Here we go again....

Our doctor is truly baffled and befuddled...Aspen doesn't have any pain anymore, isn't jaundiced, isn't running a fever anymore, and all her pancreatic enzyme levels are normal. It's really not quite right he thinks...I think it's the power of prayer and the vegan diet.

He called this morning to say he had been reviewing Aspen's records and discussing them with another doctor and the second doctor doesn't think the tumor is benign. He believes we are suppressing the cancer with the vegan diet (i.e. not feeding the tumor animal protein because that's what they live on). So they called in yet another doctor, and doctor number three called and discussed things with me and says she doesn't believe there is a tumor there at all, that maybe it's just a little inflammation. They are all excited and think we are getting a great deal...three doctors for the price of one...I don't know about all that.

So we are having a procedure on Friday or Monday, we don't know which day yet, it just depends on when the pediatric anesthesiologist and the pediatric gastroenterologist are both available at the same time. They will put her to sleep and put a camera down into her stomach and small intestines first, the camera will be followed by an ultrasound and the ultrasound will be accompanied by a biopsy (they put the needle right through the wall of the stomach into the pancreas and suck out a few cells). Doctor number one thinks we are biopsying a benign tumor, doctor number two thinks it's cancer, and doctor number three doesn't think there is anything there at all. Pick a number, any number folks.

I've wanted a biopsy for a while, so I guess we will finally find out what it REALLY is...will the real diagnosis please stand up! Doctor number one also said that it was his intention to make the incision for her surgery as if he were going to do the Whipple procedure and it would be very large, across her whole stomach in the shape of a boomerang. If we know for sure it isn't cancerous then he can make a smaller incision and recovery will be easier as well. Aspen wanted him to cut a nice heart shape around her bellybutton.

The biopsy is a good thing, every time they try to figure it out again is another chance for a miracle. We might get our miracle yet!!