Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,

The last couple of days that Buntheep was in the hospital, she enjoyed playing a keyboard provided by the music therapist. She entertained the doctors and nurses with the tunes that she had memorized. She also drew a cute picture of her teddy bear using art supplies donated by the art therapist. All of that was accomplished with only one eye while sitting propped up in bed and slightly hindered by an IV needle in one hand!

On Thanksgiving Day (yesterday), Buntheep was discharged from the hospital and brought to Ronald McDonald House just around the corner. There we enjoyed a wonderful lunch prepared by volunteers. Out of all the many dishes provided, Buntheep chose turkey, ham, lima beans (of all things), and rice pilaf. I had a little bit of everything. Yummy!

Our new friends Annette and Barbara came to visit, also bringing some special Thanksgiving food, and the elder from the Cambodian Church, Ron Long, brought over some Khmer food too. Needless to say, today we have plenty of left-overs to enjoy. Last night, before going to bed, Buntheep and I read the Bible together. She chose John 1 and asked a lot of very intelligent questions about the meaning. Then we prayed together. Now we have decided to study a new chapter of John's gospel every night. Here at RMH, it will be a lot easier to get on a proper schedule. At the hospital, we were continually dealing with emergencies or being interrupted by doctors, nurses, therapists, and other caregivers coming in to do their thing.

During the times that Buntheep has been awake yesterday and today, she has enjoyed learning to play the games "Go Fish" and "Checkers." She drew a picture of an angel statue. She looked at some picture books. She asked to have her piano lesson (on the grand piano at the Ronald McDonald House) and showed a lot of improvement. The house staff encouraged her by praising her performance. She has also learned how to navigate her wheelchair by herself and likes to go as fast as she can down the long corridors. Over all, she seems a lot more relaxed being out of the hospital (who wouldn't). She is talking more and smiling more too. However, she still tires easily, so right now she has gone back to bed to rest while I write this email.

The lab report has come back, confirming Dr. Aldana's diagnosis. The growth is indeed called a "giant reparative cell granuloma." Although it is not malignant, it is very aggressive and invading in every direction. It is apparently very rare, especially to be growing where it is.

Before we were discharged from the hospital, Dr. Aldana notified us about the upcoming treatment plan. On this coming Monday morning, Buntheep has a follow-up appointment to see the eye doctor. Then on Friday morning, she has an appointment with Dr. Aldana himself in his office. Then, probably on the next Monday (Dec 3), Buntheep will be readmitted to the hospital to prepare for the second surgery. She will undergo some preliminary tests, including a hearing test. Then, on Tuesday or Wednesday, the embolization will be done, basically under the same conditions that an actual surgery would be. The doctor who has agreed to do this is not a radiologist as I thought, but rather a neurosurgeon from the Mayo clinic who is also proficient in interventional techniques like embolization. Then, on Thursday, Dec 6, the medical team of four doctors will again attempt to remove the tumor/granuloma. The surgery is expected to last about eight hours.

We will be staying at the Ronald McDonald House until time to return to the hospital. So far during this transition, Buntheep is doing very well, in spite of the fact that she still has a tumor inside her head. We continue to praise God for His mercy and provision thus far.

Please continue to pray for Buntheep's complete healing in whatever manner the Lord chooses. We are thanking you and Him in advance!

In His Hands,
Gioia and Buntheep

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