The Hanway Family

Abby had a CT scan and MRI last Friday. The CT scan showed that her chest, lungs, and abdomen were all clear. The MRI showed shrinkage in the entire tumor! We don't yet know if it was enough shrinkage to postpone surgery again. The tumor is still around the brain, but is smaller there.

We have been enjoying our time at home with the exception of Abby being unable to walk. She has been doing physical therapy twice a week and can at least stand now. She can take steps with assistance, but so far has not taken any without help.

She enjoyed a visit by her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lisa, on Sunday and has spent time with both of her grandmas, whose help we very much appreciate.

Friday, we were coming through Nashville at the start of the Relay for Life, so we made a quick stop to meet Lillie, who is a three year survivor of rhabdo. It was great to finally meet her and her family and to see someone else who has beaten this.

Abby was scheduled to go into surgery this week to remove her tumor, but it has been pushed back until June 7 due to the pathology results from the debulking she had almost two weeks ago. The pathology showed that there were very few live rhabdo cells in the piece that was removed and that most of it, in fact, was either necrotic tissue or inflammation. That is great news! It surprised everyone, including the doctors. So now the plan is to do another round of chemo, which she started on Friday and then to do another set of scans. If the tumor has not shrunk significantly since the last MRI, then they will do surgery on the 7th. If there is significant shrinkage, then surgery will be postponed again and chemo will restart.

We have been home since two days after her debulking, with the exception of one night for chemo. It has been wonderful and hopefully we will be able to avoid any more stays until June.