Ambriel’s Journey

Ambriel Age 11

I began this blog for my 10 year old daughter when she was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. With my strength in God our family will make it through. I hope you may be comforted as you read through this journal. I am so blessed to see how her story is affecting others. I am honored to be her mom and fortunate to guide and protect her through this miraculous journey. I have listed below some of the big events that have taken place along this path:

08/31/06- Ambriel’s X-ray of her pelvis shows a strange deformity of her right illiac crest (pelvis bone)

9/22/06- Bone scan reveals nothing conclusive

10/1/06- MRI reveals nothing conclusive

10/11/06- Biopsy of bone in right pelvis

10/17/06- Diagnosis of Chondrosarcoma, surgery scheduled

10/27/06- Surgery, right illac crest removed. Golf ball size tumor was in bone which was removed, tumors remain in ball, socket, and femur

11/15/06-2/07- Physical Therapy 3 times a week.

03/20/07- Ambriel placed in remission-able to jump, run, and play with little problems.

04/07- Ambriel complains about having pain daily, using cane more.

05/31/07- Ambriel kicks a football and “sprains” the muscles in the hip. Crutches ordered for 4 weeks.

07/01/07- Ambriel in constant pain, unable to transition to walking. Stabbing pain in right buttock.

07/24/07-Dr. H determines Ambriel broke her pelvis back on May 31. There is a very noticable fracture located in her illiac crest. This is the cause of the pain and discomfort. No new growths or changes in remaining tumors. Ambriel has four more weeks on crutches.

08/27/07- Ambriel took her first steps without crutches and there was no pain when she walked.

09/04/07- More PT ordered, several months possibly. Bone broke due to being brittle post surgical. Things look good otherwise. Dr. said possibly no basketball this year again.

09/12/07- Began PT… Very sore after first visit.

09/22/07- CT Scan of Chest and Pelvis done w/ and w/o contrast

09/28/07- Full Body Bone Scan completed…Test results Oct. 9th

10/9/07- NO CHANGES, CT scans moved to every 6 months with X-Rays in between, Off the cane again. Basketball still out. Time to party.

12/11- Physical Therapy releases Ambriel to play basketball. First practice 12/15!

01/08/08- Ortho Onc sees no changes in the pelvis. Everything looks good there. He allows Ambriel go back to P.E. and play in her games. He does however recommend she sees a gastrointerologist for some neasea and pain issues in her stomach.

03/06/08- GI wants to run some pretty intrusive tests on Ambriel, including an endoscopy to reveal the cause of her nausea. We get a diagnosis May 8.

04/08/08- Ambriel has endoscopy. Results from the biopsy next week. Also next week she will be meeting with her Orthopedic Oncologist.

04/15/08- Ambriel’s appt with Ortho Oncologist went well. She has no changes in her tumors and she doesn’t need to see him until October! After that it will be once a year. The results of all the stomach tests came out clear. Meet with GI Dr. May 8 to discuss the results.

05/08/08- All the tests came out normal with the GI doctor. Whatever is causing Ambriel’s daily non-stop nausea is not related to anything the GI can help her with. He has referred us to the oncology department and hemotology dept, as well as the heart doctor.