Taylor gets a second miracle
A little "angel in combat boots" and her family got another miracle Friday. Not only were doctors able to drain Taylor Radtke's severe sinus infection, they were also able to remove both tumors threatening the little girl's life.
"It's a miracle, the best thing ever," a jubilant Laurie Radtke said from the Phoenix hospital where her daughter had just gone through more than four hours of surgery.
"I am shaking and literally jumping up and down," the Johnsburg mom said as she waited to go into the recovery room to be with Taylor as soon as doctors permitted just before 9 p.m., Chicago time. "They said she's doing well. None of us expected this. It was truly a miracle ... twice now," she added referring to the surprising outcome after Taylor's first surgery when Dr. Robert Spetzler and team removed what initially had been called an inoperable tumor in October 2007.
Taylor, 9, is known throughout northern Illinois after her medical plight sparked an incredible outpouring of love, medical help and community support 18 months ago during her first battle against the tumor.
It has been a grueling few weeks as the family reeled from learning the tumor had returned along with a secondary tumor atop the severe sinus infection which doctors thought had invaded her mastoid bones. Fortunately, they did not have to remove those bones which were "extremely inflamed and full of fluid, but not infected," Laurie said. Doctors cleared out the sinuses, drilled new drainage holes, inserted tubes in her ears, then found they could access and remove both tumors which, initially, they thought they'd have to remove in a second operation.
Doctors told the Radtkes that they hope Taylor's recovery time will be similar to the first surgery, pending results of pathology reports on the tumors. Those results will determine if she needs more surgery or treatment. She will need to remain in Phoenix for at least two more weeks.
"Our angel's fight for life and her combat boots worked again! Love to you all!" Laurie wrote on Taylor's CarePage shortly after getting the news from the doctors.
Laurie, Taylor's dad, Jeff, a Lake Zurich fire captain, little brother, Blake, 7, and Taylor's grandparents spent the day at Barrow Neurological Institute with Taylor. They played games, paced, made big tissue flowers, and Blake even did homework.
An apprehensive and worried Laurie said she knew her daughter, who had only complained of being hungry after the all-day fast, was in good hands. Giving her hope was having much of the initial team again working to help Taylor, including Dr. Peter Nakaji and Dr. John Milligan, along with one of Taylor's favorite nurses.
"This all happened for a reason," Laurie said after the surgery initially scheduled for Thursday was postponed due to swine flu restrictions at another hospital.
Fibrous dysplasia can affect any bone. Basically, scarlike tissue develops in place of normal bone. When the bone grows, the softer tissue expands and weakens the bone. In Taylor's case, the first tumor nestled into her clivus bone, the supporting structure for her brain. It had regrown and a new tumor had developed along the sinus cavity.
Initially doctors had hoped it would be a long time before Taylor would need more surgery. News the tumors had returned stunned the family, prompting them to ask their widespread network of supporters to again pray for their little girl.
Those prayers made the difference, Laurie said. "Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers," she wrote to Taylor's support network. "Once again they ALL worked."