Diet Pepsi

Ever wondered what a 10 x 7 x 7 cm liver cyst looked like?  Well, imagine a can of Diet Pepsi and you will be looking at it.  The radiologists drained about 345 mLs from Claire's large cyst today and a can of Diet Pepsi is 355 mLs.  So basically 12 oz of fluid came out of that huge cyst.  We took before and after pictures of Claire's belly so you could see the difference, but the pictures just do not do it justice.  Her belly measurements went from 35.5 cm to 31 cm.  Her weight went from 3005 grams (6 lbs 10 ounces) down to 2710 grams (5 lbs 15.5 ounces).  The grunting and straining noises that she does constantly, were quieted.  You just can't imagine the relief she had to feel. 

The skin on her belly is now flat and wrinkly from where it was stretched out.  Her skin is no longer red/purple from being so stretched and see through with the veins.  Her belly button no longer sticks straight up like a thumb - it is laying flat on her stomach.  R-E-L-I-E-F......

The radiologist said he was going to make copies of Claire's scans (CT, MRI, etc.) and send to Boston Children's Hospital, the children's hospital in Houston, and maybe one more to get their opinions on what is going on.  He said there was a procedure called sclerosis (I think) where they can insert something like alcohol into the cyst to make the walls stick together so the cysts would not reaccumulate.  But he is unsure if they can do that with this situation.  But he's checking into options which is a great thing! 

We finally feel like we are making progress and getting somewhere.  I am concerned that the attending doctor that she has had the past 2 weeks that has really got the ball rolling is not going to be her doctor again for a while.  These doctors rotate out every 2-3 weeks.  So I am praying the new doctor will continue to be aggressive like this one has. 

The radiologists could tell from the ultrasound after the draining that the inferior vena cava had sufficient blood flow again.  Yay!  This is good.  Now we just have to pray that the cyst either goes away or doesn't reaccumulate quickly and can buy Claire some time to get a lot bigger and for the surgeons, doctors, cardiologists, and radiologists to come up with a plan. 

We are so thankful to the awesome nurses and doctors who took care of this cyst today!  On a side note, Claire also passed her hearing screen today so she won't have to be tested again for 1 year. 

Thank you for all of your prayers today!  They certainly worked.  We serve an awesome God.  We are so grateful to each and every one of you! 

Love,

The Scott Family

Before draining of cyst



After draining of cyst



only half of the syringes of fluid drained (pencil in there for perspective)

If you look closely right above Claire's belly button, you can see the whole where they drained the fluid from.

Relief after draining (she went from having to wear size 1 diapers back down to a preemie diaper due to the reduction in her belly size!)