Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Surgery day has arrived

The pace picked up yesterday as everyone returned back to work after the holiday weekend. It was a welcome change to have several tests to occupy our time and energy. William mentioned all the test, so I'll explain the purpose of each one. (for you medical junkies: if I get it wrong, I'm blaming it on the onslaught of info that is starting to be flung at us:))

EKG-measure heart rhythms
Echo cardiogram-establish a baseline of heart function before chemotherapy
Skeletal survey -a full body series of x-rays for a baseline of his bones (there may also be another reason for this one, but not sure/don't remember)
Bone scan- radioactive dye injection and then pics with gamma rays to see if Doohickey has any brothers. Will has names picked out, but we're hoping he's an only child! (names: whatchamacallit, discombobulated, thingamabob, whack)

Surgery will be at 1:30PM at the moment. William will be having a central line installed, and will get a biopsy of his tumor and a sample of his bone marrow. We've been bumped back from 12:30PM due to a heart operation, but pediatrics usually get first priority after emergencies so hopefully we won't be bumped again.

William is in great spirits and is only concerned about when he can eat after the surgery and the Harry Potter trivia game we are playing at the moment. Hazel, one of the service dogs is coming to visit him before the surgery. Very exciting! Child Life (the group who makes sure the kids have a fun time and helps the parents explain things appropriately) is coming to visit with a medical doll to show him what his body will look like after surgery.

It looks like we're off to the play room for an art project so I'll sign off until we have more news.

We will meet with the oncology team tomorrow and receive the preliminary results of the biopsy and discuss if further avenues need to be explored/included in our journey.

Thanks again everyone for the outpouring of support - we feel it strongly and it is holding us up. But most importantly I want everyone to know how grateful we are for incredible, supportive, loving family. My sister, Mary and her husband, Erik, and new baby, Eliza, jumped in the car Friday night to travel from the Bay Area when this all started, to be here so we wouldn't have to spend a single moment worrying about our other children while we figured out William's situation. My sister-in-law, Paige, has super powers to have dropped her entire busy schedule to come here and take care of my 4 boys and 3 of her 4 children at the same time for the rest of the week until Ryan's mother arrives on Sunday. We are grateful for such loving parents who have taught us how to love and care for one another and to not fear adversity, but to rise above and become stronger.

6 comments:

  1. We are sending good wishes and prayers your way today! We hope the surgery goes well and that no "brothers" are found. We love you all and are here for you if there is something we can do to help.

    ReplyDelete
  2. we love you guys so much! i'm so grateful to be part of your awesome family. thank you so much for the updates.
    along with our whole family fasting for you today jules, becca archibald is too and along with the prayers of a bunch of paige's and my friends.
    XOXOXO to you and william and ryan!

    ReplyDelete
  3. You're an inspiration, Julie!! I am praying for your sweet boy, your family and those great doctors. *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love you guys--thanks for keeping us all updated. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm in shock. It's hard to believe that such a healthy looking boy could have any serious medical problems. It sounds like you have excellent providers and are in good hands. I will be praying for you guys and your continued comfort!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Will, Ryan, Julie and all the other boys! You are at the forefront of all my thought and prayers. Thank you for all of the updates, for including your non-family family in all that is going on. If something happens to where family can not be with the boys, I am a great and favorite Aunt that can drop everything and perhaps bring a blonde little friend. Day, night, twighlight. What ever is needed, whenever it is needed. Even if it is just a shoulder. I know from very personal experience that prayer is a very strong form of communication and helping the Dr.s. All of you are in my constant prayers.

    ReplyDelete