Dr. Beck gives report to us:
Dr. Beck met Jase and me in the surgery waiting area and told us what she found. The tumor was still a large mass, approximately 2 inches by 4-5 inches in size. However, it was all 'necrotic' or dead, so it was a gelatinous blob when she took it out. It came out in one large piece and then broke into three when she put it on the tray!
The FANTASTIC news is that Dr. Beck said she feels confident that all the margins are good. There was one area in the back of the sinus that looked a bit strange, so she took that whole piece out and then took more for a clean margin.
Blessings just for today:
- Only two teeth needed to be removed, not the 'standard' three.
- The hole Dr. Beck had to make in the hard palate was smaller than she anticipated (put your index finger and thumb together to make an 'O', that's about how big--bigger than a quarter, but smaller than a half-dollar coin).
- The soft palate and cribriform plate were not involved at all.
- Dr. Beck was able to get up to where she needed without making one cut on the outward surface of Shayla's face.
- Shayla was very alert coming out of anesthesia and was talking with us a lot for all she had just been through. I took a couple pictures and she told me I was mean for doing so. I told her it was just to remember how far down she had been. It will help all of us remember how far our Father in Heaven has brought us up and out!
- Dr. Beck did not need to remove the orbital ridge, just the floor of the orbit as a margin. Shayla's eye should remain in the socket as beautifully as ever!
- Our other children were well cared-for by a sweet angel who volunteered her day to take care of them so Jase and I could be with Shayla. Thank you Tiffany!
- Shayla's pain is being watched vigilantly by the doctors and nurses in the PICU
- Another angel brought dinner in to my children tonight as many other angels have done over the past months. Thank you to all!
Shayla has an incision on her abdomen about 7 inches long where Dr. Beck took skin to do the graft in her sinus cavity. That will heal quite nicely.
Tonight Shayla will hopefully rest peacefully, likewise the rest of us, we are all going to need it for the next few days ahead! We are blessed. We live close to excellent doctors and nurses and Shayla is doing wel. The blessings are immeasurable!
I know there is more to tell you, but my eyes are heavy now and my mind just isn't staying focused, so for now adieu.
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