It has shrunk!

Between Monday afternoon and yesterday morning I can't tell you how many times I have reread the very short email from the hospital saying that " the MRI looked good, perhaps even better." We had prayed for stability and that is what it was saying "perhaps even better".  I was misreading surely, it couldn't have been that effective in just two months? Could it?

Well I am thrilled to report that I saw a significant change with my own eyes when we were shown the scans. We have looked at a lot of MRI scans in the past four years, we are no expects, it is still a series of grey and white areas and requires some medical expert interpretation.  However, when we compared the end of September scan with this most recent one, I could see that the tumor has pulled away from the area that is surrounding it (forgive the lack of technical detail here). Moreover, when we compared the two images when contrast was added, the earlier scan showed a very "white" tumor - indicating that it had taken up all the dye and is very active, the later scan had only patches of white. Flabbergasted but extremely pleased. The doctor then went onto show the different measurements and here again the data showed shrinkage. But at that point, we didn't care, we could visually see the change. We are so pleased that this new medicaton has had a significant effect in two months. We will continue to take the medication for up to a year (possibly two). There will be another MRI at the beginning of February.

Isabella was positively beaming at the end of school as she told her teacher and some friends about the news. "It is such a good day, I got this news, it is my best friend's birthday, my cousin's birthday AND my grandparents are arriving!" In fact we rushed home to make cupcakes (in preparation for this afternoon's cupcake wars at school!) and welcome the Roman grandparents. They walked in as Matilde and I rushed off to the latest Nutcracker performance. We are pretty busy with performances and concerts and parties at the moment. We are looking forward to slowing down over the Christmas period and spending time with i nonni. I might update the blog soon with some photographic evidence. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, with very best wishes to you all for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year,
Emma & Gregorio. xxx