Record Broken…7 Days!

7 Total Days spent at UCLA Medical Center, which is a new record for us 🤣 

While admitted Hutton’s numbers had been slowly improving. Unfortunately, since we were admitted to the hospital we missed our appointment with Hutton’s surgeon. Her team was trying to arrange for her surgeon to come to the hospital to meet with us but due to the fires and scheduling, they just couldn’t make that happen. Luckily her team of doctors were able to work things out and her PET Scan which was scheduled for next week, they were able to get done while she was admitted. 

We were supposed to also roll into a 5-day chemo session (which would have put us in the hospital for 12 days), but Hutton’s numbers were still too low. So, they sent us home for the weekend!! We will have 2 days home before heading back to hopefully meet with her surgeon, get labs, and start her 5-day chemo session. Which should be the last round of chemo until her surgery at the end of the month. We are praying to be able to keep this surgery date 🙏

Being in the hospital for that long definitely started to take its toll on Hutton (and Steph). I made a couple of “re-supply” trips as we did not know how long we would be there in total and we initially only grabbed a few day’s worth. We had forgotten to grab her homework, which while we were there Hutton was super excited about. But when we got home today she told me, “Dad, can I tell you a secret…I was getting so bored in the hospital I kind of wish I had my homework to do.” Then she sat down and started doing some of it 🤣

Now for some good news, and not-so-good news. 

Good News: Hutton’s MRI and PET Scan showed that her tumor had significantly shrunk in size, and they could no longer detect the small malignant pieces in her lungs!!!! The official results read, “Favorable Reaction to Treatment”. All praises and glory go to God!! 

Not So Good News: We spoke to one of the doctors on her surgery team on the phone. Apparently the surgery is a pretty intense one. Without going into all the small details, they are confident that they can remove all the tumor/cancer without permanently impacting her ability to walk, but because of the location in her hip, it is quite a long and difficult surgery to perform, as well as a long and difficult recovery which will require a few weeks in the hospital post-surgery, no walking, and what can be some difficult and painful physical therapy.

So please keep praying hard!! We still have a few difficult mountains ahead to climb, but with your continued love, support, and prayers, and by the grace of God, we will reach the top!