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.