Monday, June 29, 2009

So far, so good today; although, we have not heard from the neurosurgical department to get more definite plans on a pre-op MRI or surgery. We ventured out to Wal-mart today to get some groceries, trying to get organized for the upcoming weeks. Mom is in great spirits and ready to fight the tough battle she has ahead. The calls and cards keep coming in and it is certainly a blessing to see how concerned everyone is. Mom is checking the blog periodically and seeing all the comments, as well. I truly believe this is helping her (and us) stay strong and positive. Thank you all for your support and thoughtfulness!

Monday, June 29, 2009

We had another good day yesterday. Mom and I went to church and Chad and Laura came over for a visit. It was really great to see them and hear about their lives. Mom really enjoyed their visit. We're still awaiting a call for the official date of surgery and hoping that it comes very soon. I'll post again when I get that information. Thanks for everyone's concern to not only Mom, but to the rest of the family, as well. We are all so grateful for your calls, emails, and prayers. The support from our community and friends has left such an impression on my family. Thank you!

Saturday, June 27

Mom has had a really good day today. Justin, Allison, & Echo spent the night last night, and then stayed until they had to go to work tonight. It was a relaxing day which was good for everyone. This evening after Dad left for work we made a trip to Lenox for the Ice Cream Social. The homemade ice cream was very good and we got to see several concerned friends and neighbors. Mom has been off her pain medication for three days now, so I guess that's a good sign, too. The sutures in her incision are healing nicely and she'll probably get them out sometime next week, possibly when we go in for the pre-op MRI.

Feel free to pass on this address to anyone I may have missed. I tried to get in contact with everyone I had email addresses for, but know that I've ended up missing people. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. We greatly appreciate it!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Today we met with the neurosurgeon and the neurologist. The results of the biopsy were not as positive as we had been praying for. The report stated that the tumor is cancerous and a very aggressive form; however, it is an operable tumor and the surgery will be scheduled for sometime during the week of July 6th. Radiation and chemotherapy will begin shortly after surgery when the incision has healed well enough for the therapies. Luckily, the form of cancer we're dealing with isn't the type to metastasize so we don't have to worry about it affecting her lungs or anything else. The tumor is fairly large in the right frontal portion of the brain. The neurosurgeon was optimistic that they would be able to remove at least 80%, if not all of the tumor with the surgery, but because of the nature of the cancer, there is a chance it can return; thus the aggressive therapies of radiation and chemo.

The amount of concern we have received throughout this past week has been wonderfully overwhelming. We certainly appreciate all the cards, calls, emails, and most of all prayers. I will continue to keep you posted on things. Please continue to remember us in your prayers.

Update

I've decided to begin providing updates on Mom on here to make it easier for everyone to know what's going on. Feel free to continue to call, email, and send cards, she really does appreciate your concern and thoughtfulness.

While shopping on Friday, Mom had a seizure and was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital. There she had a CT scan that revealed a lesion on her brain. An MRI showed that the lesion is approximately 2x3 centimeters on the upper right side of the brain. She then had a biopsy on Saturday morning that confirmed that the lesion is a brain tumor. The tumor had caused swelling inside her skull which caused the seizure. I had been in San Antonio and got the news Friday night. I was able to get a flight Saturday morning and arrived at the hospital Saturday following the surgery. Because she was in stable condition, she was released from the hospital on Sunday and has been at home recovering. We have a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgeon on Friday to get the biopsy results.

Dad and I are trying to take good care of her, giving her her medications, and making sure she's resting. She's been in very good spirits and is getting along very well. Her hair is almost long enough that it covers the bald spot and incision. Unless you're looking for it, it isn't really that noticeable. She's weaning herself off her pain medication and says she's only having pain at her incision when she raises her eyebrows. Mom felt well enough that we were able to go out to Red Lobster for Allison's birthday last night. We've got tickets to see My Fair Lady tomorrow night and Mom's been looking forward to going for a long time. She made sure to ask if she would be allowed to go before she left the hospital!

I will try to provide updates on a regular basis with new information as we get it. We truly appreciate your thoughts, calls, cards, emails, and most of all your prayers. Please continue to pray for Mom and our family, and for good news on Friday.