New child with Hodgkin lymphoma

This 9 year old boy showed up to the hospital today with a large mass in his left neck.  The mass was made up of multiple lymph nodes that were stuck together and fixed to the tissue underneath.  The was no recent history of infection.

The size of the mass was more impressive from the back.

Bala has colon cancer that was removed and is now receiving chemotherapy.  He is a fixture at the hospital and always wants to hold my hand.

Explaining that a biopsy of the lymph nodes would be necessary to make a diagnosis.  One of the GYN surgeons (they do everything here) came over to do the biopsy.

This painting hangs in the OR above the operating table.  Nice visualization of Jesus working alongside the medical staff here at the hospital.

This is the anesthesia equipment....very old, but it works.

The site has been cleaned and he is asleep (ketamine).

Removing portions of the lymph node for evaluation.  After looking at the cells under the microscope (sheets of lymphoblasts, Reed Sternberg cells) we made the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma.  He does not have any lymph nodes that we can feel anywhere else and his chest x-ray is normal.  We also did a bone marrow test which did not show any cancer cells.  He will start chemotherapy on Monday and his chances of survival should be very good.  The family was able to pay for the procedures for the diagnosis, but will not have enough money for the chemotherapy treatments.  This is the case for all of the cancer patients who have been treated so far.  This is where Brett's cancer fund comes in.  If you feel led to support the treatment of Malian children with cancer you can go to the link below.  All giving is secure, tax deductible, and used by the MacLeans for treating children with cancer at Koutiala Hospital.
http://tinyurl.com/khcancer

Several kids in the waiting room wanted their picture taken so that they could look at them on the LCD screen.

Bala

It was a rainy day here at the hospital.  It was a "chilly" 90 degrees so all of the moms had their babies wearing warm hats.... this is a cute baby!

"The sauce".... this is the cleaning solution used in the OR.  We are going to re-use the bone marrow needles since they are so hard to come by here in Mali.

Looking down on "the sauce".

Ed, the head of the lab, has been helping me set up the machine for sickle screening.  We are making some slight adjustment and plan to have it ready for screening all of the newborns by the time that I leave.

My lunch today.  Rice with beef and a gumbo sauce made by Jeremy and delivered to the hospital.

Sickle cell screening in progress