Scarlett is having brain surgery today. Here is what her mom had to say... UPDATED
The entire growth was removed, including some of the adjoining tissue that might harbor rogue cells.
The pathologist looked at a sample. The initial impression is that we are again looking at glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Official diagnosis results will come in the next few days, but it is definitely some kind of tumor. I have some particularly colorful words I could add here, but I'll keep it PG-rated for now.
While they had her opened up, they used a mesh to help repair some of the unhealed soft spots on her skull. This will hopefully help them heal stronger.
They expect her to be ready to go home Sunday or Monday.
Her doctors at LPCH at Stanford are being informed, as well as samples sent soon to start developing their plan. Her case will also be presented this Friday to a doctor we met at the Pablove conference in LA last month, who consults at Children's Oakland. Basically, everyone is on it, and we should have a plan (or likely, a choice of plans...) soon.
Scarlett was taken into surgery around 9:30 am PST. It's nearly 11, and we have not yet heard that the actual surgery has begun - they are still preparing, setting IVs and breathing tubes, etc. The OR nurse will call us soon.
The neurosurgery team took on a very short case before Scarlett's, so we were delayed a bit. It made for a very long morning, but everything went according to plan.
We signed consent for "brain tumor resection." Seeing that instead of biopsy was a bit jarring - we've been avoiding the idea of a new tumor as much as we could, but I guess the doctors aren't.
The only question I had for the surgeon this morning was how much change was evident on yesterday's MRI compared to the last imaging in October. He said very little, if any change. This gives me a bit of hope - still very slow growing. His words: "We're just going to get it out of there." I can get on board with that.
Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
Father, Holy, Holy, Holy are You! Father, thank you for surgeons and hospitals, You are so good!! Lord, be with dear, sweet Scarlett and guide the surgeons hands as he preforms this surgery. Jesus, please place Your hands on the surgeons hands and remove this tumor completely from Scarlett's brain. Breathe Your life giving breath into Scarlett and reverse any damage done to her brain. Soak Scarlett in Your blood Lord, give her a blood transfusion! I bind cancer in the name of Jesus. Cancer be bound with chains that cannot be broken in Jesus' name. I cast you into the sulfurous pit and command you to not bother Scarlett again in the name of Jesus. Cancer, lose the power over Scarlett in the name of Jesus.
Thank You Jesus for what You are going to do in Scarlett's life. Amen!
Praying and praying for you Scarlett.
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