Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Elizabeth slept fine on Tuesday night. She was told if her sutures continued to leak spinal fluid she'd have yet another procedure done, so she couldn't eat— incase there was a surgery.

By mid afternoon she was in rare form. Crabby about not eating. You didn't want to talk about food or bring something in. She'd jump on you. So everyone was pretty good about not doing that.

Wednesday (late afternoon) was the day for the neurosurgery review board. Elizabeth's was first up. Her father was able to actually hear the physicians discuss her surgery. He said he heard all the words, but it didn't really compute. Too much medical jargon for him to make a lot of it; but he did find out that it was a rare form of tumor without a history as to why it would form. It has nothing to do with foods eaten or not eaten; with environmental issues nor with health. He was told sometimes cells just go a muck. And Elizabeth's had done that.

We were beginning to think it might have been the Chantix that she used to stop smoking. We had read a lot about it and it seemed to fit. However, we have moved on from that supposition. Jim (Elizabeth's dad) also learned it was 20% of her brain size! We knew it was big, but wow. We had likened the size to an avocado.

Elizabeth's sister, Karyn, is her primary caregiver during this ordeal. Mom and Dad help out, but the bottom line is that she's staying at Karyn's home. So Elizabeth calls Karyn, Nurse Ratched. And they both call this event, "One Flew over the Avocado". Then they will both laugh. Dr. Harris after the second surgery came in wondering which of us was Elizabeth's Nurse Ratched. He had a smile when asking. Karyn owned up and they enjoyed the joke.

So Elizabeth's infectious humor was evident to her physicians. And when her dad dropped in on Wednesday afternoon before the neurosurgery review board meeting, Elizabeth told him to tell her doctor that she was HUNGRY! Her doctor decided she could have dinner and her mom got there in time to see her "eat the whole thing". Yep, she would have gotten a star if they were being handed out.

She went to sleep Wednesday on a full tummy and knew if there was an leakage the next day would be a hungry one.

Sunday Travails

At the 4 AM scheduled meds Karyn and Elizabeth noticed some drainage from the wound of the operation. So they called us (Mom and Dad) and we met them at about 6:30 AM at the TG ER. After much waiting, a few well taken sutures and gauze wrap we were out of there.

Elizabeth went back to Karyn's for rest. Then after dinner (5:30pm) her head had more discharge. Which Karyn changed her dressing and waited, but again it became very damp so Karyn took Elizabeth back to the ER. They went about 6:30 PM today. And we just received the call that Elizabeth is being readmitted.

Please keep praying for her. She needs all of us helping her get well. It is proven that prayer can/does help. Right now Elizabeth is facing an ugly situation. She needs all of our positive thoughts/energy and prayers.

Just an aside that Elizabeth would laugh with you about: The day the tumor was diagnosed we went from her house to the Urgent Care at Westgate. (Intending to eat breakfast after the doctor visit.) But the doctor had us go directly to Allenmore. When we got there we were both hungry, but they told Elizabeth she couldn't eat after checking in. So she kept saying how hungry she was... Then they shipped us to TG via ambulance, and still no food. They put her on liquids until her surgery was over the next night. Well, she was very hungry. Then today happened... again no breakfast. So when tonight happened she had just finished a good meal... at least she is there with a meal and not on an empty tummy again. Hurrah for her.

I am still fighting my terrible cold. I want nothing more than to be by her side, but I'd hate to infect her with my virulent cold bugs. So I'm here writing to you all and hope to get well enough to visit her tomorrow. I MUST get to see her. This not going because I'm sick is enough to make me violent... good things I'm home with lots of pillows to punch.

More as we know it.