MRI #3
Wednesday June 29th
For Isabelle, it's the last day of 1st grade. For Evie, it's MRI # 3. A big day for both of our girls. We are cautiously optimistic. Evie's nystagmus seems to be slowing, and otherwise she is thriving in babyhood....on her way to toddlerhood actually.
We arrived at SickKids at 8am for her 10:30am MRI. Evie was checked in the Haematology Clinic, where her port was accessed and CBC taken. We then moved down to the MRI department to check in. I can't help but think how cute she looks every time I change her into the tiny hospital gown - perhaps a strange thought!
At around 10am they called us in, ready slightly ahead of schedule. Paul and I took Evie back, where she gets checked out once again by a nurse (who's name was Evelyn!), and where we also met her Anesthesiologist. A few more questions and then comes the hardest part: leaving. It takes literally seconds for the anesthesia to work, and then with a gentle kiss and hug, we walk away, told to return in an hour. This has got to me my least favourite part of the entire process - out of all we have been through in the past 8 months, I find it terribly difficult to walk away from my baby in such a vulnerable state. That being said, I am confident in the hands we are leaving her in - they are only there to help.
So Paul and I spend the next 60 minutes wandering the halls of the hospital, stopping at Tim Hortons, pretending to shop, taking care of hospital paperwork, anything to distract. When we finally feel we can head back to the waiting room, we have to wait again to be called into recovery. The Recovery room is small, room for about 2 patients at a time, separated of course by the hospital curtain. Evie wakes up and is like a little drunken baby. It takes some time for her to regain full control of her body, and she is quite silly, but completely loving. She is definitely happy to see us, and we are her as well.
Pretty soon we are on our way home, with careful instructions for the next 24 hours. One would argue the hard part is over, but as we move on from the procedure, we have started the waiting game. We have been told that one of her doctors will call us either today or tomorrow with results.
Thursday June 30th
Despite keeping my cell clutched in hand all day (and night), we did not hear from anyone at SickKids yesterday. "No news is good news", this is what I keep telling myself, but it gets harder as time wares on. Finally, at about 3pm the phone rang. I had a brief conversation with Dr. Bartels, where she informed me that it appears that though the tumour has slowed down, it has continued to grow another 3mm since her last MRI.
Hearing that it has grown again is difficult, but the key is that they believe it is slowing down - which is a positive sign. I do feel however , that they were also hoping to see more of an improvement. I was reminded that her case will be discussed next week with the entire Brain Tumour team. Next Friday when I bring Evie in for chemo I will find out what course of action they would like to take, and if they plan on making any changes to her treatment plan.
This was not the news we were hoping for, nor what we expected. I believe I said we were cautiously optimistic, but honestly I wanted a piece of good news. It has been a long 8 months. Paul and I are quick to remind each other, as well as others, that in spite of everything, Evie is doing really well. She is a happy little girl, learning to walk and talk. She can see and recognize, she remembers and mimics. She makes us laugh everyday, and those things should not be overlooked.
