Grateful for Miracles

This post is slow in coming, but it's really good and worth the wait. The story begins on Wednesday. Quinton was flying through therapy and making tremendous progress in walking and moving. We were looking forward to him coming home Friday. They had moved the lung biopsy from Thursday to Wednesday. Q had gone to therapy and then his nurse took him down to his CT scan which was scheduled to mark the lung tumors prior to the biopsy. We were surprised to find that he had to be sedated for the marking and CT scan, so they gave him some medicine through his IV, and he drifted off. I went to the waiting room for an approximately 45 minute wait while they marked the lung.

After 10 minutes, they came back and wanted us to go back with them. I knew it wasn't bad because the guy they sent was kind of smiling and had kind of a spring in his step. In this last month, I've become expert in reading the body language of medical personnel. I was in shock for a full 5 minutes when they told us that the lungs were clear. There weren't any more tumors or nodules on them any more. I kept thinking they just weren't looking in the right place or something, but they showed us on the screen the "ghost" of the nodule that had been there. Jeff and I just looked at each other in disbelief and sheer joy.

Quinton was slowly coming out of his sedation. He woke up, and we said, "Hey, guess what. You don't have to have the biopsy. Your lungs are clear." He smiled and nodded and drifted off again. I cried tears of joy. The nurses and doctors were saying, "This is the best thing we've had happen all year," and "This never happens." They were so happy for us. Then, Quinton woke up again and said, "Was I dreaming? I still have to do the operation right?" I said, "No, you weren't dreaming! It's true. No biopsy. No chemo. No radiation. You just get to come home." He smiled again and drifted off. We went through that drill a few more times, took him to his room, and made the plans to come home early. It was awesome that he was coming out of his sedation, so I got to tell him 3 or 4 times the good news:)

We know it was the Lord's will for this time. We are grateful; however, we recognize that others who have had just as much faith and prayer and fasting haven't turned out this way. We know it isn't because of anything we do or are, it is just what the Lord's will is for us. The Lord loves each of us and has a unique plan for everyone. One of the reasons for this outcome is for me to testify that prayers are answered and priesthood and faith have real power. The next day Q's surgeon came to the room and said, "Do you have a direct line to the Guy Upstairs or something?" We said yes...yes he does. And it was through all the people who have prayed and fasted for him that it was possible, so thank you all so much!

Updates

Hi,

Here are a few updates on Quinton's progress. The final pathology for the spinal tumor is as follows: Pilomyxoid Astrocytoma -- a fast growing but fairly benign tumor. On a scale of 1-4, it's a 2. The spinal tumor was completely taken out, so the treatment for it would be to re-scan in 3 months -- probably no chemo or radiation. The doctors are really happy with this. Quinton is the 7th person in the world to have this type of tumor originating from his spine. Lots of people have had these in their brains and a few lesions leaking to the spine, but it's very rare to have the "mother tumor" be in the spine.

The baffling thing is what is in his lungs. The plan is to do the biopsy a week from Thursday, so exactly 2 weeks after the first surgery. All the doctors will be really anxious to find out what it is. We can't determine a treatment until we have a biopsy back.

In the meantime, we have to work with Quinton on learning to walk again. The therapist, in his initial assessment, thinks it will take a couple weeks as an inpatient here to be able to walk and perform daily tasks independently. He is eating from his elaborate "room service menu" which he can order from anytime (Q's friend Rhys was really jealous of this feature). He is doing much better now that he's off his IV medication. He joked around like our real Q today, so we were really pleased to see that.

While we may not be able to take him home for a couple weeks yet, we are really grateful for how well he is doing. Thank you a million times over for all the gifts and well wishes and prayers. We have a deep appreciation for all the support and love which have been poured out. We know your prayers on his behalf have strengthened him and comforted us in this difficult time. We know the Savior's atonement included this emotional and physical pain and acknowledge his gift in our behalf.

Successful surgery!

Do we still have a long road ahead? Yes. But, we took a big chunk out of the load yesterday; in fact, they took a big chunk of tumor out of Quinton's spinal cord. Dr. Riva-Cambrin is a gifted surgeon.

Was it a long day? Yes. But, when it was over it didn't seem so bad. Kind of like how we forget how horrible pregnancy is when it's over. We arrived at the hospital at 6 a.m. and the surgery got over about 5 p.m. We got a phone update every hour and a half, and every time, the word was that he was doing really well.

