To Cyst or Not to Cyst

Finn's had a cyst since he was super little.  It's been steadily growing with him and has gotten to the point where it was just really big and stretching out the skin and after a few check-ins with the specialist over the last couple years it was decided that now was the time for action.  So action we took!

 

This type of cyst is historically dealt with by thwapping it really hard with a bible (or, as Grandpa Bill says, Gray's Anatomy.)  They frown on that these days, though, so instead they're aspirated with a needle. For adults this would be one of those "look away!" procedures, but for kids they put them under.

 

The nurse at the specialists office over the last few visits referred to the cyst as Finn's "friend" and told him that was what made him special.  Which, you know, was nice and very reassuring to Cyst-Finn.  Unfortunately, it was too reassuring.  When we told him it was going to be removed he got very, very upset and continued to be upset for days.  He didn't want it removed because it was his friend and it made him special.  Why didn't we want him to be special?

 

Eventually, we bribed him with the promise of a lightsaber and he forgot all about being special.  (Don't mention it to Finn though, because we have yet to deliver.  Oops!)

 

So, here we are.  The doctor showed us a needle full of something she said resembled jam but mostly looked like goo with blood in it (thanks, Doc!).  There's still a definite special friend, but it's a little smaller than before.  The specialist said it may or may not be gone and it may or may not come back, so.  Not sure if it was worth it, but I suppose now we know the ropes in case it gets super big in the future.

 

And now he can be special Cyst-Finn with his own blue lightsaber.