Friday, April 27, 2018

"Wow, that was a difficult one..."

Prayer warriors: THANK YOU!!! Thank you for your constant stream of support today. You carried the burden for our family!

Caroline’s surgery was a success! When her surgeon met with us after the surgery, he walked in and said "wow, that was a difficult one."  He thinks he got over 90% of the tumor out, from what he could see and feel.  He had to leave some around her pancreas (removal was too risky), but the hope is that the next two rounds of high-dose chemo will kill off whatever cancer he couldn’t remove today. Caroline’s tumor was so intricately intertwined throughout her organs, that he had to take it out in pieces. We will get the pathology of the tumor next week, but the surgeon is pleased with the result.

The resection surgery took exactly 6 hours.  Prior to the tumor removal, there were 2.5 additional hours of surgery prep, anesthesia prep, port-a-cath removal and Hickman line placement.

Caroline is currently recovering with 2 catheters and an epidural, which will remain for a few days. We expect the overall inpatient recovery to be about a week.

It was a VERY long day of waiting, as you can imagine, but we had amazing friends in and out all day to keep us company!  We appreciate everyone that came out to visit, sit and chat with us-  it meant the world to us!

Words cannot express how truly thankful we are for every.single.person. THANK YOU for your thoughts, prayers, texts, wearing #carolinestrong gear/purple/yellow, sharing messages...just everything.

With overflowing thanks,
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong
#ftgf


Walking herself back to surgery!

First time seeing her after surgery...



"Watching" the Preds game in recovery!

Finally resting in her own room.

45 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for telling and showing us how Caroline did. Praise our Heavenly Father with such great results today. I haven't stopped thinking and praying for you guys today. It was awesome at the Academy today with all the support from teachers and children a like. From the oldest kids to the smallest we all were thinking of Caroline. I will pray you all get plenty of rest tonite after such a hard day. Love you all.

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  2. Praying for your sweet baby girl and you and your husband as well! πŸ’–

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  3. So happy to hear the surgery went well! I was thinking and praying about your baby girl all day. Thank you for the update and my whole family, coworkers, friends, and I will continue to send up prayers.

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  4. I'm so happy to hear Caroline's surgery went well; she seems like such a courageous, beautiful little girl. We will keep her and your family in our thoughts and prayers in the days and weeks to come. Thank you for the update!

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  5. Been thinking about her all day and so glad that the surgery went well. Bless her and you and may she become strong and healthy!

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  6. Praying for you lil one and all the children in this world that suffer from cancer. Stay strong.

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  7. Praying EVERY day for dear, sweet Caroline.

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  8. May the Lord our Heavenly Father look over and bless Caroline in fulfillment of his plan for her. Please Lord give Caroline and her family strength in their time of need. Amen

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  9. Our prayers to God's ears, today is my birthday and I had Caroline in my thoughts all day. My prayers stay with you mom, and your healing as well as beautiful Caroline. She's a beautiful, strong and radiant little girl. Her eyes are so expressive and soulful. Wishing you all love and strength

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  10. Praying for your beautiful inspirational daughter πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•

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  11. Sending you love and healing Caroline! Believe you are healed.... believe it with every molecule in your body, and so it is.

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  12. WOW I COULD CRY RIGHT NOW. I AM SO SOOOO HAPPY HAPPPYYYY FOR CAROLINE AND HER WHOLE FAMILY. I WISH U ALL THE BEST ON THIS PLANET AND THAT U WILL NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH SUCH A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE EVER AGAIN. I AM SO PROUD OF CAROLINE FOR BEING SO STRONG, U CAN SEE THAT JUST FROM THE PICTURES. YOU ARE ANBIG INSPIRATION FOR ME TO NEVER GIVE UP. YOU ARE A TRUE FIGHTER, CAROLINE.
    ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
    GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.��

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  13. I read your story this morning and I am in awe of your strength and your family’s strength through all of this. Caroline is an inspiration and I’m sure God has big plans for her here. Keep your faith, keep fighting and know you have a world of people praying for quick healing❤️❤️❤️

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  14. I am currently on my porch saying my prayers. This is such a positive update and we will keep fighting for your beautiful little girl.

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  15. May God bless you all! I know what kind of battle it is... 5 years ago my daughter walked the same path... my heart and thoughts and prayers are with you. Trust the Lord Gesu in spite of everything. Love from Verona, Italy. Chris

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  16. We are so happy to hear that her surgery went so well, your entire families strength and faith is so inspiring. We continue to send our thoughts and prayers as Caroline fights this battle, this beautiful strong brave little girl truly inspires us everyday!!❤️πŸ™πŸ’ͺ🏻

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  17. So happy to hear that everything went good!! I will continue to pray for your little girl..I do believe in miracles and I pray that everything will be ok with her..I lost a nephew to a brain tumor a few years ago..he left two children behind..cancer does not discriminate..it’s just aweful..I will be following your daughters progress and praying for nothing but the best for her!! God bless you all!

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  18. So thankful everything went as good as it could have gone. We were praying all day and will continue to do so. You all are an inspiration along with Caroline. Lots of love from the Hall family ❤️

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  19. Prayed all day for Caroline and your family after reading your story yesterday. Thank you for the update and so glad it went well. Will keep you in my prayers for continued strength for Mom and Dad especially, health for Caroline and love for her big brother. God bless you all. #Carolinestrong

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  20. I’m glad surgery went well yesterday. Caroline is such a brave warrior. She is amazingly strong and positive, which is such a testimony to how you guys have raised her! Praying for you each night! Thinking of you all daily! I pray for continued healing and strength for you all each and every day.

