Surgery or No Surgery?

On Wednesday Irey had to have a MRI to check on her CCAM (cysts in her lungs). We have been checking on it every couples months since she was born. She has to be sedated because it would be impossible for her to hold still to get a image. The last time we had to sedate her she didn't have a good reaction to the medicine. It was like someone had set her on fire and she was squirming and crying for two hours until it wore off. It was the worst experience ever! This time it was a lot better. They gave her different sedation that she took to so much better. She cried and screamed (not that I balme her) when they were trying to find a vein for a IV, it was so sad. She cried until the sedation kicked in and then she fell into a deep peaceful sleep!

She had her favorite blanket while she went in. If I couldn't be there I am gald her blanket could!

Afterward they told me not to let her sleep because she wouldn't sleep at night. So I went to the Blackwell's so Brianna and Brielle could help me keep her awake! She was so out of it. All she would do was cuddle everyone and lay there all glazed over. It was actually really cute!

Hard decisions to make

Today we went and met with Dr. Downey, Irelyn's pediatric surgeon. We were trying to make a decision if we wanted to remove the cysts. The problem with CCAM is that it is a uncommon birth defect so there is no guidelines as to what to do. There are lots of groups of Doctors with different opinions and different theory's. All of it can be so overwhelming.

The first problem with CCAM is if the cysts are large enough they can become infected or later in life become cancer. If the cysts are small enough they virtually cause no issues and sometimes can even go away. This has not been Irey's case and they definitely have not gone away.

Another problem is that sometimes (very rarely) what Doctors think is CCAM is misdiagnosed and is really a rare tumor, Pleuro Pulmonary Blastoma, there is no way to tell the difference between the two until the tumor becomes solid. It too starts out as a cluster of cysts like CCAM but as it worsens it will harden. When the tumor looks like cysts is has a 80% cure rate but when it become solid it has a 40% cure rate, so you would want to take care of it before it hardens. But no matter what the result, it isn't good so that is why we have come to the conclusion to take out the cysts.

I out lined the lungs and cysts so it could be seem more clearly. This was the MRI taken on Wednesday.

It's not easy to make these kinds of decisions. As a mom I feel an overwhelming amount of pressure to make the best choice for my little Irey. I have been stressing these past few months, praying to make the best decision for Irey. Today after talking to Dr. Downey it was clear that this would be the best option. I feel really at peace with our decision. Although I know this will be best for our little girl it still is scary to think of her tiny body being operated on. Makes me want to cry thinking about it, I am going to have to buck up!

What happens with her operation?

When they operate they will make three small holes underneath her right armpit. They will collapse the right lung that they will be operating on and she will be breathing off her left lung alone (little people can do this easier then adults, so I am told). They will go in and remove the entire lower part of her right lung (where the cysts are, of course) and then staple it back up. Dr. Downey says that this is a strait forward surgery and will be fairly simple. If all goes well she will be at the hospital for three days and if there is any complications, like her lung leaking, she will be there about 5 days. So worst case scenario, isn't that bad. Of course there are other things that could go really wrong with any surgery, such as infection. But the risk is extremely low.

Looking at this bubbly and animated little girl you would never know what is going on inside. The very thought that it could be a life threatening tumor scares me more then my words could express. I am so grateful to the people who found this and have helped us to make her 100%. Irelyn, since day one has been blessed with great physical strength. Heavenly Father was so mindful of her and what she would have to face and he made her just right so she can face anything. I am already so proud of this beautiful little girl. She is strong and such a sweet little bug, she is such a ray of sunshine. She always wears a smile even on crazy days like yesterday. I know Irey will do great in surgery. Like I said, she is one strong kid.