All scans, work ups, NYC postponed

The timing of Charlotte’s fever yesterday was a God send. We got to pediatric sedation to begin prepping for 2 of her 3 scans early yesterday morning. She had been feeling just fine and no fever, although the night before her scans Brian and I were concerned she had contracted a virus because the palms of her hands, soles of her feet and mouth had little blisters. The top of her lip and the inside of her mouth had sores and blisters. We went in for the appointment and let them know it looks like she had an infection that appeared like this childhood virus called Hand Foot and Mouth disease. The doctors were evaluating whether we would be able to proceed as planned when vitals revealed a low grade fever. They monitored her and checked again about 15 minutes later and it was higher. Duke decided to postpone into next week.  If her fever would have begun an hour or more later, which causes elevated heart rates and potentially blood pressure issues, it may not have been as safe to sedate her but also they may have continued that days agenda which also included her MIBG injection for the following days scan. That injection is radioactive tracer. If they would have given her that tracer and then NOT been able to scan her, that would have been more toxicity for her. Also, HFM disease is highly contagious and they wouldn’t want someone with an active infection using the machines for contamination issues. So, we will wait and reschedule and rest and get our girl all better.

It’s amazing how tough she is, in part, because of all she’s been through. The doctor notes that she had quite a lot of mouth blisters which could be quite painful and yet she hardly complained. She was playful and eating and carrying on as usual. After the mucositis (mouth esophageal sores) she would get from chemo, this must be a walk in the park for her. Somewhere deep inside, her body remembers.

Scans next Wed and Thursday with the plan to also push her NYC trip off until the week following next. For now, keep those prayers going that our girl will keep going, keep moving, leaving this cancer behind.