A Little Change Never Hurt!

 We are back with an update! 

It has been a wild few weeks! Getting a second opinion really changed everything, but also led to some very strong emotions over the past few weeks.  

When I met with the Rush Surgeon on Ellie’s Birthday, February 28th, I thought that we were going to get a very clear answer that day. So I had been really setting myself up emotionally for that.  I thought that he was going to look at my case, look at my first Rush surgeons (his mentors) notes and just say okay let's move forward.  However, that is not really what happened.  He walked us through all the complications that a second surgery will bring to light and wanted us to consider first non-surgical options.  It was also very hard because it was my original neurosurgeons last day working as a doctor.  I wrote a “Thank You” note to him for a wonderful 11 years of my life where I accomplished all of my life's goals having children and growing my family.  It was an emotional letter, and I was so lucky that I was able to get it to him before he left.  

So, Pirc and I went the next day to meet with an Oncologist.  This was to consider targeted radiation called Echo Radiation. It is similar to GamaKnife or CybeKnife Radiation.  This was a real emotional hit to me, as this was what my original surgeon and the doctor we met with first said was not a good idea.  But we met with them anyway.   He was really just an amazing Doctor that walked us through the procedure and the complications that could happen.  By the end of the appointment, Pirc asked the doctor to rank the options that I was facing.  In his opinion, he thought that the MVD Brain Surgery was a better option for my case.  So I called the neurosurgeon back and said that I would like to move forward with Surgery.  

I had the appointment yesterday to set the date and go through the procedure and the recovery.  I will now be having surgery at Rush on April 1st.  No it is not a joke, it really is that day.  This allows a few things. Liz Rob to retire, she is actually retiring on Good Friday. I know we are all also shocked it is happening! But man what a perfect time.   It also allows the girls and I to spend quality time over spring break.  

The surgery will happen on April 1st I usually spend 2–4 days in the hospital.  Then I will be recovering at my parents. Liz Rob will be on Abby duty.  John Rob will be staying at our house to help Pirc with the kids.  The first week to two weeks it roughs, and I need a lot of care, so we will see how much I see the girls.  We all felt like maybe they saw too much scary stuff when I was in the hospital last time.  So we are going to manage this a little differently.  

I am in a more positive place than I have been in for a few weeks.  I feel like we finally have a path forward.  We finally have a decision that my entire family and myself really agree with.  I know that Rush gave me wonderful care the first time so I have the trust in the world in the hospital.