Amazed!

So I haven't updated in a bit...let me get you up to speed. We went to see the "specialists" at a huge hospital here in NC. I was not impressed. Let me just say that I am aware they were dealing with life threatening illness all day and that what Conner has seemed a little less important to them. (The hemangiomas are lumped in with the cancer patients at this particular hospital.) However, to US Conner is very important and providing the most consistent and medically necessary treatment is important. Needless to say before we had ever left the building Billy and I were both very sure that Conner would not be continuing treatment at that hospital. At that time I was devastated. I felt as if because we are Conner's parents that no doctor was ever going to seem good enough. Maybe I was just being too picky. So, I called some reinforcements who helped reassure me that no I was not being to picky, it was simply protecting the precious gift that God has placed in our hands. With a ton of help from the family advocate at the Vascular Birthmark Foundation, (special thanks to you Ms. Corinne!), we were able to secure an appointment with Dr. Marcelo Hochman in Charleston, SC. I am not sure how we overlooked this great doctor in our search for treatment, but somehow I missed him. I am so grateful to VBF and Corinne for helping us locate this doctor and simply holding our hands throughout this tough time.


On Friday Mom, Dad, Conner and I loaded up at 6am and began the 4 1/2 hour drive to Charleston. We were trying to get to Charleston, see the doctor, and get back home before I had to work on Friday night! We drove straight through and arrived just after 11am. Conner slept almost the whole way, YAY little man! Mom, Conner and I were immediately called back into a patient room and within minutes Dr. Hochman himself came in. He spoke with us about Conner's hemangioma. He did not feel that steroids or proplanalol would be the best course of treatment in this case simply because Conner's hemangioma is no longer rapidly growing. He did not feel like we should just wait and see. He did not want to use a laser that would scar Conner. He did want to start immediate laser therapy on Conner. This will help stop anymore growth and help begin the involution process. Then came the big insurance discussion. Conner's insurance is not accepted at this office and the cost of treatment is MUCH more than Billy and I can afford. Without a moments hesitation Dr. Hochman agreed to volunteer his time and services to work on Conner. Hallelujah! I cannot begin to describe how shocked we felt that God really had created a way for Conner to get the right treatment. It is so amazing to see right in front of you God's hand working in your life. I don't think either Mom or I had words for the doctors. Just a simple thank you, all other words were lost in the sheer joy of knowing everything was being taken care of! Thank you Lord!  Conner will have his first treatment next week on Wednesday!

The only thing Dr. Hochman is asking of our family is this: We need to do LOTS of fundraising. Although he is volunteering his time, the hospital will bill Dr. Hochman’s Hemangioma Foundation for each laser treatment. It will cost approximately $5000 a treatment and Conner needs up to 5 treatments. Quick Math: That's $25,000. At the conclusion of the laser treatments we will reevaluate and see if Conner needs plastic surgery, and that would be another amount of money. I will begin on Monday trying to find ways to raise these funds. I can't imagine why we are so blessed to have found treatment and with a foundation that has been so quick to come to our aid. If you have any ideas about ways to fundraise Billy and I are very open to suggestion.

Just a side note, Conner got to see his first snow!  And boy was it a big one.  We never made it back in time for me to work, we got about 40 miles from home and had to stay in a hotel due to icy conditions!  Thankfully God kept us safe and we returned home to a beautiful yard full of snow, two energetic sisters, and one very sleepy daddy!  As always please continue to pray for our family! Oh yes and Conner would like to wish his Mamaw a very Happy 50th Birthday! We love you Mamaw Judy!