(THE FOLLOWING IS OUR CARINGBRIDGE POST FROM TONIGHT) We met - TopicsExpress

(THE FOLLOWING IS OUR CARINGBRIDGE POST FROM TONIGHT) We met with Dr. Granger today to review the recent m-ibg scan and discuss our next steps. For those of you who are new to our journey, I will try to give basic descriptions of the tests and treatments that Kodi is going through. The m-ibg scan involves an injection of radioactive substance that attaches to neuroblastoma cells. She receives the injection, and 24 hrs later, she has a full body scan to look for any areas that light up with disease. The scan revealed two areas in her right leg (tibia) just below the knee. We cant say exactly how big these areas are until we get an MRI to overlay the scans and compare. (The MRI last week was only looking at the spine - an area of previous concern.) In addition to the MRI next week, Kodi will have surgery for her port placement to begin treatment. After discussing the new area of disease, we feel that the best course of treatment would be the full m-ibg radiation, which uses that same carrier to deliver radiation directly to the neuroblastoma cells. This is the IV radiation that Kodi previously received in San Francisco (January 2011). The m-ibg treatment is now available in Fort Worth, but there is only one date available for September. We will need to have our insurance approve the procedure by Wednesday next week in order to get in on time. We are hoping for September 10th. I will write more about m-ibg as we get closer, but you can look back at our journals around January 2011 to get a better idea of what she will be dealing with again. After clinic, we went to the hospital side for a bone marrow biopsy with sedation. Kodi usually does really well with these procedures, but today she had quite a bit of pain at the biopsy sites when waking up. A few doses of pain medication got things under control, and she is home tonight - moving slowly, and still sore, but better. Emotionally, I think I am half-way between the shock wearing off and gearing up for another battle. Neuroblastoma doesnt care that we just started a new school year, joined a new soccer team, started a new job...had a life! The reality is that all of these things have to take a back seat to Kodis treatment. And yet, at the same time, all of these things still demand our attention. The girls have to go to school. We have to work and pay bills. Soccer is a huge part of Maegans life, and Kodi was just starting back and loving it. We will once again walk a tightrope between two worlds and try to juggle all of our responsibilities at the same time. Right now, our prayer requests are: ---insurance to quickly approve the m-ibg treatment and get all necessary paperwork done on time ---Kodi to heal quickly from the biopsy today with no complications ---finding balance between work, family, and the new appointments that will be coming up (and lack of control in our scheduling) Thank you for all the calls, texts, emails, and facebook messages this week. It is good to know that we are not alone. Tracy J Tutt (mom)