Thursday, January 3, 2008

Diagnosis

We finally got the results from Rachel's biopsy today. The results were not as great as we had hoped they'd be but it's not hopeless. Rachel has Ependymoma a rare form of brain cancer. The best ways to treat are surgery and radiation but Rachel doesn't qualify for either of those. The neurosurgeon is looking at possibly removing the tumor from the spine but that won't take care of all the cancer. Our first approach at beating this is going to be chemo. She will start at the beginning of next week. The odds are 50/50 that the cancer will respond to chemo. Our hope is that it does and she will continue on with chemo until she is 3. At that age, she will be developed enough to receive radiation therapy. We are definitely trying to stay hopeful but this is going to be a tough cancer to beat. The odds over the last 25 years are that 1 in 4 kids have survived it. We're praying really hard that Rachel falls in that 25%! Please keep praying for us we need it right now. Rachel has recovered well from her surgery and today she got to play and move around all over the hospital floor. She is in very good spirits and you can't even tell anything is wrong. I'll have to post pics later because they are in Michael's camera at the hospital.

7 comments:

  1. Our prayers reach out for Rachel's recovery and strength for all of you during this trying time.

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  2. Amy and Michael, just want you to know I am thinking of you all everyday. I have been sick with a cold and don't think I should be around Rachel until I feel better. Let me know if there is anything I can do. Or if you need my apartment for anything.
    Love,
    Beth Ann

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  3. Amy & Michael,
    Our prayers are with you two, Rachel, her doctors, and all of your family members!
    Kenny & Cindy

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  4. Amy and Michael and Rachel,

    Vicki and I love all of you and if you need a place to stay while you are in transition or an extra car to drive around, or help with your move or meals when your back here in Florida, or anything at all to make this easier on you, we are there for you.

    We will continue to look on the website and will keep asking you if you need help.

    Love,

    Jeff and Vicki Girres

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  5. Amy and Michael,
    All our prayers are with you and Rachel and your extended family and doctors. I am asking all of our friends and family to put Rachel on the prayer lists for their churches and their personal prayers also. You know if there is anything we can do just tell us whether it is dog sitting (or feeding) or a meal or a sitter so you can go take a nice long shower we will be there. Have a safe trip back to Florida and home again. You know the Lord is on your side if Jenny came to the hospital more than once and never got sick!!! The Lord really does work in great ways!
    Love you all,
    The Petrie's
    Jimmy Cathy Jenny Ryan
    (Joey and Chrissie too)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amy and Michael,
    All our prayers are with you and Rachel and your extended family and doctors. I am asking all of our friends and family to put Rachel on the prayer lists for their churches and their personal prayers also. You know if there is anything we can do just tell us whether it is dog sitting (or feeding) or a meal or a sitter so you can go take a nice long shower we will be there. Have a safe trip back to Florida and home again. You know the Lord is on your side if Jenny came to the hospital more than once and never got sick!!! The Lord really does work in great ways!
    Love you all,
    The Petrie's
    Jimmy Cathy Jenny Ryan
    (Joey and Chrissie too)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amy and Michael,
    We found out about Rachel through Julia's Mom and we just wanted to say that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers! We will say an extra prayer that the Air Force can transfer Michael as soon as possible!
    Julia and Ryan Harris

    ReplyDelete