14 March 2014

The {TUMOR}



{TUMOR} The word that blasts our stomachs with a pit of anxiety.

Hearing your child has a tumor is completely gut wrenching but actually seeing the "thing" that could potentially change your child's life forever is a whole other story. Seeing that tiny little spot for the first time was completely heart breaking. We couldn't decide if we wanted to burst into tears or start screaming in anger. How could this all be happening... She is so little, much too little for something like this! Sure we have our days of doubt and sadness but lately out days have been filled with hope and determination. Seeing the {tumor} and knowing what we have to deal with gives us the strength we need to beat the holy hell out of this it and come out victorious on the other side.

When we found out about Rylie’s {tumor} we were shocked. Her ophthalmologist took one look at her and knew something wasn't right but we just couldn't see it. We have spent weeks studying her face, her eyes in particular. At first glance we couldn’t see a thing but when she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep you see it, the bulge in her left eye. Plain as day there it is- right there in front of us. It's almost too painful to look at- it's a reminder that something is there and could one day turn into a million major problems. But it also gives you a better understanding of what Rylie is dealing with--- why she has trouble sleeping, why she has spots all over her body. It answers so many questions yet leaves so many un-answered.

We show you these images today not to scare you but to remind you that NF is a real disease and it is affecting far too many people. Hopefully one day we will find a cure for NF so these kids no longer have to deal with the pain and suffering these tumors bring.

So let’s take a look at Rylie’s MRI. Here first MRI was on February 20, 2014. She was such a trooper- so brave and so strong! It's amazing to actually see what we are dealing with, to see her brain and the ways in which the tumor if affecting her........ 

This first picture is a top view of Rylie's head. Keep in mind as you look at these scans you are looking at the opposite side. Rylie’s tumor is in her left optic nerve- on the MRI photos you want to look at the right side.



This next picture is a similar view but shows you exactly where the optic nerves are located. 



This next photo shows the bulge in Rylie's nerve- being this large was a sign to her doctor that we needed an MRI to get a better look at what was really going on. 



And here's the {TUMOR}... 


This last photo is a view of Rylie's right eye. When they do an MRI and notice something on a scan they inject a dye that enhances the images, when they added the contract they noticed a spot on Rylie's right eye. When we do the next scan this is something they will be watching very closely... it could be nothing, or it could be another {TUMOR}. 





So there it is... Keep praying and sending positive thoughts- In a few short months we will repeat this process all over again…

No comments:

Post a Comment