I apologize for the delay on my explanation, first of all. I went to Birmingham to meet with my surgeon at UAB. After a couple of hours of Q&A and an informal tour of almost every floor at the Kirkland Clinic, I am having surgery January 3rd.
A mis-communication of the urgency of my case is to blame I believe; however, my surgeon told me he could operate now or two weeks for now, it was my call. He told me there was no guarantee a hold for two weeks would make a difference. I decided that in that case I want this Christmas with my family at home and my church family to be the best possible, not with me recovering after a surgery. Thank you all for your prayers & sweet, sweet words. The prayers are giving me strength and guidance I assure you. My actions are not of my own accord!
Here's the science behind the procedure for you brains out there (I'm a nerd, no shame). Back in 2004 when I had my tumor and cyst removed, I mentioned I contracted an infection. This infection left abrasions in the ventricles (canal-like things) in my head. Brain fluid flows through these, but mine has a rough go of it due to my abrasions that act as tiny obstructions. I have a shunt in the top left side of head to help this. Now with my new symptoms and the new scans, my surgeon believes placing another shunt in the back right side of my head will help his flow and thereby diminishing the fluid within my spinal cord.
Now, I want to apologize in advance a little. I ask for your prayers - prayer to our Almighty God works! The apology is for my reply to your comments. I read them and I LOVE and APPRECIATE them all! I apologize because I do not reply to each or many of them. It doesn't mean I am not seeing and cherishing them. Maybe I'm stubborn (surprise!), it is though my intention to continue to live everyday to the fullest. I totally believe I can wake up any day now without any symptoms, physically healed. God can do that if He chooses! No matter what though, I have a new job that I love and appreciate, I am graduating from Athens State University this semester, I have a church I adore participating in specifically the Salem Springs Youth Group (you students rock), and certainly not the least, I have tons of family that I want to give all I have to! Nothing this world (Satan himself) can throw at me will change this.
I pray you ALL have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! And do not forget the reason for this celebration. It's Jesus Christ. The Savior of this world. Over two thousand years ago, God came to this earth in the form of a baby boy, grew to be a man that lived a perfect and sinless life, and then He gave his life for you. AMAZING GRACE! If that doesn't make you set down your hot cocoa (or Sundrop) and sing Glory! well...holler at me and we will talk :)
I love you and thank you all!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Here's the deal...
Okay, I'm going back a few years first then I'll bring it on home to today. This is an attempt to get us all up to speed.
In January 2004, I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor surrounded by a large cyst. Over the next couple of years, I underwent 21 surgeries on my head related to problems associated with this initial diagnosis. One of these problems was that I had accumulated an excess of scar tissue in my neck causing my spinal fluid to gather inside of my spinal cord (not good). I had a surgery in which the scar tissue was removed and the fluid did then move on as it should. I did however still have a small amount of fluid left in my spinal cord, but as you can imagine, my doctors said If you are not having symptoms, I'm not touching you! Yea, like I said, 21 surgeries (blah!).
Now, after about 7 or 8 years, the amount of fluid in my spinal cord has grown notably and is causing me neck pain and nerve issues in my arms. In my hands, I am losing certain sensations and others are very sensitive. These sensations have also now become intense sharp pain through my arms and hands. My neck locks up in pain when I yell or strain my breathing because of the force or pressure the breath in my throat puts against my spinal cord. The fluid is stressing these areas that affect my neck and arms.
After all that medical mumbo jumbo, I am having surgery this coming week (penciled in for Tuesday). I go Monday morning to UAB for a somewhat consult with my surgeon and I will post the specifics thereafter. THANK YOU for taking the time to read this and to keep up with me. I do ask that you pray for me! I honestly know that God has got this. He's brought me through once (more than once trust me!) and can do it again, no doubt! I, being the flawed human I am, still am having some anxiety about the negative possibilities, but again, He brought me through before and I have no reason to doubt His faithfulness time and time again. The prayers I ask for are not so much for me but for my parents and family. I watched them suffer right there with me for two years; I don't want to relive that! It's Christmas time, God sent His son to be our salvation...there is no doubt He will continue to provide :)
In January 2004, I was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor surrounded by a large cyst. Over the next couple of years, I underwent 21 surgeries on my head related to problems associated with this initial diagnosis. One of these problems was that I had accumulated an excess of scar tissue in my neck causing my spinal fluid to gather inside of my spinal cord (not good). I had a surgery in which the scar tissue was removed and the fluid did then move on as it should. I did however still have a small amount of fluid left in my spinal cord, but as you can imagine, my doctors said If you are not having symptoms, I'm not touching you! Yea, like I said, 21 surgeries (blah!).
Now, after about 7 or 8 years, the amount of fluid in my spinal cord has grown notably and is causing me neck pain and nerve issues in my arms. In my hands, I am losing certain sensations and others are very sensitive. These sensations have also now become intense sharp pain through my arms and hands. My neck locks up in pain when I yell or strain my breathing because of the force or pressure the breath in my throat puts against my spinal cord. The fluid is stressing these areas that affect my neck and arms.
After all that medical mumbo jumbo, I am having surgery this coming week (penciled in for Tuesday). I go Monday morning to UAB for a somewhat consult with my surgeon and I will post the specifics thereafter. THANK YOU for taking the time to read this and to keep up with me. I do ask that you pray for me! I honestly know that God has got this. He's brought me through once (more than once trust me!) and can do it again, no doubt! I, being the flawed human I am, still am having some anxiety about the negative possibilities, but again, He brought me through before and I have no reason to doubt His faithfulness time and time again. The prayers I ask for are not so much for me but for my parents and family. I watched them suffer right there with me for two years; I don't want to relive that! It's Christmas time, God sent His son to be our salvation...there is no doubt He will continue to provide :)
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