All Clear

Practicing for the functional MRI

Steven completed his cognitive testing today, another three-plus hour marathon.

Then the oncology visit and results, everything was clear, for which we are so, so thankful.

Next was the functional MRI. First, Steven practices some exercises on a computer.

The scan begins

Afterward they put him into the MRI where he does those same exercises while he's being scanned. The MRI measures post-radiation white matter changes in the brain and they are trying to correlate white matter changes with cognitive deterioration.

Our friend Kevin is out of the hospital and getting ready for his final round of chemo on the same protocol as Steven. God willing, he will be going home to Michigan soon.

Steven's pterygium (cloudy area starting near his nose and covering part of his pupil) - click to enlarge

The oncologist today noticed that Steven had a pterygium in his right eye. We looked at her blankly, but I was a little shocked after seeing it that I could ever have missed it.

They are very uncommon in children, but Steven is always full of surprises.

Tomorrow we see the opthalmologist and test his hearing.

I'll write more tomorrow, for reasons I don't completely understand myself, I've been weepy since we got here and even the good MRI results haven't banished my bad mood.

So for tonight we'll try for a good sleep.

Many thanks to all of you who have prayed for us, held a good thought for us and supported us in so many different ways.

- Kathleen