Do you see that white and pink spot on Sophie's left cheek?
It appeared during the last week of October. At first I thought it was just a bit of irritation. Then, when it got a little bigger, I figured it was a pimple. But it continued to slowly grow. At her two-year checkup in December I asked the pediatrician what it was. He gave a few theories, then referred us to a pediatric dermatologist for an expert opinion.
Bryan and Sophie saw the specialist last Friday. The spot is a pilomatricoma, a non-cancerous tumor that often grows on the head or neck. They are not uncommon in children. And they don't go away on their own.
During the visit the doctor asked about Sophie's birthmark. Bryan told her that she had been seen by a dermatologist in Washington and at that time we were told that we could discuss removing the birthmark when she was ten years old, but not before. The Chicago doctor's response? "That's weird." Apparently she performs laser treatments on kids all the time.
The pilomatricoma must be surgically removed, the sooner the better. The bigger it gets, the bigger the scar that it leaves will be. And that scar will need to be kept out of the sun for an entire year. During the surgery Sophie will need to be under general anesthesia. While she's asleep, in addition to removing the tumor, the doctor will do the first laser treatment on Sophie's birthmark.
I've gone back and forth about her birthmark. When she was born I definitely wanted it gone. But now that I've known her with that mark for the last two years, it seems like a natural part of her face. I feel bad wanting it removed. However, there's a chance that the red area will thicken over the years. I don't want that to happen. And the birthmark is so dark, the dermatologist doesn't think it will ever go away completely, just lighten. So even with the treatment, she will never lose it entirely.
The surgery is on Tuesday, probably in the morning, though we won't know for sure until we get a call from the hospital on Monday. I'm nervous about the anesthesia, even though I have no real reason to be. She's anxious to have the tumor removed. She keeps rubbing it and saying, "Take off."
Will you please remember our sweet Sophie girl in your prayers on Tuesday?
