Today, marks one week since I had surgery to remove the astrocytoma from the right frontal lobe of my brain. I walked to the end of our culdesac and back twice today. I will make it to the park and back to the house before too long (that is approximately a half mile each way). I start OT/PT tomorrow morning and then Friday I will have my staples (all 50 some odd of them removed). I have never wanted to wash my hair so bad in my entire life, but it definitely shows how much we take for granted on a regular basis. I had my first official outing today and traveled to target. Don't let anyone lead you to believe that driving those motorized carts is an easy task. I ran into anything and everything but somehow managed to make it out alive. I didn't even walk for 5 minutes and I was so tired when I got home I haven't been able to get up off the couch since. I am scheduled to meet with my radiation oncologist next week and I assume that is when I will start the radiation therapy to stabilize the tumor. I'd like to add some clarification for everyone since I know many are asking. This tumor is NOT cancer. It is a benign tumor that has likely been growing unnoticed in my head for a VERY Long time. I am going to require follow up for a long time because this type of tumor can spread if it is not managed, but lets just say, the odds are in my favor for recovery. Jeramy starts his new position Monday here in Lubbock, and I hope to be back working as soon as I can so we can get back to our regular routine. I've been eyeballing a few triathlons for the future and I'm ready to rejoin my run group on their regular outings.

Another milestone post today! Gaining a lot of use of my left hand back as we speak. I'm actually typing with 2 hands today. Today I can supinate and pronate my left forearm and pick up a plastic cup without having to use my right hand to assist. I'm looking forward to finally being able to shower without wound restrictions. I hope to be back at the MDs office next week to get my staples removed.  My typing is currently slower than my thought process and that is frustrating to m because I'd like my hands to work faster. Today I walked out to my neighbors mailbox and came back, but it was very warm outside and I found myself wearing out very quickly and needed to sit down fast. I have my appetite back finally. I ate a full meal for both lunch and dinner today. I am very grateful for all of you who have provided me and my family with food the past week. It is crazy to think that Tuesday will be a week since Surgery. I have been very lethargic on my recovery and today is the first day that I feel like I've been really aware. I am ready to go running. For those of you who know me well, you know I am not the type to sit idle and wait on recovery to come along. I would rather reach out and grab it myself. This has been a huge mental battle because sometimes I cannot overcome the exhaustion. I'm mentally preparing for the battle that lays ahead for me.  I will require radiation therapy to stabilize the tumor and prevent progression in the future. I have received my pathology report back and I have a low grade Astrocytoma of the right frontal lobe. My neurosurgery team is very optimistic on my recovery because I have so many positive factors going for me, like being young and not having any neurological deficits prior to the onset of the seizure that happened over a week ago Thursday. I am very optimistic as well, because I refuse to let this tumor define who I am personally. Statistics are just numbers and numbers are personal records waiting to be broken.

Home and healing......The next step

I'm home and it is a great feeling. This will take some time to type because
I currently have very limited use of my left hand. I expect to gain a lot of that of that back with occupational therapy which will start on wednesday. I can grip objects well, but letting go is challenging due to brain swelling from surgery.   I'm very sleepy most of the time but have more energy each day.  Limited use of my arm is very frustrating but I know I have to be patient and it will come with time.  I'm very grateful for everyone who has come to visit even though I have a very flat affect.  I tend to agitate easily so I apologize if I had come across as rather uncouth, it is not my intention to offend, I am simply heading down the road to recovery.  Jeramy is headed back with my mother on Sunday and he will be returning permanently back to me here in Lubbock during this period.  The pathology report has come back and I have a grade 2 astrocytoma on my right frontal lobe which was removed successfully from the brain surgery but will require additional radiation treatment after I heal.  The neurosurgery team is highly positive on my outlook and I am ready and willing to put a fight.  I would  love to see more visitors during this period and am confident I will be back to running very soon.  I can't thank you enough for all your prayers and support and please continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we continue down this path.  Thank you all again,  Laura, Jeramy, and family

Cleared to go home!

Good news! Laura will be able to go home this Friday! The doctors are impressed with her progress, and the family is in high hopes. The MRI came back with positive results, and we can't wait to get her back to the house.

The dogs will be very happy, and so will her sister (who has had to sleep with the dogs in Laura's absence). There will be plenty of time to visit this weekend when we get her home!

To quote Laura, in post-op recovery (who was quoting Couples Retreat): Boom!

