More updates...

Ethan's bone scan showed a spot on his hip along with the area to his spine. Our first fear of course was tumor. We spent a very tense several days awaiting the results from that xray. Thankfully though, we were told that there is a break in the lower part of his pelvis as well. (ischial region) It was classified as an old avulsion fracture. Poor kids been walking around with a broken back AND a broken hip.

As far as we know at this point, this injury is not related to the break in the back and we are pretty sure we know the cause. Two years ago on the first hurdle of the first race of the first track meet of 8th grade, Ethan went down. It was a terrible hamstring injury. He could not walk or bear weight on that leg. We were told both the first and second time we went to the dr. for this that hamstring injuries just take a long time to heal...it was never xrayed and we were more or less just told to ice and rest it.... hmmmm... same advice we were given for his back.....

So anyway, the fracture never healed and now there is a lot of ossified bone in and around that part of his pelvis. Most likely looking at surgery and a possible bone graft to fix it all.

As far as his back goes... we will continue to wait. His next appointment at Riley is on December 3rd. They will do a follow up MRI at that time. If the bones do not show sufficient healing, the next step will be surgery and a biopsy.

He is doing well for the most part. The brace really has helped his pain. He continues to have hip and leg pain but at least we know the source of that now. So we wait.

Have I ever mentioned I am not a very patient person....

Update

Made the trip to Riley on Friday. After the doctor and their radiologist went over Ethan's MRI's we were told that his back is broken at the L4 vertebrae. Not just a simple fracture...there is a huge piece broken off the back side. Apparently the lower lumbar vertebrae are the strongest and most difficult to break and usually don't unless there is some kind of traumatic injury to that area or in an elderly person with osteopoerosis or similar bone disease. So the new question became why would this happen in an otherwise healthy 16 year old.

Riley isn't your typical hospital and things were very well orchestrated. We were able to have several more tests run while we were there including a CT scan and he was fitted for the brace he is now wearing. There were no long waits and we were well taken care of. Thursday of this week he will have a nuclear bone scan to look for underlying disease processes that may cause weakening of the bones.

Ethan is understandably very down. The brace is very uncomfortable because it has to be so tight. He is having a hard time adjusting to it. Please continue to pray for his healing, for answers, and for our strength as we deal with whatever the outcome may be.

The song playing is one of his favorites. His favorite verse is from Isaiah 40:28-31... "The Everlasting God, will never grow faint or weary. He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may grow faint and tired, and young men may stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength." He has an unwavering faith and I am so thankful for that.

Prayers for Ethan...

Ethan suffers from chronic low back pain. He has pain every day. Somedays it's just a mild ache and somedays it's hard for him to sit or stand or lay down. I've taken him to the doctor 3 times for this over the course of the last year. Each time I was told it was because he was growing so fast the muscles couldn't keep up. Granted, he has grown... a lot... standing almost 6'1" now. But all the ibuprofen and stretching exercises they were giving us were getting us nowhere.

So when the pain started radiating down one leg and he started having some numbness and tingling we made yet another trip to Jasper. With this new set of symptoms the doc FINALLY took it seriously enough to order an MRI. Being a nurse and knowing my kid like I do, I should have insisted on that the last time, but I like to feel like I can trust my doctor. Hindsight... Mom's...always trust your gut instincts.

Today we go for a second MRI with contrast. The first MRI showed not one, but 3 bulging discs, one with some mild spinal stenosis and one pressing on a nerve root. No wonder the poor boy has been in so much pain. There were also many Smorl's nodes...not exactly sure what that is, but according to the radiologist is an indicator of Scheuermann's Disease... which when present in the lumbar region is actually called Juvenille Discogenic Disease...which is the equivalent of adult Degenerative Disc Disease. Don't know if you followed all that or not but in other words... it's not a good thing.

Friday morning we will take the results from both MRI's and meet with a pediatric neurosurgeon up at Riley. It's no fun hearing your child's name in the same sentence with "Riley" and "neurosurgeon" let me tell you.

So anyway... any prayers sent our way would be appreciated. God willing I will be able to post a positive update over the weekend.

Ethan had a writing assignment recently that was suppose to begin "I am what I am." I don't often get to see his assignments anymore, but I came upon this one and I just loved it... so I snuck a copy. He would not be happy with me if he knew I posted it here, but since he doesn't read mom's blog I am doing it anyway :). He described himself so acurately. Just as I see him. Nice to know he knows exactly who he is. I know I didn't at 16.

I am what I am...by Ethan Jones

I am what I am and that's all that I am...
I am the country boy that everyone knows and loves.
I am what I am.
I am the dirt road kid that was raised the right way.
I am the person people know they can turn to when they're in a tight spot...
I am what I am.

I am what I am...
I am the kid in the back just hanging out.
I am a quiet, but loud when I need to be kind of guy.
I am what I am.
I am the guy that makes up for others mistakes.
I am always watching out for my friends.
I am what I want to be...I am what makes me happy...
I am what I am.

I am what I am...
I am the average baseball player that has his fare share of playing time and sitting the bench.
I am the athletic kid that loves trucks and four wheelers.
I am what I am.
I am the student that friends come to for school work help.
I am the down to earth kid that I have always wanted to be...
I am what I am.