Book Summary

Book Summary ** Our lives, after the diagnosis and subsequent treatment, of my husband for a brain tumor, clearly have taken a path less traveled. Yet our journey has and continues to be, a journey of hope, joy and of unyeilding commitment. We invite you into our lives, a view of our childhood, marriage, a marriage seperate from convention, yet strongly bound. Join us as we recall the last twenty-five years, twenty of which have been spent LIVING with a brain tumor. Come, witness our challenges and discover our triumphs as we reinvent our relationship, struggle to redefine marriage roles, communication styles, and reclaim intimacy after illness.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Recent trip to Boston for MRI

It's our turn for PMS - pre-MRI syndrome. Ron had an MRI 12/1 and a follow-up Dr J appt. I have not felt comfortable with the way he is walking, dragging his affected leg. I had been making excuses for the past 2 months and really just need answers. Reality stinks but it is the only way to deal with this. Facing the fear that he may need surgery, again. At minimum perhaps be able to drain some cyst fluid. Or maybe he needs some regular exercise, which he has been without since we have been in NH. You think after 20 years of this, I would cope better. Hoping for the best outcome and answers.

OK here is a synopsis of the day. Stayed at Michele's in Jamaica Plains, cozy and quick non stress drive to hospital. MRI on time, Ron napped during procedure. Dropped of copy of book at patient resource center. Off to donate platelets, parking validated and former Patriot there doing PR for the Kraft Donor Center. Gave donor center copy of Hope along with the communications folks doing the PR.  Determined to share with everyone.   Also provided one to the gift shop in hopes they will sell them there.
Met with Dr J and all is stable. Thought Ron's idea of an ankle brace is a good idea to help him walk better.  

We have been told for 20 years that Ron has a gr ii-iii astrocytoma. Yesterday, better news, they gave us a report that it is a glial neoplasm with ganglian cells. Huh? Categrized as a low grade, pretty rare and typically seen in children. ...Dr J has seen only 11 folks with this type of tumor, only 1 of the 11 had it progress to higher stage. The location and the radiation has caused his deficits. The cysts that he and has had surgery for come from both the tumor and or the weakened brain blood vessels and tissue.
I have to thank BCF for the encouragement to get definitive answers for the questions you helped me formulate on this visit. Don't think I have not asked before but I needed answers from this new surgeon who had done surgery last year.