This honestly breaks my heart, and being a mom makes that emotion so much more intense. I cannot imagine what he and his parents are going through. The poor sweet, beautifuly baby.

My wife had a mastectomy 10 yr ago and because of a potential threat, all 21 nodes were striped out. Back then, that was the standard practice. Her lump was fairly large: A lumpectomy was performed while she was on the operatng table and the quick analysis said the margin was not 'clean' so the surgeon proceded with the full procedure including all node removal. It truned out that all nodes were clean and the removal was unnecessary. We also found that if the surgeon had removed just a little more material around her lump, the margin would have been clean and that would have prevented a lifetime of problems. Less than 2 years later, the recommendation for her case type changed and the new procedure became: remove the first node and check it. If it is ok, stop. It was our experience that removal of all nodes create a drainage problem. Fluid tends to build up for at least 6 weeks until the body can find ways to absorb and reroute it. These nodes are part of the drainage system for the infection fighters. The body did eventually heal, but a comprise remains. My wife has a lifing restriction of 10 lbs on that arm for the rest of her life. A larger weigth will not do physical harm, but the exertion can overload the drainage system and the muscles may be weak. it can result in a minor injury that will take a long time to heal. So my advice is: Do not let your nodes be removed unless these are PROVEN invaded. Over 10 years ago, complete removal was done to insure that an invaded node was not missed. In too many cases (back then) when nodes were left, they gave trouble and once the cancer invaded the nodal system, it is very late. Better (and faster) detection plus more research has changed the picture. Be sure to discuss with your oncologist.

take a look in wal mart for scarves that cover your head, and come in some cute patterns (I had one for Halloween, and Christmas, lol) they're usually in the section where the purses are.... it's so hard on moms to have chemo, with kids...I can still remember one younger mom crying when the cancer nurse told us no kisses/hugs from children...is she going to have reconstructive surgery after or during?

Morz8, the expanders are to stretch the skin gradually for the implants to go in. She starts school in 2 weeks. Her husband went in and helped her get her classroom ready. He has been a jewel during all of this. Gadgets, thank you so much for thinking of Kelly, too. She has been having problems with a hip area and Is doing radiation. She is a real trooper, too. The two gals have been so good for each other. Kelly is a school bus driving in Indianapolis. These are two amazing women!!!