Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

Although we took Buntheep to have her MRI on November 17 as planned, after waiting half the day for our turn, we were notified that the machine was broken. Then it took several days for them to fix it. On November 21, Buntheep actually had the test done. After receiving the radiologist's report (in French), we scanned and emailed it to the advising physicians in the U.S., but they asked to have it in English. So it took a few more days to get it translated, scanned, and sent again.

Dr. Andres volunteered to send the MRI images to the other doctors, since he has access to a better email connection than ours. However, his computer began to malfunction and it took a few more days to repair it before he could actually send the images. In the meantime, some of the doctors in the U.S. went out of town. But now they have returned home and we have received recommendations from some of them.

Concerning the tumor, the news is good, because it is continuing to shrink! Also, the tumor is no longer touching the left optic nerve (Buntheep's only sighted eye). Praise God!

Concerning the change in forehead contour and the bone loss, the exact cause has not been pinpointed, but it has been suggested that the forehead contour might have been affected by the Gamma Knife frame placement, causing the unhealed bone that had been removed and replaced in surgery to separate from the other bone and to gradually dissolve away for lack of nutrients. However, the doctors believe that new bone growth may be possible over years. Please pray that God will restore Buntheep's forehead bone.

Since there might be another cause for the bone loss other than the Calcitonin, and since the tumor continues to shrink with the present treatment, the doctors recommend continuing with the Calcitonin until our supply is exhausted. We have already completed 6 1/2 months and have enough medicine for 16 1/2 more months, making a total of 23 months.

Concerning the leakage from Buntheep's nose, what it is and where it is coming from are still mysteries. Either CSF or discharge from sinus congestion have been suspected. The MRI seemed to indicate the possibility of congested sinuses. However, the visual aspect of the discharge is transparent golden yellow, not cloudy like mucus. But even though the leakage continues, the volume and frequency are less and less. If it persists, the doctors advise having a CAT scan done of the sinuses. Please pray that whatever is causing the leakage will be healed and that the problem will just disappear.

Regardless of these scary symptoms, Buntheep continues to thrive and participate happily in most school activities. Although she longs to play sports with her friends, she realizes that until her brain is fully protected by bone, she will need to be careful not to engage in any strenuous activities or receive a blow to her forehead.

Praise God for sparing Buntheep's life and her sight again and again during this long ordeal. And thanks again to all of you who has facilitated Buntheep's progress toward healing.

Gratefully,
Gioia and Buntheep

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