th.  The liver specimen was sent to the Center for Liver Diseases in Virginia.  The pathologist there concurred with original diagnosis.  The name for the condition was changed from hemangioendothelioma to infantile hemangioma.  The tumor is benign which is the best outcome we could hope for.  The tumor is located on lobe 1 of the liver and that lobe is the most complicated so there will be many examinations and opinions by the experts before any course of treatment will be determined.  The surgeon stated that  it may even shrink on its own so it will need careful oversight.  He even stated that had the lesion been on any other lobe of the liver he would have removed it during the exploratory surgery.  Elaina has a scar that runs transverse across her abdomen following the rib cage line.
So followers, keep tuning in and I will try to write Monday to Friday with weekends off.