Were we relieved? Yes. But, we do have a ways to go yet. We felt a lot of relief when Dr. Riva-Cambrin walked into the waiting room. We felt even more relief when he seemed pleased. He was excited that the tumor appeared slightly less cancerous than he thought. He also explained that we can't start jumping up and down for another few days when the full pathology comes back.
Did he get it all? We think so, and Q retained function. Dr. R-C explained that at the very end, one low part of the tumor removal reduced function to 50%, but he was confident that since it never went to Zero, everything should be fine, which it appears to be. Q will have another MRI today to double check everything.
Are we grateful for all the love and support that has been poured out to us? You bet. But, we are humbled by it. It's been said we don't even know all the people who are praying for Q because his story just spreads, and that's pretty awesome. Thank you to those of you who fasted and prayed even when it was difficult for you:)
Is Q doing well now? Yes. But, he is in pain and a little overwhelmed.
Is Q a hero? Yes. He's a champion:) I'm a proud Momma.

Amazing!

We've had an amazing time and have felt so much support. I've been remembering something I heard in conference and just barely found it and was amazed at the similarity of the situation and wanted to share:

Kent F. Richards, in the April 2011 General Conference

Thirteen-year-old Sherrie underwent a 14-hour operation for a tumor on her spinal cord. As she regained consciousness in the intensive care unit, she said: “Daddy, Aunt Cheryl is here, … and … Grandpa Norman … and Grandma Brown … are here. And Daddy, who is that standing beside you? … He looks like you, only taller. … He says he’s your brother, Jimmy.” Her uncle Jimmy had died at age 13 of cystic fibrosis.

“For nearly an hour, Sherrie … described her visitors, all deceased family members. Exhausted, she then fell asleep.”

Later she told her father, “Daddy, all of the children here in the intensive care unit have angels helping them.” ²⁰

To all of us the Savior said:

“Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.

“Fear not, little children, for you are mine. …

“Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd.” ²¹

A big thanks to everyone

Thank you to all those who have helped and participated with Quinton's bucket list. It's been a lot of good memory-making. We started off with bowling, and a big thanks to Tori who rounded up some of Q's friends from school and reserved lanes. Thanks to the Bracks and the Hoovas for coming. Next came Tucanos, and the Vaitohis, my parents, Lisa, Annie, & DJ. The dinner was superb, and I left feeling more than uncomfortably full:) Then, today was 7 Peaks. Thanks to Tori who snagged us a reservation for a cabana, which was a life-saver. My brother Kent and sister Michelle came with their families and the Petersons and Hoovers came to help us enjoy it!
The weather was to die for, and we got a few sunburns but had a really great day.

Thank Heavens!

Thank heavens...the brain scan came out clean.
Thank heavens...Q has such a great support system of loving wonderful people ready and willing to give service and thoughtful gifts.
Thank heavens...two oncologists are ready to do whatever it takes to treat this rare and scary disease.
Thank heavens...a whole team of skilled doctors, nurses, and surgeons are fighting this battle with us.
Thank heavens...Q doesn't realize all of what's ahead of him.
Thank heavens...Q is such a strong and loving spirit who was sent to humble parents.
Nothing else changed too much yesterday. The surgery is still on, and the plan is still to treat the spinal tumor first. Love ya!

Quinton's Bucket List

Q and Kira in the buggy at Thanksgiving Point last Friday.

Today we have an MRI of Q's brain. Dr. Riva-Cambrin wanted to make sure he wasn't missing something. Then at 2, we meet with an Oncologist, Dr. Bergers, and Dr. Riva-Cambrin together. It looks like radiation after the spinal surgery is a pretty good bet.

We've had an outpouring of love and kind offers from people who want to help and do something. We prodded Q to come up with a list of things he'd like to do before his surgery, and maybe people can help us with ideas on how to make these cool or easy. And maybe friends or family can plan to come on some of these outings.

• Bowling -- Thursday afternoon
  


• Eating at Tucanos -- Thursday evening



• 7 Peaks Waterpark -- Friday ( I had to laugh because going down a slide on his back doesn't sound too great, but they have a lot of innertube rides)
  


• Hiking -- Saturday (Maybe Bridal Veil Falls)



• Biking -- Saturday (Maybe we could just keep going out the canyon and ride out in Midway or something?)



• Golfing -- Monday



• Shooting -- Monday



• Fishing -- Tuesday (Maybe at Payson Lakes?)