A CT scan was performed the afternoon of the 11th and clearly showed a tumor behind Zoe's eye. Because CT scans don't give very detailed images, we were left with little information - but enough information to be incredibly worried. It was a long, sleepless night...
The next morning, Zoe was able to have an MRI test. The results showed a large tumor which is most likely an Optic Glioma. We are told that this type of tumor is generally benign and slow growing. (However, to me, it doesn't make much sense that a "slow-growing" tumor can grow into a large tumor with a maximum time of three years....???) The tumor is now confined only to the optical orbit and still has a bit of space before reaching the optic chiasm, which would then impact the vision in both eyes. The tumor is supposedly beginning to push into the area toward the brain, but we are told that it is unlikely that it will enter that area further. We felt incredibly blessed to hear words like benign and slow-growing...
On Friday, we met with two incredible doctors who explained the following three options...
1. SIT AND WAIT = The idea that what is done is done - the eyesight in the right eye is already gone... We can monitor the supposedly "slow-growing" tumor every three months and then make decisions as we need to.
2. SURGERY = The pediatric neurosurgeon said that surgery would entail removal of the eyeball as well as the optic nerve. Surgery always has its risks... Also, because Zoe's face and her eye socket will grow and change so much over the next several years, a prosthetic eye would need to always be revised. This also carries risks and issues related to the face not growing properly.
3. CHEMOTHERAPY = Although the tumor is benign, chemo is being considered an option to do the following: 1. "Soften" the tumor in an attempt to take pressure off the eyeball and lessen the bulge. 2. Stop the growth of the tumor - chemo will not make the tumor disappear, but can keep it from growing toward the chiasm. 3. If vision is still "available" there is a 1/10 chance that chemo can perhaps restore some vision.
About "available or useful" vision... The Neuro-Opthalmologist said that if someone were to hold a gun to his head and ask if Zoe had ANY vision in her right eye he would say no. All of the tests show that she is blind. However, when he looked directly at the optic nerve, he saw that it was severely damaged but not dead yet! He seemed very surprised at this finding. As soon as he said that the nerve was not yet dead, Sean and I both had a very powerful and direct impression that chemo is the way forward. Nobody wants to submit their child to chemo... it makes me absolutely sick to think of doing this. However, neither of us can deny what we felt... So, unless we receive some other impression or unless other doctors completely disagree with her current diagnosis or the way forward, it looks like Zoe will begin chemo very soon. My gut tells me that although the tumor may have been there for a while, the vision loss has happened very quickly. We want to move forward as soon as possible while there is hope that the optic nerve is still somewhat alive.
Please, please pray that we will be guided in our decisions...
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