the Paladinos

First Treatment at Children's

Thursday, May 31, 2007 by Michael Paladino

Everything went really well at Gabby's appointment at Children's this morning.  The procedure consisted of a shot of cortisone in her lip and about 5 zaps with a laser.  The whole thing only lasted about 2-3 minutes, and she was calm and back to her normal self almost immediately after.  She's been doing well all day and it doesn't seem to be bothering her at all.  Right now, the lip is pretty swollen, but that should go away in the next couple of days and go back to the way it was before or possibly a little smaller.

We'll go back for another treatment in 4-6 weeks depending on how the lip responds to this one.

Gabby's Appointment at Children's

Monday, May 21, 2007 by Michael Paladino

We just got back to Fort Smith after Gabby's appointment at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock today.  The growth on her lip is definitely a hemangioma, and the doctor seemed very confident that we can treat it.  We will be returning to Children's next Thursday, May 31 for her first treatment.  The treatment will consist of a shot of cortisone directly in her lip to slow the growth and laser treatment to reduce the redness.  We will go back for 3-5 total treatments every 4-6 weeks through the first year assuming they go well.  Sometime after the first year when the hemangioma has grown to its biggest point, we will evaluate whether or not we want to do surgery to remove what is left of the growth.  The doctor made it sound like a very simple surgery that would completely remove the growth.

We are very grateful that we were able to get into Children's and feel very comfortable with the staff that we have met there so far.  We also are thankful for the support and prayers of all our friends and family.

Gabby and Daddy

Thursday, May 17, 2007 by Leslie Paladino