Here’s a quick rundown of medical events that have happened so far and are going to happen soon:

Penelope arrives at the ER on 2/25 and was admitted to the hospital at 430am on 2/26.  She underwent a CT scan which led doctors to believe that she may have cancer in the bones of her skull.

On 2/26 doctors confirmed that she did have cancer in her skull bones and ordered an MRI and bone scan as well as urinalysis that would all help to diagnose the type of cancer.

On 2/27 it was confirmed that she had Neuroblastoma.  Once the MRI results came in they stated that she had Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.  The tumor started in her adrenal gland, where she still has a large mass.  The tumor spread from her adrenal gland to her spine.  The spinal tumor is three vertebrate tall and surrounds her spine 360 degrees.  From her spine the cancer entered her  blood stream and spread to the bones in her skull as well as her liver.

On 3/1 Penelope underwent a bone marrow test.  They extracted bone marrow from her pelvis in two locations.  Once the results came in on 3/2, we were informed that the cancer had also spread to her bone marrow.

Today, 3/3, Penelope is going to have a MIBG scan.  She was injected with a radioactive isotope that keys in on Neuroblastoma cells.  They injected her yesterday so that she can have the scan today.  This scan will show ALL active cancer cells in her body, no matter where they are.

Tomorrow, the 4th of March, Penelope will undergo a biopsy of her tumor.  They will remove a large piece of tumor from her adrenal gland that will be sent out to the lab for testing.  They’ll make an incision in the front of her trunk in order to access the tumor.  This will also be where they will incise her after chemo to try and remove the rest of her adrenal tumor.  At this time, the adrenal tumor will be the only one that they will attempt to surgically remove, after her chemo treatment is completed.  It’s impossible for them to surgically remove any of the other tumors – so chemo and possibly radiation will be the course of treatment for the others.  At the same time they will be inserting tubes in her chest that will be used for chemotherapy to hopefully shrink the tumors.

The results from the biopsy will take 10 business days or so to get back.  This is the nail biting part.  The results of her biopsy make a huge difference in her prognosis and the severity/intensity of treatment.  Her chance of survival can be as high as 95% or as low as 50%, it just depends on the cellular makeup of the tumors.  One thing that all the doctors have said is that we’re fortunate she was diagnosed already – children under the age of 12 months have the best chance at beating the cancer and surviving to live a full and happy life.  I definitely won’t say that we’re ‘lucky’ – in my opinion anyone sitting in a cancer ward with their 11 month old isn’t very lucky.  But, considering the situation, we’re definitely fortunate that we were able to get her diagnosed at such a young age.

Thanks for everyone’s support, prayers and well wishes.  I’ll keep you all updated as often as possible.

Best

Aaron

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