MRI

My cell phone rang last Friday morning. My phone doesn’t ring much, as I communicate with most people in my life via text or email. For a moment, I looked in shock at the 813 prefix, a million thoughts careening through my mind, knowing that the news I was about to hear would either rocket me over the moon or plummet me into the depths of despair. No tumour. Tumour.

Life seems to be hurtling past at a great velocity. Days and weeks blur and blend together, leaving me wondering, really, where does the time go?

We’ve now just about reached the first anniversary of Gavin’s return to wellness. I hesitate to use the expression “wonder drug,” but Gav’s medication has been life-altering for us. He hasn’t had a visit to the ER since last January. Going back over old posts, I see that February of last year was horrendous. Below is Bean’s report card from December of this school year. He went from missing over 20 days of school in the first term of 2014, to missing none in 2015. None!

Today is our D-day anniversary. Four years since the words, “Gavin has a brain tumour,” utterly exploded our world into thousands of pieces. Four long years of putting those little pieces back together in a way that makes sense, although nothing has ever been the same, nor will it ever be.

I learned yesterday that Monday’s MRI was clear!

Our clinic appointment yesterday was routine. I could see by the way that the fellow came in and started chatting casually that she didn’t have any major news for me - I assume if there was something dire to be shared that there would be some sort of observed protocol, not “Hi, how are you guys today?” But prior to her entrance I allowed those fearful thoughts a moment’s notice and found myself shaking and on the verge of vomiting. Thankfully, my mother was there to keep it together with Gavin and kept him busy with colouring.

First things first. After a very difficult day of blood, sweat and tears, we got Gavin’s scans done and the word has trickled down that they are CLEAR. After weeks of crushing anxiety and worry, I feel feather-light to know, with absolute certainty, that everything is fine, fine, fine.

Getting these scans done was a bit of a feat.

Last week I called MRI to confer with them about the “pneumonia situation.” I tried to dance around the issue by calling it a lung infection. The nurse I spoke with rather sharply asked, “Do you mean he’s got pneumonia?” Sigh. Yup. When I admitted that an x-ray had revealed pneumonia, the nurse told me in no uncertain terms that the anaesthetist would not agree to sedate him. But when I got teary and explained that our appointment was over a month overdue, she relented and made a brilliant suggestion. “Is he old enough, do you think, to try going into the machine unsedated?”

The results are in and Gavin’s MRI from today looks great. We are busy celebrating at home while Gavin has a well-deserved rest after a busy day.

As ever, many thanks to our family and friends for your never-ending support and love. We feel incredibly lucky tonight!

You would too if you had been for two MRIs in one week. My faithful readers may remember that I’ve got a wee genetic mutation that apparently disposes one to pediatric malignant CNS tumours. Take note, though, of the word pediatric. No one can tell me for sure if a brain tumour is going to pop up somewhere in my future, but I’ve been told it’s very, very doubtful. There does exist a possibility, however, of developing benign nerve sheath tumours called schwannomas. The possibility is also quite small, but is there.

Once again, the clouds of scanxiety roll away and we are left content with the knowledge that Gavin’s scan has come back clear. NED. So we wait for another three months to pass and then return to MRI.

Bean was a star this morning, no complaints on the lack of breakfast and quite agreeable in going to MRI at 7:00. He became a little bit quiet as we chatted with the team about his various concerns. He then got quite upset as we had to hold the mask to his face until he fell asleep, but luckily was out fairly quickly.