August 1, 2006

We are off to Arnold Palmer for the next three days for some additional testing. Samantha's neurologist in Orlando had set up a 72 hour EEG to try to get a better grip on the seizures and see if her other symptoms are in fact seizure activity. We were scheduled in October but they had a cancellation as of yesterday so we are off once again. She spent most of yesterday in the hospital here in Vero having her IV antibiotic that she needs every 28 days and waiting for a red blood transfussion that never happened (long story we won't bother getting into). We will have her rechecked in APH while we are there to make sure everything is really okay. Her seizures are still breaking through here and there, not as frequently as they were but still to much for us. She seems to be eating a little bit better which makes us feel better but still has a ways to go there as well.
She and Kurt are scheduled to leave for Memphis on Sunday. He refused to let me come along as we are getting to close to the baby's arrival and he would prefer not to have any more stress while in the air. She will have several doctors visits and an MRI while she is there.
Being that she has been having so many bad days she did have an MRI here last week that (according to the Neurosurgeon) has not shown much change. We are still waiting for the written report but he seemed to think the area in the brain stem appeared smaller and the thalamus remained the same, however they are watching an area there that they are not sure of. When the MRI is done at St. Jude I believe they will be doing more intense screening of that area. We are praying that it is just an effect of radiation and not any thing concerning.
Please keep the prayers alive for Samantha and the other children facing this terrible nightmare. We will update as soon as we have any news. Once again thank you all for your love & support.
Love,
Audra, Kurt, Christopher, & Samantha