Just as they were pushing in her anesthesia for 14 hour surgery.
Moxie - definition - energy, pep, courage, determination, know-how
River with her make a wish key - it is also special because it looks like the key on Indian in the Cupboard. We are currently reading #5 of the series.
Left: Surgeon that has done her biopsy, embolization and dye markers
Just to the right of him - Anesthesiologist
River was under anesthesia for 14 hours - One and a half hours to place dye in the right lung where one of the tiny spots of cancer was - surgeon said it was deep and so small she couldn't feel it. She was so glad they had pre-marked the spot. He also marked the vein in the liver that needed to feed the part of liver that was saved.
They also had to place numerous IVs - including one in her neck that goes directly into the jugular. River's port was also removed - it was right in the area they needed to work on.
The blue is cancer - where the tumors were. 6 nodules were also removed from her right lung.
The yellow is what came out. The tumor furthest down was removed first and then the rest was taken out as a big chunk - lobes 5, 6 and 1 were saved. The vein to them is not excellent - but it is there :)
The hepatic vein was also an unknown if it was able to be saved - the cancer was surrounding it. She was able to shave off bit by bit and had 2 mm before the vein.
Notice the blue and yellow is quite a ways out of the border of the liver - the cancer had grown through the diaphragm and into the lower right and mid right lung lobes. Surgeon also removed the diaphragm on her right side along with the pherenic nerve and the lower parts of her right lung.
This is a lot to ask a body! Friday Drs and those checking on her have been amazed that her breathing tube is out! They have said that a lot of kids don't really breathe well after surgery because it hurts too much. This is amazing that without the diaphragm muscle on that right side and with all the lung work she is breathing okay on her own - with oxygen, but without the breathing tube.
It is a dance between pain and pain meds. To give her enough so she is comfortable would be too much meds for her body and she would stop breathing. To breathe is more important than being comfortable. -
River looks like a spaghetti bowl with tubes and ivs and monitors....
She has 5 draining tubes - 2 for the lungs, 1 for her stomach and 2 more for the abdomen. She has a PCA - a machine where she pushes a button every time she feels like she needs more pain meds. It delivers a constant low dose and also when she pushes the button - it will only deliver it after 10 minutes have passed after the last dose, but a good gauge of how her pain is being managed as to how many times she is pushing the button.
How firm a Foundation kept running through my head as she was in surgery
Whistling before surgery - she had no fear.
Silver painted one hand - Summer the other
The morning before surgery - River wanted to play Clue Circus again! We played it the night before and she wanted to get one more game in before surgery! She loves mystery and trying to figure out the clues!
Diagram surgeon drew before surgery - where 6 lung nodules are and where tumors are and part she wanted to save.
River's diagram :) Lungs and Liver Before and Now
Patrick McManus
"Poof no Eyebrows"
and "Grasshopper Trap"
Fitted for hearing aids
River with her audiologist
I told her she is probably the first person in the history of ever to play a glockenspiel with a key and a mallet in her mouth!!
Glorious Day Headed into hopsital
We went to the Make-A-Wish Building the night before admit to hospital.
With stars from wish kids - each star is a wish granted.
