August 24, 2004

Well, we learned last Friday that Erin's doctor believes she has a small sarcoma next to her spine in her lower back. The needle biopsy couldn't pinpoint what type tumor it is (but definitely NOT neuroblastoma), so it will have to be resected for a completed biopsy work up. While the doctors don't know exactly what we are dealing with, the most common treatment for many tumors still in the running is complete resection, so that is what we are hoping for.

We went to Houston for an MRI yesterday. The MRI is useful to the surgeon to plan his approach. We did get promising results: the mass does not touch or compress any nerves entering or leaving the spine. It does not extend into the spinal canal, and it is not wrapped around any nerve roots. Please hope and pray that all goes well with this surgery, that the pathologists discover Erin's tumor is an easy-to-treat kind (surgery only would be best), and that Erin recovers quickly.

I spoke with the surgeon's secretary a short while ago. The surgery is scheduled for 8:00 Friday morning. She told me he reserved the OR for two hours. This man, Dr. Jed Nuchtern, who has done all of Erin's surgeries, is not by nature optimistic. In fact, he is a big worrier and very meticulous. This is why we love him. So, for him to schedule the OR for only two hours sounds very positive to me!

I wish I could tell you that Erin's recent scans were perfect. Instead, I must ask you all to keep in touch and hope for the best, so we can get back soon to boring website posts about school days, dance lessons, and soccer practice.

Thanks for your support.