New Prayer Request

Yes, you're not going crazy, we have yet another prayer request for Katie. I think you're all aware that she has the birth mark on her neck called a hemangioma. Well, about a week ago, two spots on it started to scab up and bleed. Hemangiomas can ulcerate, or bleed, so I was not surprised when this happened. It didn't seem to be too worriesome at first, and I had her pediatrician look at it, who referred me to a dermatologist. Well, now it's infected and her neck has broken out in a rash (not sure if the rash is related?). Anyway, she's on an antibiotic now, and I've been taught how to care for it while it's ulcerating. But it's a killer for me, because she screams when I wash it, or put ointment on it, and it's so hard to do something that you know causes your child pain, even though they need it.

So we're now faced with what to do about this. The appointment was good and confirmed a few things I had researched. This could ulcerate again in the future, so there are two possibilities. The first is to inject steroids into her neck, which I'm going to research some more, but I know oral steroids come with many problematic side effects, esp. for babies. I really don't want to do that. The other option is to have it surgically removed (Julie, you can tell Josh laser isn't an option for us because I guess it only affects the top 1-2 mm of the skin, and hers is a deep hemangioma). The dermatologist does know of someone he could refer me to. After meeting with him today and doing a lot of thinking, I think this is really the best option for us. She has a follow-up in 2 weeks, and at that time I'm going to push to be given the name of a surgeon. I'm nervous about it because it is the most extreme choice, but I just can't continue to deal with this over and over, and then decide to remove it. Plus, the more it bleeds, the more scarring it will leave. I hate the idea of surgery and recovery, and she's at such a difficult age to deal with it, but I think it would be best. The other thing is,we're really hoping to get it done before we have to change insurance Dec 1.

So if you could please keep this in prayer for us, we would greatly appreciate it. Just prayer for Katie as this is healing, and that the infection would go away quickly. And also for favor with the doctor when we go back. He didn't seem opposed to going that route, but of course they like to be as conservative as possible. But on the other hand, I've been conservative for 6 months, and now it's getting to be too much I think. Also, if we do have surgery, that God could just expedite the process so we could get it done in November.

I really appreciate the support in the past, and it's good to know we've got prayer cover for Katie.

Also, keep the updates coming. Jen, we're all waiting to see pics of little Megumi once she arrives.