MD Anderson--Trip #6--3 month post-op appointment

Well, it's been 3 months since Trace's last appointment at MD Anderson, 4 months since his surgery and time for his first set of post-op scans.

Time to see if this cancer is coming back or has spread. I am majorly stressed out....worried to death that it may have started growing again either in the same area or a new spot.

 Trace's Bag/Binder with Medical Records

We load up and head west...along I-10...along what is getting to be a very familiar path. Pass Coushatta Casino in Kinder where we enjoy our Gary Allan concerts...through Lake Charles where Katie lives and attends McNeese State University....stopping at the Texas Welcome Center for a potty break and walk on the raised wooden walkways through a swamp...passing through Winnie, Beaumont and entering the huge city of Houston...passing the Budweiser Plant, The Toyota Center, and the Convention Center before making our way past the park and zoo into the Medical Center. We are getting to know our way around that area of town pretty well....getting in and out of town pretty efficiently.

We get checked in to the hotel then head over to MD Anderson for tests and scans. Blood work first, then on to another floor for the CT scan. Dad does the blood work and I go with for the scan. Trace is very brave as always...a little apprehensive for the IV, but once it's done, he's good. They always get it on the 1st stick!!

 The IV

For the CT scan, they had to use some weights on his shoulders and straps for him to grip that went down around his feet. Both to keep his shoulders down and straighten the neck area for a good scan. He said it was hard to keep holding the strap and stay very still for the scan, but he did a good job.

 

 The scans

He doesn't look too happy, but he was good....very anxious and a little scared.

He got finished with his tests and we grabbed some food to take back to the hotel. We were all tired after traveling 4hrs to get to the hospital and then 4 hours in the hospital. Time to force fluids to get all that contrast out. We get some ice cream before bed. 

We all get up around 9 and just hang around the hotel until it's time to checkout and head back to the hospital for his appointment with Dr. Lai at 12:30. All the tests are good!! Still cancer FREEEEEE!! Incision is healing well and come back in 3 months!! YAY!!

We hit the road back to Louisiana. :)

Ugly Stool Made Pretty

You gotta keep you eyes open for the potential in a find at a flea market. I found this old stool hiding on the floor in a darkened area of our local flea market. I have been shopping for props to use when photographing newborns and thought this was the perfect size for a baby to lie on. BUT...I wasn't too fond of the old upholstery on it. So I took it home and yanked off that rusty orange/red fabric and found underneath just a wooden box.