Even though some of you already know what has been going on, I just wanted to share what Justin and I have been going through the last two weeks...
We were putting Paige to bed on the 3rd, and I felt a huge lump on the side of her neck. It didn't look like a bite or anything I am usually familiar with on her body, and it was hard as a rock. We decided to take her to the ER since it was so close to her airway, and I didn't want her to stop breathing in the middle of the night....so at 9:30 we ended up at the ER. They did an x-ray, and a few Doctors checked her out, but nobody had a real answer for what was causing this. So they sent us home with antibiotics to start her on, and said to watch it closely.
We followed up with her Pediatrician, and she recommended an ultrasound, being that Paige had no other symptoms to explain the lump. She wanted to rule out a possible malignancy! When we heard that...we felt horrified. After much negotiation, we got her in for the ultrasound a week ago and the Doctor was very concerned by the results. He told Justin and I to be "concerned" and that Paige needed a CT scan asap. He felt her lymph nodes were abnormal on both sides of her neck, and that the one node was ridiculously enlarged for some reason. So we went home in shock, and of course called her Ped. to find out when we could get a CT scan. They advised us not to waste any time, and go to the ER to get one...and that they would be expecting us. So we spent about 7 hrs. at the ER waiting, getting an IV in Paige (horrible), sedating her for the scan (scary), and then waiting on results (even worse). It was the hardest thing Justin and I have EVER been through...not to mention I am having contractions the whole day, and Paige has never been to the ER or even sick for that matter! Our ER Doc said that the scan showed the abnormal nodes were only in her neck, which was good news, and that her blood work came back normal, which was also great news....BUT, they still didn't know what was causing all of this.
They referred us to a specialist from there, but said to watch it. SOOOOOO, we met with the specialist on Tuesday, and she wants to just watch it for another week before we do a biopsy. She was wonderful, and reassured us that she feels it will be fine, and will more than likely go away on it's own. As I write this today, her lump has started to shrink a bit, and I feel like it will go away soon.
Just the thought of my child having cancer has been the most terrifying thing....and I have never felt so helpless as I have in the past few days. We have appreciated everyones prayers and thoughts so much....I know they have helped.
I guess I am sharing this with the rest of you so you will hug your kids and husbands a little tighter today. This whole experience has helped put a tighter focus on what is the only important thing in our life...our kids and each other. I hope you all have a great weekend...
