October 23rd 2010 was a day for the books and where this story begins! It’s hard to believe that after 6 weeks of experiencing the following, I have yet to get my story trimmed down into a concise summation of the details. But alas, I have not. Believe me, I’ve written and re-written this background story about a dozen times and what I’ve come to realize is that you are all at this website because in some way, you heard or read that I am having surgery on Tuesday, December 7th 2010. So let’s just start there…
Yes, at approximately 8:00 am on the 7th, I will be having BRAIN surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, PA to remove what doctors think is a benign brain tumor, (also known as a meningioma), from my…brain [insert winky face].
Some of you have known that this has been going on in my life for the past 6 weeks, and some of you just now -- I’m talking in the short time since you started reading this post-- found out. I apologize for not filling the latter group in sooner, but let’s face it, a lot has been going on with me since October 23rd including seizures, 4-hour migraines, potent medications, not being able to drive, text, type, talk or write! (Just to name a few).
As you can tell by the above list, I have experienced several specific physical limitations in the past few weeks that has made it very difficult for me to contact people directly. I’ll explain a little more: Basically, the tumor in my brain and the swelling surrounding it is located in the motor cortex of the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere of my brain. PHEW! HELLO Anatomy and Physiology, 101! The location of the tumor causes me to have what my doctors are calling partial “seizures,” contrary to the grand mal seizures people usually associate with the term. With my seizures, I don’t convulse or even lose consciousness. What happens to ME when I have a seizure, is that the right side of my tongue, lips and cheeks start to go numb and I have little control over them. This, in turn, causes my speech to become unintelligible. I know what I want to say but it doesn’t come out right. Another side effect of my seizures is that I lose sensation and control of my right arm and hand, making it very hard to pinch, write or do anything else requiring fine motor skills. Can you see that this could be an extremely frustrating problem for anyone, let alone a person whose entire line of work depends on her ability to not only talk and write, but do these things well!? Yikes! So, after about 4 weeks of experiencing these seizures almost every day, I decided, along with much-needed input from my parents, friends, classmates, family members and professors, made the decision to enter into the “journey” of surgery to remove my tumor, that I begin tomorrow morning…
So I leave you with that fraction of information for now. (And when I say fraction, you should be thanking me that I didn’t just post the nearly 5-page, research-paper-like entry I originally began this blog with). Tomorrow morning we will be reporting to the hospital by 6:00 am, looking FORWARD to a speedy recovery. The doctors describe the surgery as one of the simplest BRAIN surgeries that are done. It should take approximately 2 hours to complete and I could be home from the hospital as quickly as Wednesday night! I’m not getting my hopes up for that one, but WOW! – how amazing is that if it can be done! During my time spent in the hospital over the next few days, this blog will be updated by my dear friend, Alison and my mother (Lord, help her!). As I grow stronger, I will also be updating with posts, pictures and videos of how I’m doing so that those who can’t visit, can follow along!
Thank you all SO much for all the well-wishes, prayers and positive energy that has already been sent my way in preparation for the surgery. You truly don’t know how much it means to me! And while you’re at it, please send some of those good thoughts and wishes to my PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, FRIENDS and FAMILY MEMBERS who have been BEYOND supportive, (not to mention worried), about my situation.
They could use the prayers too! Thanks!
Until next time friends!
xoxo,
*Casey
PS- Big props to my very own “Dr. McDreamy”—neurosurgeon Hugh D. Moulding MD, Ph. D. at St. Luke’s Hospital. Thanks in advance, doc!
(Really? When did this become an acceptance speech for the VMAs? :) )
