Neuro-Psychologist

Well the news is in regarding side effects of radiation from the neuro-psychologist. Looks like there should be no real big trouble. Taylor may have some mild-moderate learning issues, but certainly nothing serious. Taylor's support network again works in her favour as they know how much Mindy and Landon invest in Taylor and feel that makes it in her favour that she will be extremely successful in her development! Yeah! Support from a family is the most important predictor of how well a child will do, funny it supersedes somewhat intelligence. Taylor will also have my Mom's husband Danny, my friend Wendy and myself as teachers that can help come up with adaptations, etc for her learning (I knew there had to be a reason I became a teacher...Kidding! LOL)

This week on the 7th of October Taylor will be at the Cross Cancer institute to prep for her upcoming radiation. She gets all her fittings for when she gets the radiation. She also will then head to the Stollery for her Speech and Language tests. The following week she may get her "pic" line in (it is kind of like the i-vad, but in her arm for putting her to sleep during all the radiation treatments) as well as her hearing test.

So I asked Mindy about the side effects of the Radiation this time. I was concerned as this will be more extensive than what they radiated last time. Mindy says basically it is the same as last time...organ failure (less than a 5% chance), burns and/or skin sensitivity near the radiated sight, cranky/moody, tired, other things that may occur is burning at her esophagus as well as breathing issues as her lungs could get some light burns....Mindy says its like a "sunburn" and will go away after radiation. This means she may be a tired, cranky bear who does not want to eat much as it may hurt.

Someone asked Mindy about chemo therapy, but I never did actually say anything about it since last year. Basically Chemotherapy does not work for Taylor's form of cancer. The first Chemo she got for the year was to try and buy time until they could do radiation. Radiation generally as a rule should not been done in kids younger than 2 years. Taylor had radiation so young as it was her only choice. Mindy and Landon will only ever do anything for Taylor that does not impact her quality of life. Anything that hurts or causes more pain to her will not be done just to keep her with us longer.It is very sad thing to have to decide as a parent, but this must be done.