Urgent Prayer Request

Please pray for Nina Kovach and her family. Nina is 4 years old and attend my church. Here is an email from her Mommy.

"Our four year old daughter, Nina, was diagnosed with a 5cm tumor between her adrenal gland and right kidney. This was discovered last Thursday 1/24/08 during an ultra sound to find out why she has had three urinary tract infections since August. We were asked to come back the next day for a CT scan, and we weren't expecting to get any results until today. But then we got that horrific call on Saturday to meet the pediatrician at his office immediately. Here is where things stand today 1/28/08:
We were told by our pediatrician to just show up at the Hematology/Oncology clinic this morning. The nurse who registered Nina said that she wasn't sure which doctor we would be seeing, but that Nina had been discussed during morning rounds. It was sad seeing some children wearing masks and others without hair. Nina didn't seem to notice. She was too busy blowing through all the toys in the waiting room. She was excited to be there. She really doesn't get any of this.
We met Dr. Olshefski and he said that the tumor could be one of three things. Two of them involved Neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer, but the third possibility was a benign tumor. Finally, someone is saying that there is a 33% chance that this is not cancer. Dr. O said that this tumor must come out immediately, and then he let us see her CT scan. Technology is amazing! The scan was in a three-dimensional bird's eye view on the computer screen. It started at the liver and moved down showing the left kidney. We could see the tumor on the opposite side of the screen. Her right kidney was noticeably larger, and it had calcium deposits on it.
Dr. O said they would like to have the golf ball sized tumor out this week, but there is a chance that the surgeon will say that Nina needs to have chemotherapy, before surgery, to shrink the tumor making it easier to remove. Surgery will likely involve slicing off part of Nina's liver and some or all of her right kidney. We will meet the surgeon, Dr. King, at 1:15 tomorrow (Tuesday 1/29) to discuss all of this.
Nina's tests today were minimal. They took urine to look for chemicals that the body produces with neuroblastoma. They also took a blood sample. Nina did amazingly well with the needle. She didn't even blink or flinch when it went in, and she watched the whole time. She's been telling everyone that the nurses took some "Nina Juice" out of her arm. We were out of the clinic by 10:40, which was such a blessing because we were told that we could be there all day and even be admitted.
Dr. O said that our main goal is to get it out. During surgery the pathologist will determine if the tumor is neuroblastoma or benign. If it does turn out to be cancerous, she will need lots of other scans and tests. Some that will begin right then and there, like a bone marrow biopsy. Then, she will start chemo once she is strong enough. If it is benign, they will get it all out, and this nightmare will be over.
For those who are keeping us in prayer, please pray that they can do the surgery this week and not have to put Nina through chemo first. Also, pray that this is benign. What a wonderful possibility to hear today. We are having so much hope. The fact that Nina is almost asymptomatic, she is eating well, and playing hard, makes us feel hopeful. Today was a good day.
Thank you all so much for your prayers. We have really felt them. All four of us were able to get a good night's sleep last night, and that was a huge improvement over Saturday. You have all offered us so much love and support. We are overwhelmed by your spirit of giving and eagerness to help. Thank you to the people we've never met who are taking the time each day to pray for Nina.
God Bless You! Tonia"