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  21. God is good and he can do miracles! I will keep my prayers for her recovery. You guys are an example of strength. Lot of love from us Aaron, Irma and little Benjamin Hosey.

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  22. What fantastic news! Prayers make such a difference! Caroline is such a strong, big girl, walking herself back to surgery. Our prayers continue as the recovery process begins through this next course of treatment! Go Preds! And Go Caroline! God Bless! πŸ’ πŸŽ—

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  23. Thank you for taking the time to update us. I am very happy to read Caroline's surgery was a success! You all remain in my prayers. May Caroline continue to strengthen more each day. God bless.

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  24. Matthew and Stephanie CampbellApril 28, 2018 at 9:34 AM

    We send our love and prayers. What a trooper.

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  25. What an amazing little girl, may God continue to give you all strength and courage to fight! Be healed in Jesus Name Caroline! πŸ™πŸ½πŸ’ͺπŸ½πŸ’›πŸ’œ

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  26. Praying for Caroline and mom and dad. God is good, Caroline you are so strong and a beautiful spirited little girl. Keep up the good work, as the world continues to pray for your healing

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  27. I wish I had the words, there just are none. I am praying for your family. Wish I lived close by. God Bless.

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  28. Caroline's story has touched my soul. I pray for God's healing grace and mercy for sweet Caroline. Her smile and fearless attitude are an inspiration to us all. I'm praying everyday for her and your family!

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  29. Excelente!!!! estoy muy contento que haya salido todo muy bien y tambiΓ©n doy las gracias a Dios por poner en las manos de estos expertos doctores a #carolinestrong gracias Dios!!! gracias Doctores! saludos a la familia y muchas fuerzas!!! a cuidar a Caroline en su recuperaciΓ³n!!! saludos from Chile!!!

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  30. Thanks for the update!I'm so happy things went so well!!! I thought about you guys all day and night.❤ here's to a speedy recovery!

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  31. Meghan dehdashtianApril 28, 2018 at 4:15 PM

    You know what crazy i believe everything happens for a reason my husband showed me that the rock reposted your daughters story yesterday at the time of your daughter surgery ... meanwhile my 5 year old daughter was having a surgery also to remove her neroblastoma tumor... it brought tears to my eyes that at the same time we where going through this together that might sound crazy but it brought peace to me .. i am so glad to hear they where able to remove a lot of the tumor.. my daughters surgery was 9hrs and they removed most all of the tumor also and we will be waiting to see if she will need chemo also after! I pray for nothing but the best to you and your family ❤️

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  32. I'm so overjoyed at the fact Caroline is doing well and showed up like a champ for round one! I just joined your journey this week and want to thank you for letting the world see into your lives and let everyone know that Caroline matters! I don't know you personally but when a person goes through what she is facing we as human beings need to be on the same page and take care of each other like family. I will continue to pray for you all and will follow every step of the way God Bless! πŸ™πŸΎ

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  33. Wonderful, wow I am soso happy to hear it about surgery was successful, wonderful she is a such a strong girl , always will be, and when she is on the bed you have to always talk with her as you know and please try give her coloured book , she will try it , and when you are home back after a month or someday pls go with her and if you can go with her friends to a Circus , it will help her a lot as you know thank you for reading if you are do not mind send me your right address I'd like to send you traditional a toy & plant tea, best regards Chimgee

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  34. My eyes have filled with water each time I’ve visited your site since I came across the Rock’s post on Instagram. The other night, I got down on my knees by my bed and prayed for your daughter to have a successful surgery. I have been checking back in to see progress since then and I am soo happy to hear your good news. Stay strong!

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  35. Dearest Caroline,

    May God bless and keep you always
    May your wishes all come true
    May you always do for others
    And let others do for you
    May you build a ladder to the stars
    And climb on every rung
    May you grow up to be righteous
    May you grow up to be true
    May you always know the truth
    And see the lights surrounding you
    May you always be courageous
    Stand upright and be strong
    May your hands always be busy
    May your feet always be swift
    May you have a strong foundation
    When the winds of changes shift
    May your heart always be joyful
    May your song always be sung

    And may you stay Forever young
    (Dillon)

    With Love & Prayers,
    Cousin Joseph

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  36. You have my prayers, glad to see the surgery went well!

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  37. πŸ’—πŸ’•Bless all of you and especially Caroline for being so strong! πŸ’—πŸ’•

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  38. Dear God bless all of your hearts! What a little warrior angel you've got there! My son has the very same siderman, btw πŸ‘πŸ˜‰ please know that we (my 11yr old son & I) are praying for little Caroline's recovery and for your family. Best wishes, love, light, and healing from our hearts to yours πŸ™πŸ™ŒπŸ’šπŸ’ͺ

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  39. Praying for your quick recovery dear...

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  40. Praying for you lil angel��

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  41. What a Warrior! Hoping for a quick recovery!

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  42. Continued prayers for our little warrior! Ms. Tamara is rooting for you Caroline!

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  43. Hi Caroline, you do not know me but I know through your amazing great aunt Shirley. I adore you, your sprits, and just so you know you truly are my inspiration. I wish you a quick recovery and hope to meet you someday! Get well beautiful angel! -Jihwan

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