Insignificant Wranglings

Tropical storm Kay has come and gone… we think. Actually, we’re not really sure- it wasn’t much of a storm to speak of. Rowan’s first treatment got pushed back to Wednesday thanks to the state of (non)-emergency declaration, so we’re spending a day hotel bound in Miami. Chances are we’ll take a trip out to Walmart to buy a board game or something later today. No need to worry.

Rowan has really got walking down- this morning she did lap after lap around the breakfast area. Some of the other patrons found this amusing (“oh, what a cute baby”). Some found this annoying (“why don’t her parents put a leash on her”). I’m finding it quite easy to determine type A from B.

On a side note, we’re a big fan of these products, though we’re still debating between the subtle “I’m making cancer my bitch” and the more direct “fuck cancer” as the more appropriate onesie. These are the decisions that help pass a rainy day.

With the help of some new friends (Marley and Henry), Rowan celebrated her first B-Day. The highlight of the party was the cake. It went something like this:

Rowan inspects the cake

Rowan tastes the cake

Rowan approves of the cake

Rowan takes a minute to consider whether the professionalization of Olympic sports should detract from Phelp’s remarkable performance at the 2008 summer games

Rowan enjoys her cake

Rowan ponders what she hath wrought

Not Pictured: the impending sugar rush which kept us partying until 9:45 that night.

Change in plans: pediatric oncology had to reschedule Rowan’s appointment until Monday morning, so we’re back in Riverview for a few days. She is in an absolutely fabulous mood- laughing, playing, walking. We’ll try to put up some video or something this weekend. Although we’re anxious to begin treatment, we’re happy to have a few more days with her while she’s healthy and active.

Thanks again to everyone for the words and wishes- we appreciate it! Mary Ann: I am at USF teaching rhetoric and writing for the English department. While I’m sure Doc would be proud, he’d also probably complain about how little English profs get paid!

Good news: Rowan’s right eye is completely clear. And Dr. Murray assures us that even if a tumor does appear, he’ll catch it early enough that it will never interrupt her vision.

The bad news is as bad as we were expecting- which in this case is good. Her left eye will have to be removed. She will undergo chemotheraphy for the next three months, then they will remove the eye. The chemo isolates the tumor and makes it easier and safer to remove. It also is a proactive way of ensuring that the cancer does not spread.

Today Rowan will undergo minor surgery to insert a port for chemo. She’s also getting a lumbar puncture and bone marrow treatment (either today or Friday- they tend to hit you with a lot of information at once at these places).

We will be in Miami until Saturday. The best news at this point is: Dr. Murray has a 99% survival rate. We are in good hands.

We’ve just seen a specialist in Miami- Dr. Murray. He is the best in the world at treating this kind of cancer. He originally planned on operating Friday, but after some preliminary tests has decided to examine/operate on Rowan tomorrow. We are in the best hands we could be in. Murray has the best survival rate in the world.

Tomorrow we will definitively learn whether the cancer has moved beyond the retina to the optic nerve. As it stands, Rowan will likely undergo 6 months of targeted chemotherapy regardless of whether we can save the eye. Murray believes her right eye is clear– this is the best news we’ve received all day.

Currently, we’re waiting to meet his team. We’ll stay in Miami tonight and probably tomorrow. Rowan’s appointment is for 6:00a.m. tomorrow. Thank you to all of you who have sent your wishes. Rowan is still in good spirits (although she has had it with waiting for medical experts!). She learned to walk Friday, and is certainly enjoying her newfound mobility.

For those who have not heard, our lives changed drastically yesterday. We unfortunately learned that Rowan has Retinoblastoma, a very rare but aggressive form of eye cancer. To give you an idea of how trying yesterday was: we were exceedingly relieved to learn that Rowan will only loose her left eye.

We’ll be traveling to Miami to see an uber-specialist Monday morning (we leave Sunday night). Rowan’s CT and MRI revealed that the tumors are 1) only in her left eye (her right eye seems perfect) and 2) are completely contained within the eye (so the cancer has not yet spread to her bone or muscle- this is extremely good). The doctor will likely prescribe a series of chemo to reduce the size of the tumor before deciding whether to remove the eye. Given the risks of chemo (including facial deformation), Meg and I are in favor of removing the eye immediately rather than attempting to save it. The risks outweigh the rewards.

The good news is that Rowan is feeling fine- she’s been without sight in her eye for at least a week now and shows no signs of missing it. She learned how to walk yesterday at the eye specialists. Other good points: she can save half off contact lenses, cannot be drafted, and can always go as a pirate for Halloween (see, in my family, we deal with humor…).