On to the next phase ...

And so today marks the start of the next phase in Emmah's journey to recovery ... radiation therapy.

Although she will actually spend more time riding in a car and sitting in the waiting room (actual radiation treatments run approx 20 min or so), this therapy packs a pretty big punch. The areas being treated are the tumor bed as it appeared before resection (plus a 2 cm margin) as well as a small area of her neck where there is still an enlarged lymph node. Unfortunately, some other body parts will be in the line of fire and will be forced to take some of the brunt of the treatment as well.

Her poor left kidney, which is finally back to its normal self after being pushed around by the tumor and after being a bit traumatized by the surgery, will likely end this treatment as a shadow of its former healthy self. Since neuroblastoma tumors generally arise from the adrenal gland, which is in close proximity to the kidney, the kidney seems to inevitably fall within the field of radiation. I have heard of some children who end up losing their whole kidney, so in comparison, losing only some of the kidney does not seem as bad. Still, you have to feel bad for that poor kidney of hers ... it has held up so well for her and we are forced to beat it back down once again.

Also, since the main tumor resided in her abdomen, much of the radiation will be focused there, which may result in some more nausea and loss of appetite (which of course only makes sense because she has reached a point where she is feeling well and eating with relative gusto). Hopefully it will not be too bad for her ... the word from the experts is that this should be a walk in the park compared to the chemo and stem cell transplant experience.

Will post updates as we move along ... radiation lasts for 12 business days, so this will take us through the 11th of May. Please pray for strength for Emmah (and the rest of us) and picture her having the wonderful summer that she missed out on last year. Thanks to everyone for your support ... it means the world to us! I have 2 packages of and several loose "Thank You" cards that I have been carrying around for months with the intent to write something a little more personal ... one day I will actually get them mailed, even though any words I would write could not possible capture just how thankful and appreciative we are.