My dear, sweet Siena

Siena, age 11, on vacation in Hawaii

I haven't been doing personal on this blog lately but here goes. To say that it has been a tough week is an understatement.  It has been the hardest week I have ever experienced.  I spent it at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, with my sweet Siena.  You've known her as my little ski princess. She passed out two weeks ago at cheer practice and then again on Monday at school after jumping rope.  I took her to the ER thinking it was her heart, she has a genetic defect.  But while we were there she was complaining (screaming) about pain behind her left eye. She was diagnosed last Monday with a brain tumor.  Her neural surgeon, Dr. Wehby, will be removing it. They have decided not to biopsy first.  I'm not sure what will happen after that. The oncologist will take a look at it and we'll go from there.  She will have surgery on 1/24.   She had a horrible reaction to the anesthesia for her MRI and we spent 20 plus hours in crazy town.  She became feral child. We went through a ridiculous cycle of her becoming depressed, confused, agitated, violent, and suicidal.  Then she would be given a sedative.  She'd sleep some, wake up and the cycle would begin again. Security was called in to restrain her 2x.  It was like Girl Interrupted, I was calling her my little Angelina Jolie. It was insane but it was also a huge distraction from the real reason we were at the hospital. She has a brain tumor.

Finally, things settled down at the hospital and Siena started to have fun there. She got back to her sweet normal self.  She went to school on her unit. She played Uno with the other  6th graders. Somehow one of the teachers managed to explain the 6th math, adding and subtracting  fractions, in a way that Siena completely understood it.  Something that has been evading her all school year got fixed in one tutoring session at the hospital. She also made it through her MRA without anesthesia!!!!  I was so worried that we'd head back into the crazies after that. The anesthesiologist, Dr, Rose, bribed her with a trip to the gift shop and a new toy.  I love him!   I had somehow forgot about bribery as a parenting style to get through some of this. Not to be used too frequently of course. We are  now at home for the week so that she can rest in her own bed and play with her kitties.  Next week is going to be a big one for us. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

xoxo,
Leilani and Siena 
aka ski girl and her little ski princess

p.s.  We really appreciate all of  the love and support from all from our friends and family.  And a very special thanks to Jesse.  I wouldn't be holding it together so well without your support, strength, and Whole Foods deliveries!  You are the best!!!!