Update: # #286 - Amanda is home! Cancer free! "Mandy"13 y.o. in need of prayer-lump on hip & ca

FReepmail from LibertyRocks | February 12, 2010 | Joya

[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

[LibertyRocks]

GOOD NEWS UPDATE! --2/19 9:30am

Amanda got her liver enzymes tested again today and the results were OUTSTANDING!!! Her ALT level was 102 on Tuesday (normal is about 7-56), and today her ALT was at 52! We don't know why her liver was showing what it did on Tuesday, but it looks good now! She will be staying with the generic pills, and we will be seeing her ID doctor on Tuesday for our first follow-up!

Thank you so much for everyone's prayers! Praise God for the good outcome today! We've done nothing different as far as food or meds, so I'm giving the glory to God for this positive news! I know the prayer warriors here at FR are a powerful group, and I am comforted to know you are all in our corner! :)

Hopefully I will not have another update until Tuesday when we go see the doctor! So from here I guess "no news is good news"! :) She is far from beating this infection (the meds are probably JUST starting to work now - it takes a while to "catch up" to the infection from what I understand). However, knowing what we are dealing with and having a very attentive and caring doctor is a tremendous blessing based upon the treatment we were receiving before!

Thanks again so much for all the prayers, advice and support. I wish I could reply to everyone's posts individually, perhaps tomorrow I can go through and reply a bit. There are things I'd love to respond to, but with this good news I think I'm going to try to just enjoy spending time with my girls today, and praising God for not having to take Amanda back to the hospital today!

Much love to all of you. May God bless you & yours abundantly!
~ LR

PS -- I realized last night at the pharmacy that I was confused about her medication. The pill form she has IS the generic covered by our insurance. The liquid/suspension is the brand-name they wouldn't cover because the pill is the "same medicine". It may take a little longer to get rid of the infection this way, but as long as she remains stable for now, the meds should "catch up" to the infection and she should start REALLY feeling better next week... This is a doozy of an infection to knock out - as I mentioned a while back she will have to take this medication for at least 6-9 months. Sorry for the confusion on that! :)

[r9etb]

Yay!!!! Thanks for the update — especially since it’s such good news. Still praying. God is good.

[MEG33]

Praise God for the good news..Healing prayers for Amanda.

[amom]

Oh my goodness! What great news! Thanks! Breathing a sigh of relief here on your behalf. 8D

Glad the medicine confusion is sorted out. It’s so easy to get confused.

Enjoy your time with your girls and I’ll look for an update sometime next week.

Prayers continue of course.

Hugs

[Mrs. Don-o]

Yay! Yay! Praise God!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers continue for Mandy and her doctors, as well as you and your family.

Fight On!!

[Tribune7]

Prayers continue

[fieldmarshaldj]

Thanks for letting us know the good news. Continued prayers for a full and speedy recovery for the young lady.

[aimee5291]

Thanks be to G-d !

[Alamo-Girl]

Praise God!!! Thank you for the update. Prayers continue...

[left that other site]

All Praise and Glory to Our God and Heavenly Father!

Thank you for GOOD NEWS!

[betty boop]

Wonderful news about Amanda! My prayers continue....

[reaganaut]

Praise God and prayers continuing.

[LucyJo]

Prayers of thanksgiving for the good news update!

[WVNan]

Lord, we come with thanksgiving in our hearts for your answer to our prayers. Thank you for seeing Amanda and her family through the valley. Continue to watch over Amanda and give peace of mind to her family. We thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Cindy]

Praise Jesus.

Thank You Jesus.
Amen.

[DarthVader]

Amen

[DollyCali]

wonderful news.. You can breathe again now?

[TaraP]

Praise the LORD!

So happy for you and Amanda....

GOD Bless!