August 25, 2004

The surgeons and oncologists met yesterday to discuss Kaelyn's latest scans. Their recommendation is to prepare for a liver transplant. There is still the possibility that once they get her into surgery they could find out that they can take out the tumor without doing a transplant, but if they can't resect the tumor they will at least have a new organ ready to do the transplant right then and there. Cancer patients get put to the front of the transplant list, so it is estimated that she could have an organ within 2-3 weeks. That was good news to me, I was afraid we would have to wait months.

The transplant surgeon said that they have a 90% success rate with liver transplants. She would need to be on immune suppressant drugs for the rest of her life, and they themselves have their own unpleasant side effects. Kaelyn will still need to have one more round of chemo after the surgery to make sure all of the cancer cells are dead.

So, this is our road map. It sure has been a bumpy ride. Please continue to pray for our baby. She is so precious to us, she needs all the strength we can lend her both physically and from on high. We are thinking about having another special fast for her and her surgeons this coming fast Sunday, September 5th. If you would like and are able please join us in fasting.

Link to CT Scan of Kaelyn's Liver

Here are some pictures of Kaelyn's latest CT Scans. I thought you all might like to see what it is we are fighting. Just click on the links below.


liver diagram.jpg


CT scan.jpg

August 24, 2004

Well, the scans were completed on Friday August 20. We spoke with the oncologist briefly about what she saw. She said that the hepatic veins seems to disappear into the tumor. The surgeons still need to review the scans and make their recommendation. We did speak with the transplant surgeon yesterday. He actually calmed our fears a bit regarding the transplant (if needed). Cancer patients get pushed to the beginning of the transplant waiting list, so Kaelyn could have a new liver within two weeks of placing her on the list.

Today Kaelyn's team of doctors will review her case and come up with a plan. We should hear from them at the end of the day. So hopefully we will know whether or not she needs a transplant. Just from what I saw on her recent CT and from what the transplant surgeon said, I think she will be going in for a liver transplant. But, you never know, maybe the surgeons will surprise us and say that they think they can take the tumor out. I will update the site as soon as I know for sure what we are going to be facing.

In the mean time, take a look at these cute kids!

~Angie