The start of our journey with Ewing's sarcoma

When I started this blog so many years ago, I started it to keep my family who live all over the world up to date on what was happening with our family.  It was also started as a way to share all my couponing trips.  As you can see from the date of the last blog post it have been many years since I have last posted.  I think the main reason is because Facebook has changed so much over the years to where there really is no need for a blog.  And partly because I have become a working mother of 3 and quite frankly, I just don't have the time or energy or the desire to write blog posts.  I have never been a writer so I have let this blog fall to the wayside.  But God knew that someday I would be using this blog again.  And its for a completely different reason than what I had ever intended it for.  As we start this new journey I will try and use this to keep everyone updated on what is going on.   I can not guarantee that I will post all the time but I will try.  

As many of you are aware we have been asking for lots of prayers for our family.  Over the past 3 weeks we have been dealing with a health issue with Lorelai and yesterday we finally got an answer to what is going on. 

On April 16th, Larry took Lorelai into the city clinic because she had been complaining of wrist pain for several days.  We both figured that she had sprained her wrist or broken it.  The PA at the clinic ordered X-rays and when the results came back it showed that Lorelai had a bone lesion in her left ulna.  And this was the first time that the fact that Lorelai could have bone cancer entered into our life.  The next two days was blood tests and an MRI accompanied by additional X-rays.  The results of the MRI prompted her pediatrician to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon and a pediatric oncologist.  During this time, Lorelai's pain in her wrist had basically subsided and we were fervently praying that the cancer scare was just that, a scare.

On Monday, April 22nd, Lorelai, Larry and I drove all the way up to Temple, TX to Baylor Scott and White to meet with the orthopedic surgeon and with the oncologist.  Both doctors were polite and answered all our questions, but after leaving these appointments, both were pretty confident that Lorelai did have some sort of pediatric bone cancer.  Of course a biopsy of the site was ordered and on April 25th, Larry and my mother in law drove Lorelai up for her surgery.  Along with the biopsy, a bone marrow aspiration done.  Unfortunately, the results of the biopsy were inconclusive because the sample that had been taken was mostly dead bone tissue from inside of Lorelai's arm. The doctor called us back and gave us the bad news, but said that he had already scheduled a second biopsy for the following Thursday. This procedure was going to be much more thorough and was going take a sample from the far side of the bone where he was certain good tissue could be harvested.  Good news, the bone marrow aspiration was negative.  Because we were concerned that the cancer could have spread, the doctor ordered a lung CT along with the biopsy.   

Getting ready for 1st biopsy 

After the biopsy, didn't want to wake up.

On May 2, the 3 of us drove back up to get Lorelai's CT scan and second biopsy done. The procedure went well and Lorelai went back to school the next day.  The CT scan also showed that her lungs were clear, which is also good news.  Through all of this, she has proven to be a strong and resilient young woman.   She even went to her field day and was able to participate in some of the less physical activities with her friends.

She did so much better the 2nd time

Field Day 2019

Field Day 2019

On May 8, 2019, Larry and I took Lorelai back to Temple to meet with the orthopedic surgeon to discuss the results of the biopsy. I wish I could say that the news was good, but we were told that the preliminary results did in fact show a Ewing's sarcoma, which is what both doctors thought it was at the beginning. The news was devastating.

After the appointment at the orthopedic surgeon's office we met with the pediatric oncologist at the Baylor Scott and White Specialty Clinic. We requested a second opinion on the diagnosis and asked that the reports, accompanied by the biopsy results, be sent to Texas Children's Hospital for review. The oncologist was welcoming of the additional opinion and told us he would send them over. He suspected that the second opinion will confirm the diagnosis, given the number of doctor's who have already been involved in the process. 

Our next steps will be a consultation with pediatric surgery and to schedule the placement of a port to receive the chemo and other drugs that will be needed.  A PET scan will be next and has been scheduled for May 22nd.  And as soon as school is over , the plan is to start chemo treatments.  The schedule for the chemo is 12 weeks initially, then surgery to remove what is left of the tumor.  The last phase is another 16 weeks of chemo.  Of course the schedule is not set in stone and will be dependent on how Lorelai is doing and feeling.  

The road ahead is going to be long and hard but I have faith in God and that He is mighty and does great things.  I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during this whole first part of our journey.  God has blessed our family with so many amazing and wonderful friends.  We love all of you and please continue to pray as we embark on this new chapter in our lives.