Phil and I left the hospital last night for an hour.  We were both breathing a unified sigh of relief.

Here’s what it’s not: TB, Toxoplasmosis, a syrinx.  A syrinx is INSIDE the spinal cord.  Lucas’s cyst is outside the cord.  It MIGHT be an arachnoid cyst. A ventral (front) intradural (between dura) arachnoid cyst.  It’s about as rare as they come.  And it being in such a tricky spot makes it very hard to remove.  So our worry is by far not over.  Of course I’m scared shitless that it will grow, will add pressure to the spinal cord, will cause his movement to change.  Of course I’m still terrified, but at least I know about what I’m terrified. 

Oncology finally got back to us late last night, after waiting the entire day to hear the interpretation of his high LDH results.  They thought it was highly unlikely that it was any type of cancer/lymphoma, etc.  They cannot rule it out 100%, but they find it very improbable.  Very.

So now we’re back to the neurosurgeon who needs to guide us through the options.  Phil and I are feeling much better… but of course, there’s still an inflamed spinal cord.  And we need to figure out what’s next.  But I do feel better knowing what it’s NOT.  Now pardon me while I go google "arachnoid cyst."