"I love you Ma Ma"

Thank you for checking in to see how Hannah's recovery is going.  Overall, she is doing quite well.  Her pain is minimal and she seems to be returning to herself.  She is still taking it easy and lounging around the living room most days.  We are seeing more smiles from her and she is excited to get back in action.

FAQ:

1.  Did Hannah's head get shaved?

Yes.  Hannah has a very fancy hair cut right now.  She has a 2 inch racing stripe that goes from ear to ear along with a nice circle design at the top of her head.

2.  Is Hannah's brain tumor malignant?

The doctors do not believe her tumor is malignant.  We are still awaiting the pathology results to confirm.

3.  Were the doctors able to remove the whole tumor?

The doctors are confident they were able to remove the whole tumor and connecting tract.  Pathology results will confirm this.

4.  Will the tumor grow back?

Only God knows the answer to that question.

5.  What type of follow-up is recommended post-operative?

Hannah will see both neurosurgery and plastic surgery in the next two weeks.  She will also be seen 6 weeks post-op along with having a follow-up MRI.  Her pathology will determine the frequency after that point.  She will most likely be seen about every 3-6 months.

Prayer Request:

Hannah's biggest issue right now is her incisions.  She keeps picking at them and itching them.  She managed to remove some of the stitches on her nose incision.  We are praying that it heals well and does not get infected.  The incision on her head is very itchy and she has itched it to the point of bleeding.  Poor girl!  It seems to happen most frequently when she is sleeping.  Please pray for quick healing and no infection.

Recovery Highlight:

The highlight of this week came in the form of 4 words.  "I love you Ma Ma."  They are words that we have longed to hear.  It is a phrase we do not take for granted.  You see, Hannah's heart has been broken.  We are working every day to build trust and love with her.  We tell her "I love you" over and over.  She typically avoids eye contact and doesn't respond.  This week, while chomping on a bowl of watermelon, she responded.
Ma Ma: "I love you Xi Xi."  

Xi Xi: "I love you Ma Ma."  

I jumped off of the couch, sat in front of her and let her know how much she is loved.  It was the first time to hear those sweet words come from her mouth.  I am so thankful for that brief moment that she let her guard down.  Thank you Jesus!  

"We love because he first loved us."  1 John 4:19