For those readers who are not aware, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has a singing competition annually called Rodeo Rock Star. There are two age divisions up to age 21. To be selected you must first record a video and make it public on YouTube so people can vote. From there it’s in the publics hands with the top ten vote recipients, in each category, being selected to perform in front of a live audience and three well known judges at the rodeo itself. It's really a pretty cool deal, the winners even get a demo recorded and cash! Why am I telling you this? My daughter Cheyenne, amongst everything I have been telling you about over the past few weeks, made the semifinals!
Speaking of that story I have been telling, we are at March 10, 2015. Cheyenne's neck injury during a softball game and subsequent trip to the Emergency Room resulted in an incidental finding - a nodule on her thyroid. We then went to the doctor and had an ultrasound performed which showed the nodule to be somewhat worrisome, it had a blood supply. Chey was still in a neck brace and taking a variety of medications to treat the original injury but she was determined to see the Rodeo Rock Star competition through. My husband and I had tried to talk her out of going (it's a five hour drive for us and we thought it would be too much for her) but she was having none of it. The idea that there could be cancer in my child's neck scared the absolute hell out of me and not giving her a chance to perform was out of the question in the end. So we loaded up, cushioned her as much as we could and headed to Houston. Of course, the day was dreary and cold, fittingly just like our moods. Even though our family doctor had tried to alleviate my fears with statistics, I was beyond worried. However, I knew I had to be strong so I went back into Momma Bear mode with my knowledgeable friend Dr. Google by my side throughout the trip to Houston. As I searched many sites, I was very surprised that blood supply was not the key phrase that seemed to be so indicative of cancer risk, rather it was the "micro calcifications" that turned up over and over again. I found that nodule size (anything greater than 2cm) and solid form were also indicative features.
Everything I was learning fueled my belief that my child, this beautiful vibrant human being, had cancer - specifically Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC). What next? Several of the leading minds on this disease, seem to recommend one test as the best and most reliable indicator for malignancy, the ultrasound guided biopsy or FNA (fine needle aspiration). This is where the doctor withdraws cells from the thyroid nodule with a very fine needle while guided by ultrasound and then a pathologist examines the cells for malignancy. During the drive, Cheyenne asked me what I was finding out and told me not to "sugar coat it". I shared the information with her and her father in the most matter of fact way I could. She simply acknowledged the facts and told me to find her a good doctor. She made it sound so easy.
We reached the rodeo grounds and the venue for the show. I don't know how Chey does what she does. Her neck was throbbing, she was taking both hydrocodone and flexeril. Yet, whenever someone spoke to her and asked about the pain she smiled and put on that face that says, 'It's really not that big of a deal'. The night wore on and the kids all did great jobs. Cheyenne performed a Jo Dee Messina song and it was great! She was able to do more than we ever dreamed considering the state of her neck and the realization that she most likely had cancer. The judges (Cowboy Dave, Joey Guerra, and Phil Nudleman) each asked the contestants questions and commented on their performances. Mr. Nudleman said that Chey has a unique strumming pattern and voice quality. He asked about the raspiness of her voice and wanted to know if the cervical collar was pushing on her neck constricting her breathing. As one not to make excuses, Cheyenne told him "No, it's been like that for awhile now." This was true and we had believed it was due to ongoing allergies but now, I began to wonder, was it from the nodule? Cheyenne told them about the accident but never even hinted at anything more. One judge commented on how people walking by had stopped and listened too, remembering the song. Cheyenne didn't make the final five that night, but she showed everyone there what she was made of. After the competition, one of the judges told her she was in his top five and to say I was proud of her is a huge understatement, I was simply amazed!
We spent the next day recuperating and we all slept in like we weren't going to ever again. Cheyenne decided we had better "get on it" and she began researching fervently too in hope of finding just the right doctor. As we were backed up in Houston traffic, we saw a sign for Texas Children's Hospital and Chey asked if they had a thyroid specialist. I told her I didn't know but I bet we could find out. I firmly believe that we were destined to be in Houston, not for the competition but to see that sign....He puts you where He needs you to be.
Next time, the search is on.
XXOO Make Everyday Count,
Bonnie
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