Ninas hemangioma surgery

Our daughter Antonina is 7 months old. Her hemangioma started to be visible at birth but was very faint. It is located In her hairline over her left temple. Around a month old it was rapidly growing. We consulted her pediatrician about it and she thought over time it would go away untreated but referred us to get another opinion. We saw a pediatric surgeon at U of M in November when Nina was about 2 month old. They also said it should eventually shrink naturally and to leave it alone. By this time it had grown to about the size of a silver dollar and was raised a quarter inch. She had also developed a tiny one near her other temple and one on the crown of her head that was the size of a pea. They did give us Timolol to apply twice a day to the smaller ones but not the largest one saying it was too late to treat. We did that for a couple months and saw the pin sized one vanish but the pea sized one didn't have any result. In late November she developed a scab on the larger one It grew larger, the scab and hemangioma. I did some research and some hemangiomas van celebrate like hers did. We would apply neosporin and gauze to the sore to protect it. The scab would then ash away and under was very raw and irritated. We went back to the doctor at U of M worried for infection, there was no infection just a very irritated and raw they had us keep it clean and dry. After a month of pain and scabbing it finally healed for the most part. It was so terrible seeing Nina in so much pain at such a young age. Now at 7 months old there will be small scabs here and there from it ulcerating but they eventually dry and fall off. We worry all the time that there will be a deeper ulcer that will puncture a main artery. I have seen so many success stories of surgically removing the hemangioma so our daughter can live a worry free life! We were doing the "wait it out" route instead of any oral medication which we prefer not to use due to any unknown long term side effects. Her hemangioma is elevated a half inch and 7cm around. I'm worried it won't ever go away without treatment. We have been told when she is 8-10 years old it should go away but will need a couple surgeries to reconstruct the area where it had been for so long. We found a vascular specialist that is located at children's hospital of Miami he specializes in vascular hemangioma surgery and is very confident he can safely remove Nina's hemangioma before any emergency situation happens. Since she is so young it is a perfect time to operate since she won't remember anything and the scalp can develop naturally. Then she can live a healthy worry free life!