news from chicago: Surgery

I wrote this email on Friday morning when we came home from the hospital. I wanted to get the good news out there first and foremost before even posting about yesterday.

Good Morning Everyone! GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First and foremost, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! You can say what you want, but I am a firm believer that the outcome today for Cillian was due to the magnificent and beautiful power of prayer. Every positive thought, feeling and hope - every concentration of focused request you sent to Cillian today helped him through this. Yes, I have the other foot firmly grounded in science and the brilliant minds of our medically trained surgeons but there was something yesterday that was clearly at work too. And our family is very familiar with that source of strength which surrounded us. So, please, again, thank you. Thank you for your time, concentration and effortful love.

When Dr. Alden (the neuro) came out early, Doug and I both leapt up from our chairs because we knew it was good news. When he told us, I think Doug must have grabbed his hand to shake it two or three times. We both just kept saying thank you over and again. Then in an hour or so, Dr. Rastatter came out (ENT) and I said to him - We had every family member and Irish Catholic and honorary member of the Church in New York (and NC, LACA, FL, IL) praying for you. He laughed and said "well it couldn't have gone any better so thank you. I'm a part of an Irish Catholic family too so I know what that's like. That's great."

So, the cyst and drain went right up to the nasal bone but no further. The ENT said the cyst was "nasty and huge" and they have sent it off to pathology. There had actually always been a bump on Cillian's nose and we found out today that the bump? It was the cyst pushing against his nose. That's how big it was. He said that everything they needed to do today was done and he is pretty certain that all of the cyst was removed. He did clarify though that sometimes there are cases of recurrence so Cillian will have yearly MRIs to keep an eye on things. So at this time, we have a follow up with the ENT next Wednesday so Dr. R can look over Cillian's stitches and see how he's healing.

So, in our excitement, my mind was able to realize something to ask - if they stopped at the nasal bone, did they ever see what was the spot on the MRI? So I asked Dr. Rastatter. He paused and said, no. Then he said we are going to be doing a repeat MRI in 3 months to get a better idea of what the mass is or hopefully to see nothing and confirm it was just an artifact on the original film. I am not sure if the 3 months is for certain - he needed to check with Dr. Alden to see if that timeframe was okay with him as well. So, at this time, in 3 months we'll be back to see the mass again.

When we got home last night around 10pm, Cillian had some goldfish and some applesauce and we put him in his crib. He slept for a few hours, woke up, and then slept until 6:40am. The miracles continue! He woke up to eat a bit of banana and have some Tylenol. He wanted to go back to bed though so as I wrote this, Doug snuggled him in. He'll be on an antibiotic and have a topical antibiotic for a week and Tylenol (as needed) and he has six stitches down the length of his nose. Cillian is the bravest person I know. He is such a fighter.

Thank you to each and every one of you for every thing you've done for us these past few weeks - your encouragement, support, love and prayers have been such a source of strength and solace for me and for Doug. Thank you so very much.

All of our love and thanks,

Meg, Doug, James and Cillian

Yesterday, Sophie came over around 11:30 and we ate lunch and left for the hospital around noon. Cillian was the last surgery of the day because they didn't want either surgeon to feel pressure to get to the next patient - they wanted to give them open-ended time if that makes sense. Just in case it turned out to be the more involved surgery.

We arrived at the hospital, checked in and it was the normal routine. We took photos like we always do. He wasn't admitted into the OR until almost 4. Other surgeries were running behind. This time they left us with his glasses. I burst into tears and Doug just held me. Then we walked to Prentice and had an early dinner. We figured eat now and then just sit and wait. Just in case someone had to come out to tell us something. We also brought snacks just in case we had to stay late or I stayed overnight.

But you know what happened because you read the letter. Thank goodness for Sophie being with James. She watched the Lego movie with him, they went to feed ducks, they went to a super special dinner at Walker Brother's Pancake House and she read to him until he fell asleep. THANK YOU SOPHIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are just so grateful for all with which we've been Blessed. Love you all and thank you all.

In the waiting room ... waiting to be called back