Hemangioma

Prognosis
Hemangiomas go through three stages of development and decay:
1-In the proliferation stage, a hemangioma grows very quickly.

This stage can last up to twelve months.
2-In the rest stage, there is very little change in a hemangioma's appearance.

This usually lasts until the infant is one to two years old.
3-In the involution phase, a hemangioma finally begins to diminish in size.

Fifty percent of lesions will have disappeared by age five with the vast majority gone by puberty.

Jacque & Hannah finally had their appointment with a new doctor about their hamangiomas. It took us 6 months to get this appointment and we are very upbeat about what the doctor has planned for the girls.

*Jacque's hemangioma on her ear is looking great. It has been shrinking like a balloon slowly loosing air. It is in the involution stage and is very reassuring. Jacque has been seeing numerous doctors since she was an infant and we always get the same advice. {WAIT} until she is 2, then until she is 4, then 5 or 6. Finally we got the answers we were searching for. Next month the DR wants to have multiple specialist diagnose her ear to find the best way to remove the hemangioma and reconstruct her earlobe. Most likely surgery will happen within the next 9 months to a year.

*Hannah has 2 hemangiomas; her pinky toe & on her chest. The one on her chest is a lot like the one on Jacque's ear. Since it is still in the proliferation stage, the DR doesn't want to do surgery on it until it is a rest stage, {after a year or sooner}. She will also be examined with Jacque next month to get a plan in place for removal. Hannah's toe is more superficial, on the surface, and mpst likley wont get huge. She is going to get some laser treatment to stop the growth, and may have steroid injections to shrink it. She gets her first laser treatment next week.

It is such a relief to find a doctor that will actually be proactive and help our sweet girls. We are confident in this doctors experience and his colleagues will take very good care of them. He told us something we had never heard before. That most hemangios eventually go away on their own, but some, some will shrink yet stay forever. His philosophy is that if the patient is going to have to get surgery eventually to fix the area where the hemangioma used to be, then might as well do it now, and not let it cause self-esteem issues while they are young.

We will keep you updated as we have more appointments.

All I can say is that prayer works. Thank you!