Here we are 6 months after Xander's last surgery.
Mom and Oncology had decided it was finally time to attempt an awake M.R.I. We discussed this with Xander and he was surprisingly excited about it. We asked him who he would like to go into the M.R.I. room with him and he said that,"He could do it himself."
So Baba came on down and Willem said he wanted to support his brother so we all went in to Children's.
We checked in and had to wait a bit since we were: a) Early, and b) they were running late. But after a while they came and got us. The one thing we had not realised from previous, anesthetised M.R.I.s is that the contrast portion of the M.R.I. was an injection. Hmmm, Xander did not appreciate his last Blood test so we were worried this would weaken his resolve. But the nurse was awesome and numbed the insertion site and then had us distract him just enough to insert the I.V. with minimal complaints, showing Xander that these types of procedures do nto have to hurt.
Xander, Mom & Dad then walked over to the M.R.I. Room, dropped all of our metallic items in a locker and then got Xander set up on the table, with his head nestled in the head rest, head phones on and then covered with the rest of the head rest complete with 45 degree mirror so he could see out of the machine. The table then slowly receded into the maw of the M.R.I. machine and Xander looked very comfortable. He started bopping his head to the music until the technician asked him to be completely still like a statue. Dad had his doubts since Xander is a very busy child, but to his credit he stayed extrement still during the majority of the 15 minutes he was in the M.R.I. machine. Quite impressive. If Xander moved then the technician took some extra shots to compensate for the movement in the previous shots. Xander was extracted from the machine after about 10 minutes and then the contrast was injected. Xander was getting a little worried at this stage and did not want to go back in. After assuaging his doubts he went back in and finished off his first successful awake M.R.I. Much easier than having to go through all the anesthesia procedures.
After lunch, we reviewed the results with Neurosurgery and wer told that there was no indication of tumour. We looked at the morning's images and were amazed at the difference pre and post June. The results speak for themselves but seeing it on the screen was eye opening. The images from just after the surgery were very raw in comparison with this mornings images showing how the brain is still healing.
After Neurosurgey we met with Oncology and reviewed the last 6 months and any issues and/or concerns we have encounted throughout all the different departments as well as home and school.
It was a long, long day, but the results were well worth it and we were all very impressed with Xander's performance during his first awake M.R.I.
Next will be getting his teeth capped, if he can go under since he still has a bit of congestion. We also have to schedule an Endocrine appointment. Plus for school we need to get an I.E.P. review to make sure they're following the program.
The next M.R.I. will be in another 6 months and then after that we will be moved to an annual M.R.I.
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