Limb Salvage What?

I need to preface this by saying, I'm not a doctor.  Not even close.  In fact, all this medical and health stuff is so out of my wheel house.  Even when MacKale was diagnosed with hemophilia and Mike and I had to learn how to infuse him and mix factor, it has never been a 'comfortable' area for me.  I have always said, Mike is much better with that end of things.  So when I try to explain to you what it is exactly that MacKale will be having done, please understand . . . I'm not a doctor.

So here's what I know.  First thing Friday morning . .  . yes it's A GO . . . MacKale will have three  four surgeons working on him.  To start, he will have a pediatric surgeon put new port in his chest.  His last port lasted 7 years and was placed specifically for hemophilia infusions.  His new port with be a double lumen allowing for two IVs to be going at the same time.  This is more ideal for chemo treatment.

Once he has his port placed, his orthopedic oncology surgeon will take over and begin the process of removing the tumor in MacKale's leg along with portions of his tibia and fibula and margins of muscle and tissues around all the while navigating blood vessels and nerves that may or may not saved.  It is our prayer that this tumor, after testing, will come back with a high level of necrosis or 'tumor cell death.'  100% would be the goal.  Please keep this in your prayers as well.

Then once the tumor, bone and margins of muscle and tissue are removed, or orthopedic surgeon will begin the process of rebuilding MacKale's leg with a donor cadaver bone.  Because MacKale will lose much of his original leg 'parts'  . . . ligaments and tendons and such . . . his surgeon will then get help from a sports orthopedic surgeon in making sure all the extra cadaver pieces are attached correctly to assure that the leg is as functional as possible.

Once those pieces are all in place and secured, a plastic surgeon will come and help take muscle from another part of MacKale's leg to replace and fill the portion removed as part of the tumor margins.   The last part will be the stitching him all up to make the scar look 'pretty.'

All in all it will be approximately a 12 hour surgery.  MacKale was most concerned that his surgeon would get bathroom and snack breaks, but he has assured MacKale that he will get a break here and there but won't leave him alone.

Of course, any surgery is scary, no matter how minor.  This is a major one.  It's major, it's on a child and it's on a child with cancer AND a bleeding disorder.  To say that we are scared is an understatement.  Although we have great faith in our surgeons and an even greater faith that God is holding MacKale in his hands, our faith is not perfect . . . we are weak and we are afraid . . . So if you have a spare moment on Friday  . . .please pray for MacKale.  Pray for God to guide his surgeons' hands.  Pray that the chemo has 'killed' his tumor and that his little body can be rid of cancer.  Pray for MacKale to heal without complications or infection.  Pray that his sweet spirit will withstand the pain and discomfort from surgery and sustain him while he goes through months of physical therapy and healing.  And then if you still have time . . . play for us.  Pray for MacKale's little brothers who are also afraid, and missing him  and missing having our family together.   Pray for Mike and I.  Pray that we can put fear aside knowing that God has this . . . that some how, some way good will come from all of this.   Pray that we will find peace and our family will be whole again.  And when you've done all that praying . . . spread the word so others will keep us in their prayers too.

Thank you for all your continued support and prayers.  We will be updating MacKale's progress throughout surgery on his Facebook page so if you're interested, follow us there by clicking HERE.

Also, I finally got around to setting up an instagram account for MacKale.  He's been wanting to share some pictures that way.  If you'd like to follow it's HERE.