Friday, August 30th
We had an early start to another long and emotional day. We were out of the house and on the road by 6:05am. Avery was reluctant to get out of bed... not sure if it was the early hour or her fear of going to the hospital. It may have been a little of both! When we arrived, I had to pry her out of the car. I carried her the entire way to the imaging department(and then again to the surgical floor) as she held on for dear life.
We had been talking and preparing for today's appointment trying to reassure her that it was just "pictures", and we would be going back home today. It didn't seem to relieve any of her fears. In her defense though, the last time we "just went in for pictures", we didn't come home for 11 days. We had to wrestle her to get her weight and pulse ox... had I have known that I would be getting weighed as well, I might have skipped dessert last night:)
We were moved to a day surgery room and waited. Shon arrived shortly after, and we spent a couple of hours watching YouTube videos and playing. Her fear and anxiety seemed to be temporarily relieved, although she still never left my lap. When it was time for the MRI, I carried her down to the imaging floor, and once again had to leave my baby in the arms of stranger as she was fighting and screaming for me. I'm not sure either of us will ever quite get over that.
After a couple of hours, she was moved back into the room we started in. She arrived back upset and crying just like we left her. We let her sleep off the anesthesia before heading home shortly after 3. As we were walking to the car, I received a call from our oncology Nurse Practitioner. We had asked to be called today with the MRI results regardless if it was good or bad news. We couldn't stand to have the unknown hang over our heads through the long weekend. Unfortunately, the results were not what we had hoped for. The MRI indicated that the cancer has invaded Avery's spine. We will learn more about the extent and the results of the lumbar puncture next week when we meet with the Neuro-oncology team.
On the way home, we stopped by Target(for glitter glue), McDonald's(for breakfast/lunch/dinner) and Starbucks(for a "kid's coffee"). We will spend the weekend enjoying time as a family and having as much fun as possible with our girls. We will save the worry, pain, and hard decisions for next week.
I really don’t know your beautiful Avery...but I’ve been praying for her because I know & love Deborah. I was also praying because I’m a Mom & a “Mimi” & I can only imagine how much I would yearn for everyone to pray! Reading this latest news...I’m in tears💔. I pray you feel our hearts along side your’s & all of our prayers mingling into your prayers as they go to The Father!🙏🏻 We know how much He loves His little ones...so I’m trusting that He’s watching over His (& your) Avery!✝️
Praying for the Richey family and for complete healing for sweet Avery. God restore her, remove all evidence of cancer, and heal her surgical wounds. 🙏🏻
Praying for Avery each day! ! ! ! She's a very beautiful girl!! ! ! May God Richly Bless each and everyone in the Richey family !! ! ! !
This just breaks my heart and soul! ! ! ! ! ! Don't know how you as parents keep going on. I know you must be Christians and have so much faith. I've been praying since I first read about this. May God Bless each one of you. She is a beautiful girl! ! ! ! ! ! !
Praying for your darlung,brave girl and your entire family.