That is a wonderful update. 
Well, yesterday I noticed that the left side of Annas mouth wasnt moving when she laughed or cried, sort of giving her a Sylvester Stallone look. The left side is where her mediport was placed, so we were worried and called the on-call oncologist, who told us it could be a number of things, ranging from Bells Palsy to swelling from the surgery pressing on a facial nerve to a stroke (which in all honesty, was the first thought that popped into my head
.the kind of thought you spend most of the time trying to push back out). Needless to say, we rushed Anna to the emergency room and she was placed in an isolation room due to her receiving chemo, where the on-duty doctor ruled out a stroke due to the lack of facial sagging (thank god). The on-duty surgeon was called and between him and the surgeon who performed the surgery ruled out swelling pressing on a nerve as they didnt work close to any nerves that would cause this, and even if they did, it should have shown up sooner.
At this point the surgeon and on-duty doctor are at a loss to explain the loss of movement of her lower left lip, but have let her come home since she isnt having any difficulty eating or drinking her bottles. The surgeon recommends that we see the pediatric neurologist on Monday when we take her to her oncology appointment, and I have already called the oncologist and left a message for it to get set up (hopefully, they are closed on weekends and her appointment is at 9:30 am). Im not looking forward to the poking thats usually involved with a neurology visit, but we need to find out whats happening.
Thats all I have to give everyone at this time, as soon as I find out anything I will update you all again.
Thank you all,
SS
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annageiger
My Arcs:
Man's Insanity: The Beginning - 93644
Save the City of Heroes Podcast - 103442
*starts calling her Sly from now on* ick a complication... but from the soudns of not a serious one, not yet anyway...
hope it turns out to be just a bad a side effect. 
MA Arcs - #67636, #92202
deviantart page
Slag Heap: Why you hurt Guardian!? Guardian no hurt you!
Prayers are going out to Anna again.
I'm sorry to hear of this complication. I sincerely hope that this is just a temporary effect, and not a lasting issue.
Godspeed!
Comic and Hero/Villain Culture
Saturday January 29th, 2005 (12:37 PM) ~ Monday August 9th, 2010
Those Who Lived It Will Remember Long after your Ban Hammer Crumbles and the servers flicker dead.
We Will Remember This One Moment In Time! ~ Shadow Ravenwolf
[ QUOTE ]
Grats on all these "mundane" milestones Rose, I'm getting to understand the term very well. Also, grats on the new house and very cool cape.
Take care,
SS
[/ QUOTE ]
SS,
I missed your post in Rose's thread the other day, sorry. I figured I was better off answering here.
You have it exactly right - sometimes the little things can be miracles too. I check in on this thread from time to time, and I am amazed and gratified by how well Anna herself seems to be doing through all the ups and downs.
I know very well what its like to stand by and let the doctors/nurses/surgeons/techs take care of things that are out of your hands...hoping/praying/wishing that its all going to work. Stay strong for Anna, and don't forget to take care of yourself and the rest of the family too. Just being there with her is a great gift.
I'm going to leave you with a quote from a book by an author named Lois McMaster Bujold (from 'Shards of Honor', one of her first books):
[ QUOTE ]
"...tests are a gift. And great tests are a great gift. To fail the test is a misfortune. But to refuse the test is to refuse the gift, and something worse, more irrevocable, than misfortune."
[/ QUOTE ]
That quote really took on a lot more meaning to me as Rose's health started the downward spiral over two years that led to her lung transplant, and she just went on as though it was just a minor obstacle to her life (even when it really wasn't minor anymore). Maybe it will speak to you too.
Give Anna a hug from Rose and I. We are praying and thinking of you and your family.
Hello Everyone,
I know some people have been expecting me to post since Thursday, but it has been a crazy busy week. As you know, we took Anna to the ER on Friday for the issue with her lower left lip not moving, especially when laughing or crying. Since then she had her usual appointment on Monday and her doctor set her over to have her neck given an Ultrasound. The Ultrasound showed good movement and flow through her jugular veins, which proves she didnt have a stroke (YAY!!!!). Her doctor also had an MRI scheduled for Tuesday since we couldnt get into the neurologist until May 21. I have the MRI right here and will be giving my Googled translation.
The MRI for Annas brain showed it to be an appropriate size for her age, no swelling, and normal blood flow. No mass (brain tumor), mass effect (associated with a tumor) or abnormal fluid presence (hemmorage). The thickening along the anterior margin of the left zygomatic arch extending to zygomaticomxillary suture (along the cheekbone, from about halfway, forward towards the eye socket) is unchanged since the last MRI, measuring 1.7 cm in dimension. Previously described overlying peristeal reaction (formation of new bone in response to injury or trauma) is not appreciated. No additional focal osseous lesion is identified (no new tumors near her eye socket). The rest of the text details items attributed to the process; curved spine due to positioning and intubation, atelectasis (lungs not filled with air) due to normal breathing, or shallower breathing due to anesthetic.
All-in-all the fact that there is no stroke or brain tumor is great. We received the MRI results at her Wednesday appointment and on her Friday appointment got more good news (well, for Anna and Merr)
doctor office visits can be reduced to once a week and no shots until further notice. We will find out what the next steps will consist of after her MIBG (May 19 & 20) and the neurologist appointment on the 21st to see if there is inflammation pressing on any facial nerves causing the left lower lip issue. Otherwise everything is going well. Annas hair has grown almost to an astounding length of one inch! She uses her bottle to make interesting formula art on any flat surface she can find, loves going out on the balcony and watching the geese. Next Wednesday it will have been two weeks since her last round of chemo, mom and I will think about her going out and about in the real world.
