I (Mom) called Miriam’s ENT office on Wednesday because we have already begun hearing her vocalizations return occasionally while she is sleeping, and she has been complaining of her throat itching. The nurse replied with a voice mail that she had scheduled Miriam for another endoscopy in the Surgery Center for Monday morning. After a frustrating 48 hours of not being able to reach anyone in the doctor’s office, we found that the doctor had already intended for her to have another full scope under anesthesia after four weeks to get see if her cyst is re-growing, rather than just a follow-up office visit as we thought. Due to her symptoms they are moving it up to only two weeks.

Here is what we know: the cyst was (is?) a benign fibroma, not caused by cancer or a virus but purely by irritation. However, it is extremely unusual for this kind of cyst to grow so quickly or so large. The cyst removed by the doctor was very close to completely closing her airway, and we are very grateful it was caught and treated in time. The doctor is anxious to see if anything has returned because we do not want it to get so dangerous this time.

We do not know if this was caused by the intubation required for her skin repair which came so close to the cyst removal last week, or if it would have happened anyway. We also do not know yet if this is going to be a risk every time she is intubated for a surgery. This is scary since we are committed to Miriam having a surgery every six months for the next 12 or 13 years. We are eager to ask the doctor his opinion, but I have a feeling he may not know either until we are farther down the road.

She will be having the endoscopy at 9:30 Monday morning. I believe that if they see any sign of the cyst they will go ahead and remove it at that time. If the cyst has returned I don’t know what the follow-up will be – perhaps another endoscopy a few weeks later.

Please join us in prayer for protection over Miriam and true, complete healing of her throat. You might wish to join us in this Novena to St. Blaise, who is the patron saint of throat afflictions after he saved a child from choking on a fish bone. Here is an appropriate excerpt of a prayer if you can’t say the whole thing:

St. BLAISE, gracious benefactor of mankind and faithful servant of God, who for the love of our Savior did suffer so many tortures with patience and resignation; I invoke thy powerful intercession. Preserve Miriam from all evils of soul and body. Because of thy great merits God endowed thee with the special grace to help those that suffer from ills of the throat; relieve and preserve Miriam from them, so that she may always be able to fulfill her duties, and with the aid of God’s grace perform good works.

Miriam did really well through the night and woke cheerfully in the morning. All the cultures on her wound from yesterday came back negative so there is no sign of infection at this point. After some final checks the doctors released her and we headed home, but not without first rocking her dolls in the room’s rocking chair and visiting the playroom.

She spent the day happily playing and had a good appetite for all of her meals. She will be visiting Dr. Williams next Wednesday to check on the healing progress and have the staples removed. Please join us in praying it will be her last visit with them for a while!

Please say a prayer for Miriam tonight or early tomorrow morning. She is having the surgery to remove the cyst from her vocal cords at 9:15 am. We can’t wait to hear her sweet voice back to normal!

Here’s a picture of Miso with some nuns. Just because.

I’m pretty sure these are the same sisters who visited her in the hospital and sang for her.

Miriam went with her sisters, mom, and Abeea to a prayer meeting for Baby Thomas. She prays for Baby Thomas most days.

Today Miriam received a HUGE bag full of wonderful handmade cards from the students at Regina Mater. This is a school where her Abeea (Paternal Grandmother), Godmother, and many other friends work/ed.

They all love Miso very much and have been praying for her for years.

We put the cards in her scrapbook, which is all ready and packed for her trip to the hospital early tomorrow morning.

Miriam was very excited about the cards. She says a big “thank you!” to all the kids who made them.

Miriam is back at Dell Children’s Medical Center today for her pre-op checks and labs. She is a little apprehensive but doing a very good job. Everything looks good so far.

Cecilia is helping and very curious.

And another practice popsicle! She did not cry at all for her blood draw (she even watched). Such a brave girl.

Now we’re choosing toys from the toy cart!

Afterwards Mommy took the girls to P. Terry’s (their favorite hamburger place) for lunch and to play in the sandbox. We usually go there after doctor’s appointments.