Posted on 02/11/2010 10:38:19 PM PST by Joya
CURRENTLY via FReepmail from LibertyRocks 02/11/2010, late Thursday
It was a rough day. We are right now at Children’s Hospital, we came in this afternoon at 2:30 and by 5:00 she was admitted as a patient.
We are in our own private room in the oncology ward - not because she is sick, or because they are thinking it’s definitely cancer (still on the table though), it’s because there are so many kids sick with the flu and H1N1 in the other part of the Peds wing. It’s nice because they are very private rooms, and very comfortable and “homey”.
= = = BACKGROUND via FReepmail from LibertyRocks 02/07/2010 [Superbowl Sunday]
Dear FRiends,
I took my daughter Amanda (13 yo) to the doctor last night [Feb. 6]. She had been complaining of a sore calf for the last 2 weeks. I (we) assumed it was a pulled muscle, and told her to take it easy - she was still walking around and wasn’t limping, but we didn’t notice she was walking on her tiptoes on that leg (long pants...). Yesterday, she came to me and said, “Mom it’s starting to hurt REALLY bad, and there’s a lump....” Turns out there was a lump there, and it’s been getting bigger over the last week or so (at this point it’s slightly oval and at least 2 in. in diameter!). At the doctor’s office we were able to get her in to get an ultrasound before the techs left for the weekend. I saw the ultrasound, but don’t know what I was really looking at - it seemed the mass was pushing out in between her calf muscles so its origin was deep - like next to the bone itself. After the ultrasound my daughter got nervous and confessed there is a lump on her hip that’s been there for some time (a few months???) - it’s much smaller, but it’s there.
[WHY don’t children tell their parents these things? I can’t tell you how frustrating this is now.]
Anyway, the doctor ruled out infection, and a blood clot, and they mostly ruled out a pulled / torn muscle (it would hurt WORSE on her toes if it were the muscle), but they can’t give us a diagnosis at this point at all. They are scheduling her for an MRI (of her leg & hip) first thing [February 8], we need to schedule an appointment with our reg. doctor ASAP for a referral to an Orthopedic Surgeon. If the MRI doesn’t give us more of an answer she will need a biopsy.
Please just pray for Jesus to heal my baby!
We’ve ruled out the “easy” stuff, and there is no history of trauma to the area either! This leaves a few VERY scary diseases - two that are cancers that primarily affect children her age. Combine that with the fact that her doctor’s are flying “half-blind” with only familial medical history of her father (I’m adopted), and it necessitates they treat this as if it’s a cancerous growth until they rule that out.
My daughter is normally a nervous person (like her mom), so please also pray for her to have strength, and not to worry. I’m trying VERY hard to be brave and strong for her, I’m praying with every other breath at this point.
Thanks to everyone for their prayers over our family. I know so many others are going through their own problems. Please know, you all remain in my thoughts and daily prayers.
God Bless all of you, LR
Just read the update...no cancer...Praise God!
I never heard of this blasto condition before. And you get it from the river? How weird.
I read your post earlier tonight and I am so happy that your daughters problem has been diagnosed. My husband aged 74 had a lump in his leg last fall. It too was difficult to diagnose but he is well now. God Bless you all.
I should say “around” the river, or the lakes and such here. It’s naturally occuring and the spores are released in the fall. So, if you’re hiking, fishing, swimming, etc... you can come in contact with it. The spores are inhaled and it usually shows up in the lungs, but for some reason it decided to hang around her body for a while and set up shop in a her hip and calf... Even just tripping into a pile of leaves for instance could send up an invisible cloud of spores, you inhale it, and you’ve got it. It can’t be spread from person to person unless the actual “pus” (fungal stuff) is oozing out of the body and comes in contact with someone’s bloodstream. If it settles in your lungs you body can’t get it out on its own for some reason. Hence the need for very long term anti-fungals.
Our dog actually had this same condition 3 years ago, and was deathly ill for several weeks — he survived thank God as the vet was very familiar with this. You can’t get it from your pet or anything, but it’s common in animals around here, too.
I don’t know how common it is in other parts of the country, but it’s just one of those things that’s always around - nothing you can do to prevent it unless you want to stay inside 365 days/year! LOL
WoooHoooo
Our prayers go out for her to return to good health.
Thank you for sharing the good news!
Prayers for Amanda’s speedy recovery.
Thanks again everyone! I’ve got to get offline and get some good sleep - another big day tomorrow, but Praise God for we are all so relieved! And Praise God for all the Doctors, and nurses at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital (part of the Marshfield Clinic)! They are all ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
Thank you so much for the good news update. Praise God for His many blessings, may they continue for all of you in this difficult time.
Praise the Lord!
Hallelujah! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Hugs to you and to Amanda!
Fantastic news!! My prayers will continue for her quick recovery!!
This is indeed good news. Praise God !
As I said on FB, GREAT NEWS!!!!
Epidemiology
In the United States, blastomycosis is endemic in the Mississippi river and Ohio river basins and around the Great Lakes. The annual incidence is less than 1 case per 100,000 people in Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Arkansas. The cases are greater in northern states such as Wisconsin, where from 1986 to 1995 there were 1.4 cases per 100,000 people.[5] It also frequently affects hunting dogs in northern Wisconsin and the upper Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers.[6]
In Canada, most cases of blastomycosis occur in Northwestern Ontario, particularly around the Kenora area. The moist, acidic soil in the surrounding woodland harbors the fungus.
Blastomycosis is distributed internationally; cases are sometimes reported from Africa.[7]
Awesome news!!! Crying here!!! Will keep praying :)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below.
And a shout out to the eldest as well as to Amanda.
So very glad to hear the good news that it isn’t something more serious and difficult to treat, LR!
Prayers for uneventful and successful healing and recovery of good health for Mandy. God bless.
Thanks for the update.
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