Sunday, July 27, 2008

Manny

When Lucia was about one-month old we noticed a very small bump in the area of her left eyebrow. Annie thought Lucy may have bumped her head while becoming more brave with her head control.

Days later the bump was not going away. A week later the bump was getting bigger rather than smaller. After trips to the doctor, an ultra sound, and an MRI it was determined Lucia had a cavernous hemangioma. Basically the bump is a benign tumor filled with blood vessels causing it to have a purplish-blue appearance.
June 5, 2008
Since then her bump, we call Manny for short, has grown. Because it is so close to her eye it is affecting her ability to fully open her eyelid. She sees a pediatric opthamologist to monitor her vision on a monthly basis.

Usually treatment is not given, but Lucia will likely get steroid treatments once her eyelid does not expose her pupil. Otherwise if her developing brain does not use that eye it will shut it down and she will lose all vision in that eye. The treatments will help Manny shrink.


Typically hemangiomas will go through three stages: proliferation (growth, could last up to 12-months), rest, and involution (shrink). Going through these stages typically takes years. About 50% of the lesions disappear by age five.


Lucia's last visit to her pediatric opthamologist revealed she developed an astigmatism in her left eye. Her current course of treatment consists of patching her good eye for a couple hours a day and wearing glasses.


Lucia & Manny chillin' on July 19, 2008

Let the patching begin July 24, 2008

4 comments:

Audra said...

I noticed that bump in a previous pictures and wondered what had happened...I though maybe she had bumped her head, but I also wondered if it was a hemangioma...I see lots of those! She is adorable!!!

Anonymous said...

Greetings Mejias,
Thanks for keepin; "in touch", Eh?! Lucia IS indeed gorgeous, & we enjoyed your MANY pictures & captions, etc! Tell us MORE about your new location, & we'll try to stay in contact! We have missed "Cozumel", as our time-share ran out a few year's back! Godd fortune on your "fellowship", & we certainly cherish of fantastic times together in "San Miguel" for sure! We surely miss the "el Flamingo" as well! HA!
Best to you,
Doug & Lynda Warren OXOXOX!!!!!

Anonymous said...

hey guys
Great blog. Lucia is a sweetie. Can you update us on the hemangioma when you get a chance. I have a little 3 month old who has a bluish mark near her cheek and a little lump. She's had it about 2 weeks. I'm concerned it may turn into a hemangioma, and I'd like to know how other parents dealt with it. How is your little one? I hope it hasnt affected her eyesight.

Isabel said...

Congratulations you have a beautiful daughter!
I would like to know how lucia is doing..is she in school now?
I was born in 1964 with a cavernous hemangioma on the calf of my left leg that looked exactly like lucia's when i was a baby.
I am always interested in knowing if there was anything done to stop the growth.
I would love to see a recent picture of Lucia.She is absolutely beautiful!