Lump-Free!

Phoenix's surgery is complete and he's doing fantastic. 

We woke up at 5AM and packed everything up and went to the day surgery clinic. The awesome guy at the front desk gave all four of Phoenix's stuffed animals ID brace

lets complete with their names. We waited in the reception area for a bit and then were transfered into a different waiting area where nurses were checking blood pressures and anesthesiologists were consulting with patients. I was a bit chilly - maybe from the temperature, maybe from nerves - and a nurse asked if I was cold. I told her I'm fine, that I'm probably just nervous. Then, I overheard another mother tell her husband, "She's nervous, we've done this so many times. The doctor has done 4 of our other kids." Her child was getting tubes. Now, I would be nervous about any surgery but a cervical lymph node biopsy is a bit more worrisome - not really for the surgery per say, but the outcome. 

So, after all the general tests were preformed, they took Phoenix back - screaming his head off. We sat in the waiting room for about 45 minutes when the doctor came out and talked to us. He told us that everything went great. The lumps were right near the nerve that runs from your neck to your shoulder and controls the up/down shoulder movement. So, although it was a bit tricky to work around, they were able to remove all the lumps. They were lymph nodes unfortunately, two were larger (¾" in diameter each) and then there were a "bunch" of smaller ones. Apparently the nurses commented saying the the doctor rarely does biopsies on kids this little but, once Phoenix was open, and they saw the lumps, they understood why. 

There was really nothing that he could tell us about what he thought they could be. He wouldn't even guess. The samples are being sent to two different labs and are being tested for everything under the sun. While, infection related results could be back as soon as tomorrow, the test that takes the longest is the final (and most accurate) cancer test. We were told we should get periodic updates from the doctors nurse over the next week, as the tests come in. From what I understand though, most benign masses are diagnosed at the time of surgery. There are still a lot of other things it could be, aside from cancer of course.

The wound is covered but the incision is about an inch I believe - maybe 2? And he has one continuous stitch which is being removed next Friday. The wound has to stay covered for 48 hours.

When he woke up, we got to go back and see him. He was not happy. With an IV, immobilized arm, bandage on his neck, swollen face in pain and in a strange place - he was freaking out. I think the nurses just wanted to get him out of there - they knew he'd be more comfortable at home. Plus, he was very loud.

So, they pumped him full of pain meds, gave him a popsicle and a bit of juice and sent us on our way. 

Phoenix is doing really well at home. Besides being a bit puffy and having marker and sticky marks from tape all over his shoulder and chest - he is doing fantastic. He's running around and acting like normal. I think the pain meds help, though he's pretty tired and won't take a nap. He sounds awful too - really raspy from the breathing tube. I really want to see the incision and I'm super excited to feel it with no lumps! I am just so happy they were able to take all the lumps out! Now we just have to wait for results.