Dear all,
I would like to give you an update on Jessica's cancer and scoliosis.
JESSICA'S MRI SCAN:
Last week, Jessie had her 90 minutes long MRI scan and this time she moved a lot so the pictures are not as clear as with the previous MRI scans. I had a phone call from a MRI department nurse today telling me that I have to practice "keeping still" with Jessie whilst watching DVD 45 x 2 minutes with a brake in between. She is not allowed to move at all and if we can acomplish this difficult task by practicing for the next 4 months, they will not give her general anaestetics which of course has plenty of "unpleasant" side effects. She hasn't had general anaestetics for a year now and up until last scan, she was doing very well keeping still.
There is no way I will allow them to give her general anaestetic, she will just have to have regular brakes in between!
JESSICA'S MRI SCAN RESULTS:
Jessie's tumor is stable! As much as I would love for the tumor to be smaller, I so much welcome this good news!
JESSICA'S SCOLIOSIS:
Now the bad news. We had an orthopeadic's appointment today and after seeing Jessica's X-ray pictures, we all clearly agreed that her scoliosis is significantly progressing to worse and from 20 degrees 18 months ago it progressed do 48 degrees!!! 48 degrees? Yes, 48 degrees! What does that mean? That means that under normal circumstances, Jessie would be put on a waiting list for spinal rods operated in and those rods would straighten her spine by about 50% so she would be left with "only about 25degress" which is good and she would have to have a surgery every six months to lengthen those rods as she grows. I said under normal circumstances but with Jessie it's never as easy!
The main concern is what happens with Jessie's tumor if her spine is straightened?
The two consultants I spoke to today think that her tumor might tear up and they are also not sure if stretching the tumor when straightening the spine will cause cord compression and as a result of this paralysis. This is obviously a serious issue to disscuss with neurosurgeon, oncologist and orthopeadic surgeon which will be carried out hopefully over the next 3 months and by then we will see if her scoliosis progressed even more.
There is also a technique for straightening the rods very slowly and also spinal fusion but you really don't want to fuse spine of a six year old as that would prevent from her growing.
Yet again, we might be facing tough times with lots of hospital appointmens, surgeries and missing school and every day activities that a little girl like Jessie should be doing happily with a smile on her face.
For the time being (whilst the surgeons decide on the appropriate course of action) we will have as much fun as possilble like we always have and we will enjoy our well deserved holiday in the Czech Republic commencing as soon as the school finishes. I am also considering sending second opinion requests to the clinics we established contact with over the worrying time when Jessie was diagnosed with cancer once I get computerised x-rays of her spine from Great Ormond street hospital and let's see what their opinions on scoliosis corrections is.
Love from Jessie and Stana xxx
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