She did great in PT today, walked 300 ft, and did many arm and legs exercises like a champ.  Still has a lengthy journey ahead of her.  Left side is weak but improving incredibly every day.   She really has a strong and positive attitude.  If you are looking at sending flowers or gifts still, make sure not to send them to the hospital, send them to our home address instead.  We really can't believe she has been cleared this quickly. What an amazing woman! If you need the address, text/message Laura or Jeramy (he is monitoring all phones and computers)  and he will get you the address.  Once again thank you for your prayers, love and support,
                                                         Laura and family

Road to Recovery

9/24       Laura has been moved into 3 east room 300 just next to the elevators.  She has walked with the PT and OT's and recovering very well.  Left side of her body is getting stronger and stronger and her appetite is slowly coming back.  She is still very tired and in manageable pain with the occasional nausea but maintains a very positive and encouraging attitude.  We expect her to be in the hospital 2-3 days and then released to home.  She has had another CT Scan and MRI but we have yet to hear back from the doctor for the results.  Thank you all for support and prayers and we will update daily.  We love you all and will see you soon!      Jeramy & Laura

Get your Guns Up!

Well, here we are. Back in the hospital on the eve of surgery. I have spent the day talking with the doctors and surgical team, my "A" team if you will. I am in good hands with the neurosurgery team here at UMC and despite the news I am feeling very optimistic that all will go well with the surgery. They still have not diagnosed specifics on the mass, but Dr. Baronia suspects it is likely a tumor of some sort based on the presentation with my MRI. We won't know specifics on whether it is benign or malignant until they biopsy the tissue during surgery.

I had to be taken down for another round of CT scans and a Stealth MRI to map my brain for the surgery. This makes 3 CTs and 2 MRIs in a matter of a few days. I have been poked and prodded beyond belief to the extent that I look like a heroine addict (I assure you I am not). I've annoyed the nurses with my continual laps around the entire 3rd floor of the hospital and somehow escaped the yellow "fall precaution" wrist band this time around. They have padded my bed rails and labeled me as a seizure precaution even though I'm loaded up on keppra twice a day.

The craniotomy will take place in the morning. I will be the first case to go in and I will have to be awake for a portion of the surgery. My resident physician Dr. Murphree and Nurse Practitioner Joey helped me plan out my music playlist and pre-surgery preparations. I will not have to be intubated and they will keep me on light anesthetic for a good chunk of the procedure. Depending on what they find when they get in there, the surgery could potentially take up to 5 1/2 hours to complete.

I am ready to put up a fight and I refuse to let this tumor define me. I'm a fighter by nature and this is my opportunity to spread my wings and show what I'm really made of.

Life Changes in an Instant....

I have been so overwhelmed with text messages and phone calls that I have not been able to update everyone in my life accordingly. I figured I could point a path for those to follow on this journey. I'll outline the information as best I can, but I will forewarn you I have never been very good with keeping up with these things. My efforts may be futile.

It all started Thursday evening when, in a matter of a few hours, I found myself in the emergency room and was soon admitted to the hospital for observation and an onslaught of tests and scans. Friday was a whirlwind. I'm not one to sit still for long and being restricted to my room under seizure and fall precautions was very challenging. I was thankful for all the visitors I received that day who made the time pass so much more quickly for me and especially so I could get up and walk around the floor instead of being stuck in bed all day. I just have to say I have the best co-workers and friends and family one could ask for. So many people came to my assistance and I feel so fortunate to have you all in my life. I did not have to spend Friday night alone. A big thanks goes to Dawn Raikey for keeping me company during the night and taking me home the next day! Also a huge thank you goes out to Jared & Rachel Carey who took me to the ED and then stayed with me so I wasn't alone. I am so incredibly blessed by you all and I can't say thank you enough to EVERYONE who came to see me that day.

This is just the beginning for me. I have to go back to the hospital on Monday to be admitted for surgery on Tuesday morning. I am grateful that they let me go home for the weekend to rest up and prepare. There is an area about 8 cm on the right frontal lobe of my brain that is in question and that is where they will focus the surgery. They do not know specifically what the mass is yet and won't until they go in and biopsy it. It could be tumor, infection, or simply inflammation at this point. There is a significant amount of swelling around the mass and the doctors think the inflammation is what caused me to have a seizure. The good news with all of this is that my neurological exam checks out clean so they are very optimistic on my recovery. The thought process is, if there is a good place to have a brain mass, this is the spot you want it to be. The biggest concern they have for deficits is memory loss and word finding (Jon Matthews, we'll have a whole new understanding of one another).

Please keep me, my family, and entire medical team in your prayers over the next few days. It will be a long road to recovery, but one I am confident I will make with the help of so many wonderful people.

9-24-15 6:51 AM
Update:  Hey everyone, this is Jeramy.  I'm not as quite as eloquent as Laura but I'd like to update everyone on her condition.  Per the Surgeons words, everything went as planned as we discussed prior to the operation.  He removed all of the tumor that he planned on from the mapping and said the surgery went great.  She goes in for a MRI this morning to see what everything looks like now.  She has been in SICU since the surgery and it appears we get to move to another floor later today.  She is fairly weak on her left side but is regaining her strength pretty quickly.  I will let everyone know what floor and room number she is transferred to when that happens.  Thank you all for your support and prayers and please continue to keep her in your prayers.