Monday's Scan

Today's scan was uneventful, which is good. The CVR (ratio of size of baby to size of mass) was 1.2, down from 1.3 Thursday, and 1.5 when we were first diagnosed. It seems to me like the doctors keep being very careful to not get our hopes up, but we are nonetheless relieved when they go down, however incrementally, rather than going up! The other indicators looked the same as Thursday.

All parties have agreed to do a virtual consultation with the docs in Cincinnati rather than going there this week. We're grateful for less logistical upheaval in our lives.

We also met with the neonatologist, which gave me a big fat headache. He was kind, informative, and helpful, but he talked long enough that I had to blink extra times to keep my depth perception accurate. Most of it was what we already knew, but it's always reassuring to have Dr. A tell you that Dr. O, Dr. S, Dr. M, and The Internet are telling you the truth.

While he informed us about all the "worst case scenario" possibilities, he also stressed that mostly likely Thor will not need the surgery until after birth and that he will grow to be completely normal. I asked if he would be able to keep up with his big brother, and his answer was "absolutely." That is what I needed to hear.

The outcome of Thor's life depends a great deal on what happens in the next 4 to 8 weeks. The tumor could suddenly begin growing during this time, causing the need for early, risky intervention. Once we hit the growth plateau, we can breathe a sigh of releif and have fewer office visits!

We're looking forward to the day that we can just go in for scans and then go home, "wham, bam, thank you ultrasound tech," but it looks like we still have several weeks before that can happen. We keep meeting more and more people who are involved in our case somehow. Each scan has been attached to further consulation with various people. I have to bring food with me to our appointments so I don't end up puking on anyone. We've met 3 ultrasound techs, 3 high risk obstetric doctors, 3 schedulers, 2 nurses, a social worker, a genetic counselor (not for genetic counseling, though), and a neonatologist. We still have to get an MRI, meet with the pediatric surgeon, do a virtual consultation with the Cincinnati docs, tour the NICU, schedule a regular "office visit" and meet with the other 4 high risk OB docs.

But we are grateful. Every single person has been kind, helpful, and patient with us. We have never felt the slightest bit rushed; it's as if we're their only patient and their primary concern. It has been truly a blessing.

Thanks for your continued prayers!