Okay, I think I better get going now
..my 5 year old is staaaaarving, cant let that happen. I want to thank you all again for all the support. I want to especially thank Merrs mom. She has watched the boys so often lately, she almost sees them more then we do.
Thank you again,
SS
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annageiger
My Arcs:
Man's Insanity: The Beginning - 93644
Save the City of Heroes Podcast - 103442
Wonderful news SS! Still always wishing,thinking and praying for all the best for Anna and your family.
" I've said it before, I'll say it again, some of those "Recipe found" messages should be brown." Ullikummis
Keeping the Prayers going for Miss Anna and the entire family.
*baby Pounce on Anna*
Keep strong Sinner, Keep the faith, you all will get through this...maybe a lil bruised but you will make it!
HUGS to you my friend.
Controllers and Defenders RULE!
Guardian is home.
Vixen defined by urbandictionary.com:
Totally gorgeous and amazing human female. With the cutest smile and a sweet body. Loves partying and drinks a lot but is still incredibly smart. But be warned, may jump you unexpectedly.
Great news SS!!
*big hugs for everyone*
Keep us updated when you can we are all thinking about ya and praying still!!
*sends some baked cookies* 
woohoo! great news SS!
MA Arcs - #67636, #92202
deviantart page
Slag Heap: Why you hurt Guardian!? Guardian no hurt you!
Techincal... doctor... gibberish... eyes... glazing... over... @_@
Seriously, though, that's good news! Glad to hear it!
[ ProTip: The banner is a link to art refs!! | The Khellection | The HBAS Repository | Brute Guides (4/16/10) | How To Post An Image - A Quick Guide ]
Biggest Troll on the forums? I'll give you a hint:
Great news! Thanks for the update.
This is wonderful news SS! Thanks for the update hwile we keep pulling for you , Anna, and everyone.
Comic and Hero/Villain Culture
Saturday January 29th, 2005 (12:37 PM) ~ Monday August 9th, 2010
Those Who Lived It Will Remember Long after your Ban Hammer Crumbles and the servers flicker dead.
We Will Remember This One Moment In Time! ~ Shadow Ravenwolf
Hello All,
I have the MIBG results, and here we go;
1. Marked interval improvement with minimal radiotracer uptake in the left adrenal mass, suggestive of favorable response to therapy with small residual tumor.
2. Less discrete radiotracer uptake in the left hepatic lobe lesion suggestive of significant interval improvement.
3. Interval resolution of radiotracer uptake in the left orbit metastasis.
So, I asked the doctor exactly what interval improvement meant, and he told me it means the scan doesnt see any glowing trace of the cancer. It looks as if the mass on her cheekbone and adrenal gland are dead and she has gone from the original seven lesions on her liver to one.
The doctors want to verify the MIBG with a 24 hour urine test, where they will look for the chemical this type of cancer puts out. They are also passing the MIBG results over to the surgeons to see whether the next step will be removing the mass from her adrenal gland or something else. They may also request another abdominal MRI since the latest one available is from January.
This is awesome news, just awesome. Thank you all again so much for all the prayers and positive thoughts.
SS
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/annageiger
My Arcs:
Man's Insanity: The Beginning - 93644
Save the City of Heroes Podcast - 103442
Wonderful News SS!!! Keeping y'all and Anna in our thoughts and prayers.
" I've said it before, I'll say it again, some of those "Recipe found" messages should be brown." Ullikummis
You got a strong kid ss...she isnt going to let you down keep us informed and good luck
yay gl SS, we are thinking, hoping, praying for you over here! great news!
Hey SS, I am so glad to hear things are going well for you and yours. I just lost a 16 year old cousin to cancer and I'm praying extra hard for you guys.
That is awesome news SS!!
Keep us posted.
Comic and Hero/Villain Culture
Saturday January 29th, 2005 (12:37 PM) ~ Monday August 9th, 2010
Those Who Lived It Will Remember Long after your Ban Hammer Crumbles and the servers flicker dead.
We Will Remember This One Moment In Time! ~ Shadow Ravenwolf
whoa... so the trace of cancer is jsut about gone? sweet! great to hear the good news SS
MA Arcs - #67636, #92202
deviantart page
Slag Heap: Why you hurt Guardian!? Guardian no hurt you!
woooo hooooo!!!
SOOoooo awesome to hear Sinner. I know this is what you and the family have been waiting for!
*baby POUNCE on Anna*
Controllers and Defenders RULE!
Guardian is home.
Vixen defined by urbandictionary.com:
Totally gorgeous and amazing human female. With the cutest smile and a sweet body. Loves partying and drinks a lot but is still incredibly smart. But be warned, may jump you unexpectedly.
Yay!!!
*runs around, giggling happy*
** Guardian�s Crazy Catgirl **
************* 22 XxX 10 *************
Yes. I can get lost on a straight-line map.
*millyun tiny pepsimen wave pom poms*
I play all my toons like a blaster: I die a lot.
global handle: @Pepsiman
Wii Code: 5292 9629 8964 1440
XBL: IndyBanzai
great to hear SS, i'll be looking for ya in game to catch your current toons up.
@Canadian Canuck @Canadian Canuck2