Update - 6/4

Our apologies for not getting any updates up for 6 months (wow, has it really been that long?). Things have been going well in the Hoyt house since Cam's last scan...

Memorial Day weekend started as uneventfully as you could hope. We actually had great weather for the first time in quite a while. On Saturday night, the girls stayed over at Nanny and Pop-Pop's house while we headed into the city for a show with Cam's Godmother (Aunt Genene) and her step Godfather (Uncle Mike).

When we picked them up on Sunday morning, Cam was not acting like herself. She was complaining that her legs hurt and was just "off". We chalked it up to allergies and being over tired and headed off to Six Flags for the day. Cam actually slept in the stroller while we were at the park and had us mildly concerned but because we had a scan already scheduled for this week, we trudged on.

On Wednesday, Robin and Campbell headed to Boston for appointments with endicrinology and neuro-oncology which were both uneventful. I headed up to Boston after work on Wednesday via train (that's another story...stupid Amtrak). Both Robin and I just had an uneasy feeling heading into the scan but were hoping to have our concerns erased afterwards and it was just anxiety fueled worry.

Thursday morning we headed into the MRI of her brain and spine followed by a trip back to the neuro-oncology office to read the scan...as soon as he walked in we knew something was up.

The scan showed a new tumor growing at the base of Cam's spine. It is about 1 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. This is what was causing her leg pain as the tumor is pressing up on the nerves in her back. They scheduled an appointment for Friday with the neurosurgeon (who they had already sent the scans to) to discuss surgical options. There were basically 3 scenarios:

1) They can go in and get it all.
2) They can go in and get some of it
3) Because of the location of the tumor, it is too dangerous to operate and we treat it with radiation and/or chemotherapy.

We met with Dr Goumnerova on Friday afternoon who has a high degree of confidence that she is going to be able to get it all. Surgery is currenty scheduled for June 13th at 8:30am at Childrens Hospital. After the surgery, we will have more of an idea of how we proceed from here.

In the meantime, they have put her on a high dose of steroids to minimize swelling on the nerves - which is making her hungry, extermely thirsty and a lunatic (actually in a humorous way rather than the 'roid rage alternative). If her condition deteriorates, we will have to make a call and then determine if we do the surgery on a more emergency basis.

For now, we will try and spend the next week being as "normal" as possible - dance rehearsals, school, work, etc.

Thanks for all of your positive thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming as we tackle this next hurdle in Cam's journey.

With Love,

Greg, Robin, Caitlin, Caroline & Campbell Grace