Small Steps Forward

On Monday 4/2/18 Alanna had her lumbar puncture which so far has shown that she has a lower risk cancer.  We are tickled that it isn't high risk and she won't have to spend an extremely lengthy time in the hospital.  She will be doing radiation treatments, hopefully starting within the next week.  After that she will have chemotherapy.  We have not been given a treatment plan.  The cancer doctor, Dr. Davidson, is waiting for all of the results from the lumbar puncture to be complete.  She is waiting for one more molecular test.  She also has not decided on what kind of line Alanna will get.  (Either a central line or a picc line).  The treatment plan will determine which line is best for her.

Also, last Monday Alanna picked up a bacterial infection called abiotrophia.  The doctors were shocked to find this bacteria in Alanna's spinal fluid.  They have never seen it in brain patients, it usually shows up in heart patients.  Abiotrophia is normally spread by mouth.  They have no idea how the infection got to her brain.  However, it is an easy infection to treat and responds well to antibiotics.  It should be cleared out in 7 days, so on this Monday.  It was a scary 24 hours waiting to find out what kind of infection she had, hoping it was not meningitis. If it had been meningitis she would not be able to start treatments until it was cleared 21 days later.

Alanna has scheduled to get whichever line the doctor decides to use this Monday.  At the same time, so they only put her to sleep once, she will have another lumbar puncture to be sure the infection is completely gone.  We are also hoping to get her treatment plan on that day. Update, due to a slight fever Sunday night and the Doctor not yet getting her molecular test back to determine which type of line the procedure has been postponed till Weds, April 11.

While the infection has cleared we have started to see our playful silly girl again.  And are enjoying watching her play and giggle. She has made improvements in walking.  We are all feeling a bit homesick but still know we are in the best possible place for Alanna right now.

God is still blessing us every day and we are still feeling the effects of everyone's prayers and well wishes.  We are looking forward to finding out what will happen next.