Just Trying to Keep Up

The results are coming in fast and furious and I am trying to keep you abreast of the results as best I can as I try to keep myself rested, fed and in contact with my kids.  Yesterday was a flurry of activity for Phil and literally, just as I posted my last update more tests began and more news came in.  That's just the way it is right now during this course in his care.


His MRI results came in during the afternoon and were the best yet concerning his brain.  The left frontal area shows scarring only and all traces of edema are gone, the right brain appears totally normal and the deep areas which were of most concern are almost normal.  Praise God!  


Lest we be too triumphal in our celebrating, there are new areas of concern in the sinuses, particularly in the sphenoid on the left side.  They show mucosal thickening and swelling although they don't look anything like before with the mucor infection.   Radiographically they look like routine sinusitis but both Dr.'s Mansfield and Kossman are quick to point out that there is no way to tell without a biopsy of the tissue.  Given Phil's history and his neutropenic sepsis they want to move quickly to determine what we are dealing with.  This means surgery - which started at 8:30 this morning (and is ongoing as I write).  Thankfully, the left orbit/eye area looks good on the MRI and probably represents inflammation only.  


A specialized CT scan was done late yesterday afternoon to prepare for surgery under stealth guidance with the Zen master Dr. Mansfield.  He came by and talked us through the procedure and exuded his usual calming influence.  Phil will receive platelets prior to and after surgery to minimize bleeding and the surgery should take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on what is found.  The best case scenario is to go in and clean all the infection out, take biopsies and find the gross appearance to be consistent with routine bacterial sinusistis.  Worst case scenario finds the gross appearance to resemble what he saw before with the signs of mucor.  


Based on a quick look Dr. Mansfield took at the bedside last night he hopes to find the former.  He believes with the MRI showing regression of the mucor everywhere else it is unlikely to have it starting in a new location. But based on the course of this disease so far we will wait and see what the cultures tell us.  We know enough by now not to count our chickens until they hatch.  Along with Dr. Kossman and Dr. Mansfield we are being aggressive and getting results before we exhale.  We are praying and hopeful but we want those solid answers too so we know without a doubt what we are dealing with.  We've had enough surprises for a lifetime.  


Stay tuned....