TUESDAY 11TH DECEMBER - SURGERY COMPLETED

A Warm Hello to our special Deqlan's "Army",

A very brief blog tonight from Nanna to let you all know that our precious Deqlan's surgery was performed today, as scheduled ( and on the day Deqlan turned exactly 15 months) !

Prof Beale had initially expected a fairly routine procedure lasting about 45 minutes to remove the residual tumour but discovered during the surgery that the tumour had surrounded a major blood vessel (para aorta) and this took 2 and a half hours to resect or cut away with great care. He reported that he removed a band of tumour tissue (larger than expected according to the scans) which today had a fibrosed appearance and in his opinion, suspects that the tissue is indeed "dead" or mature. He was confident that he managed to remove all the tumour tissue which was visible, but will confirm with Samm and Mark in the morning, when more details about the procedure and its outcome will be available. The tumour will be sent to the path lab for biopsy which will confirm the status of the tissue resected. These results are expected in about 5-7 days.

The bone marrow aspiration was not performed as the surgical team reported that the specific aspiration needle required for the procedure was not available in theatre today ???? Samm was not happy at all as it means that our Deqlan still faces this procedure in the near future and that the ideal was to have this aspiration done whilst he was under anaesthetic for the tumour resection. However the surgeon said it could be done later under a local anaesthetic (he obviously does not know Deqlan's fiesty energy and activity levels !!!!). We promptly tried to find the "positive" in the situation and we decided that perhaps it was in Deqlan's best interest to have the bone marrow biopsy done by the oncologist who has been treating him as he does these procedures quite often. The other benefit is that the EXACT area where the last aspiration was done could be accessed again to evaluate the response of the bone marrow involvement to the chemotherapy.

Although there was minimal bleeding during the operation, Deqlan's oxygen levels were low post-operatively and so he spent a longer time in "recovery" before being transferred to the paediatric ward. He has an intravenous drip, a nasogastric tube (for drainage) and will remain on oxygen until his levels have stabilized. His observations are stable (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure) and these observations will be monitored throughout the night as will monitoring and treatment for pain control. When we left him tonight with his hugely relieved Mommy and Daddy, he was restful, drifting in and out of sleep, waking just to ensure someone familiar is beside his cotside.

All Thanks, Praise and Glory to our Healing Lord for His ensuring the success of the operation, for His guidance of the medical and nursing team, His promise to Heal Deqlan and for providing Samm, Mark and the family with the courage and strength required for, and graciously received today. Samm, Mark, Deqlan and the family would like to thank you all sincerely for all your prayers, love, support and wishes today. We could feel the "power" of your prayers and it helped us "sit the waiting" for nearly 3 hours, trusting fully in the Lord and faithfully knowing HE held Deqlan in the palms of His hands and used the surgeon as His "instrument". We ask that your prayers continue for Deqlan's speedy and complete recovery and that Samm and Mark renew, and maintain their extraordinary levels of strength, faith, trust, hope and courage.

God bless you all. Samm will post a fuller blog in the morning, providing more details of the surgery (after Prof Beale does his ward rounds tomorrow) as well as the update on our brave and courageous hero, our beautiful Deqlan's condition.

Deqlan, we love and treasure you so very much and can't wait for you to return to Nanna and Grandpa's house to play with your train set, singing animals, see the doggies, switch on the fans, watch the Christmas tree lights and ring all the sailor bells in the house. Tonight when Nanna came home, the "silence" of all your toys in our house was "deafening". Please HURRY back to us our precious and treasured Deqlan Ross. GET WELL SOON. Samm and Mark, always know how much we love and cherish you. You have shown extraordinary strength and courage; you are an inspiration to us. May God's love enfold you, His peace embrace you, His mercy envelope you and His promises, feed your faith.

Posted By Nanna, with great love.