The situation as we understand it now.

The doctors have consulted and the results are as follows.

• The tumor has not grown.
  
  
• The tumor has not shrank, either.
  
  
• The lungs are clear and a spot that was of some concern at the base of the spine is now gone.
  
  
• Because of the way that Amanda's tumor lies, our surgeon does not believe that he would have enough room to leave clear margins around the tumor if he were to try and remove it at this time. Under the best of circumstances, it would be a substantial surgery.
  
  
• There is a procedure that is only done in a few places in the U.S., known as "intra-arterial infusion." It is not experimental, but also not common. It involves threading a tiny catheter into the artery feeding the tumor, and directly injecting a type of chemo. The doctor has told us that it would be "technically tricky," but they are hoping Amanda can be a candidate for this type of procedure.
  
  
• Our doctors are in consultation with Dr. Wilkins, known as "one of the world's best-respected orthopedic surgeons at The Denver Clinic for Extremities at Risk at Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center. .... The team at The Denver Clinic at P/SL established advanced diagnostic criteria and pre-operative, intra-arterial chemotherapy protocols that have dramatically increased success rates for these children. Wilkins, a world leader in reversing the odds for patients with osteosarcoma, is pioneering cancer treatment here at P/SL." http://www.pslmc.com/
  
  
• If Amanda is accepted as a candidate for "intra-arterial infusion," we will travel to Denver for that procedure.
  
  
• It will probably be at least one week, and possibly two weeks before we know the decision. (Yes, I know that is a long time; and no, there's nothing I can do about it or I already would have.)
  
  
• If Amanda is approved for the procedure, the intent would be to shrink the tumor enough to make surgery a viable option. That has been the goal all along, but not yet achieved at this point.
  
  
• If we are told by the team of doctors that Amanda does not qualify for this procedure, we will begin the process of 2nd opinions, in concert with our current team of physicians, while working with our current physician team to continue to try and keep the tumor contained.

So .... Amanda has at least a week off from any treatments at this point ... perhaps more. We are simply waiting for the decision regarding the treatment in Denver.

I don't know what else to say .... except to thank God for yet "another day of grace," as one of our pastors (Mike) put it. I believe his advice is good, so ... let us be thankful now.