Ty, Erika and Peter are in NYC and it’s been a long day consumed by two or three doctor visits and a lot of waiting in between. Although nothing has happened, these days are still a roller coaster ride. Usually they think they understand a short-term schedule, but it changes, and then it changes again.
When they first met with Dr. LaQuaglia, he was planning on performing an open biopsy — an invasive and frightening surgery — tomorrow morning. By the end of the consult, the plan was to do a less invasive needle biopsy to be scheduled later in the week (hopefully). That plan was reviewed by Dr. LaQuaglia and Dr. Kuschner while Ty and Erika waited. Later today that plan was confirmed during a second consult with Dr. L and it’s tentatively scheduled for Thursday.
The plan from there would be one of the following:
- Needle biopsy shows NB, treatment would be planned
- Needle biopsy inconclusive, an open biopsy is necessary
- Needle biopsy shows something other than NB, some treatment
Each discussion with doctors or nurses is emotionally punishing as the possibility of NB recurrence is discussed. Yet the hope is still alive that the spots (actually small tumors inside the liver) are something else.
On the positive side, Peter’s MIBG scans look good and his marrow test is preliminarily good. Peter is strong and ready for whatever comes his way. This morning he got a line put in his arm and he didn’t even flinch (it was removed now that the open biopsy has been rescheduled). He proceeded to play in the playroom throughout the day.
Peter will attend day camp at the Ronald McDonald house the next couple days and have a blast. Erika and Ty will pass the time, somehow.
Pray that the needle biopsy returns conclusive results, avoiding the invasive open biopsy, and that the results are benign.