Four, yes, four different oncologist have now rejected Sada as a potential chemotherapy patient. That's one big bridge we don't have to cross! After seeing dozens upon dozens of chemo patients pre- and post-treatment, Jeff decided long ago that chemo and radiation were literally the very last options he would ever want to have to consider giving anyone (let alone one of his children). They do work fast and furiously, and sometimes they are THE option to survive the most aggressive cancers. In our case, Sada's astrocytoma doesn't respond to current chemo treatments reliably and the doctors at Primary Children's won't try something that they aren't sure will help. We're not about to beg to be admitted!
But it does leave Sada in limbo. The neurosurgeon is there, ready and waiting if she needs surgery. The oncologists are standing by for consults before and after surgery (but we now know where all of them stand regarding chemo for this tumor type). Which leaves her loyal and faithful and loving pediatrician to formulate a treatment plan. To say the least, Dr. Daddy has hurdled an impressive learning curve over the past 16 months.
The options we have right now are doing nothing and waiting until the tumors shrink (or until they are big enough to warrant surgery); or researching, following up with lots of prayer, and going with the treatments we feel will be most important at this stage. That part has been surprisingly simple, because we have had so much heavenly help - no other explanations possible. When something is right, everything clicks into place like a pair of ruby slippers. And when it's not - it melts away without so much as a screaming, flying monkey to mourn its passing.
Actually, the hardest part of this past year has been trying to explain to others why we're doing what we're doing. We've had so many friends and family members give us ideas and suggestions (some much more forcefully than others, trying to justify why their therapy is the answer). There are literally thousands of options out there. Some of the most helpful treatments for other cancers will cause a pediatric tumor to grow out of control within a few weeks. Even the most respected brain tumor specialists in the world won't work with pediatric tumors because they behave so differently than adult tumors. But those who do work with peds patients are amazing, and there is incredible research going on that really give us hope, especially in Sada's case.
I guess that's been the biggest learning curve - being strong enough to handle the criticism and yanking and pulling without letting the ball drop with what we're already sure of. Prayer has gotten her a long ways thus far, and in spite of the recent tumor growth, we're confident she's on the right track, wherever that track leads (and if you happen to have a map, PLEASE send it over!). Our friends have a sign in their house they get to read while taking care of their 18mo daughter with a brain tumor that sums up life pretty well, "Faith makes things possible... not easy."
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Do you ever wonder for a minute if when the Lord is stretching us --He got an accurate read on how flexible we really are/ aren't?
ReplyDeleteI remember being in an excersize class with Carrie in our high school days. We were new to the school. The teacher watched us for a few days, and then approached us while we were warming up. She asked hesitantly, "Are ya'll BLOOD sisters?"
You're determination strengthens mine.