Six weeks later we met with Dr. Mickey again to see how Stacie was recovering, to take out the staples and to discuss what they'd found out.
The post operative report determined this was an Anaplastic Oligo Astrocytoma. It was graded higher than originally thought and had to receive further treatment.
Dr. Mickey was referring us to Dr. Elizabeth Maher, a neuro oncologist who just moved here from Boston.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
My father's heart attack
On March 6th, less than 3 weeks after Stacie's surgery my dad had a heart attack. I remember reaching the ER room he was in. As I pushed the door open I immediately was hit with the realization that one day he would not be here. And immediately I started to stay 'no' to God. 'No, don't take him yet. No, I'm not ready for this. I need more time fishing with him, more time discussing the bible, and more time just visiting with him.' As soon as that thought hit me I was in a quandry. I have no right or authority to say 'no' anything to God.
He seemed in good spirits. He was hooked up to the machines monitoring his heart. It reminded me of when my grandmother (dad's mom) was in the hospital. All those tubes hooked up to her.
He seemed in good spirits. He was hooked up to the machines monitoring his heart. It reminded me of when my grandmother (dad's mom) was in the hospital. All those tubes hooked up to her.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Surgery
The surgery was on Thursday, Feb 16, 2006 at Zale Lipshy hospital in Dallas. One of my seminary professors came early in the morning and prayed with us. In the pre-op room we had about 10 people in that room. We visited and prayed together. They all stayed until Stacie was taken out for surgery.
Downstairs we had ALOT of family, friends, and co-workers. Many of them stayed the entire day. It was early evening when Dr. Mickey and his PA came downstairs. Everyone gathered around waiting for the news. Dr. Mickey announced that they got it all. The room erupted with joy, elation, praises to God. There was alot of hugging and crying. I hugged Dr. Mickey. His PA extended his hand and was a little taken aback when I hugged him also.
Stacie was in recovery and about two hours later I got to go see her. She was awake, and talking. Evidently the nurses came in every hour to make sure their patients were coherent. They'd ask if the patient knew what year it was, who the president is, where they were, etc. Stacie was irritated because she was trying to sleep. So, at one point she started stopping them at the door, announcing what they wanted to know and they'd leave. She could hear someone else who was not so coherent, thinking they were at home, and Nixon was in office.
Downstairs we had ALOT of family, friends, and co-workers. Many of them stayed the entire day. It was early evening when Dr. Mickey and his PA came downstairs. Everyone gathered around waiting for the news. Dr. Mickey announced that they got it all. The room erupted with joy, elation, praises to God. There was alot of hugging and crying. I hugged Dr. Mickey. His PA extended his hand and was a little taken aback when I hugged him also.
Stacie was in recovery and about two hours later I got to go see her. She was awake, and talking. Evidently the nurses came in every hour to make sure their patients were coherent. They'd ask if the patient knew what year it was, who the president is, where they were, etc. Stacie was irritated because she was trying to sleep. So, at one point she started stopping them at the door, announcing what they wanted to know and they'd leave. She could hear someone else who was not so coherent, thinking they were at home, and Nixon was in office.
Preparation
The night before the surgery a small group of people came over to pray with us. 7 adults and their kids. One of the guys brought a guitar and we sang some worship songs, discussed our commitment, and prayed together. Our kids all huddled in Bai's room and read scripture and prayed together also.
Sunday, February 5, 2006
Another Tragedy
The week we met Dr. mickey my uncle passed away from lung cancer. This was very hard for everyone. My uncle Marc always had a smile on. He loved sports and could tell you all kinds of facts about football and the Cowboys.
When I think of Uncle Marc I always remember asking him to race me when I was a little boy. He had these new sneakers on and said he couldn't run in them. I asked why and he said because it would set the grass on fire and he'd already gotten in trouble for that once.I was so gullible. I said we could race on the street then. However, his answer was that it would also burn up the road. Well...I couldn't ask him to do something that would get him in trouble. I must have told everybody how my uncle actually had shoes that would burn up the road.
When I think of Uncle Marc I always remember asking him to race me when I was a little boy. He had these new sneakers on and said he couldn't run in them. I asked why and he said because it would set the grass on fire and he'd already gotten in trouble for that once.
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
What is it?
Our doctor had scheduled us an appointment that week with a neuro surgeon. The first neuro surgeon referred us to another. Just two weeks later we met Dr. Bruce Mickey a neuro surgeon at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX.
He told us that this tumor was on the outer layer of her brain and was causing some swelling and other symptoms. He said it was slow growing and they really couldn't say how long it had been there but probably at least 3 years.
Dr. Mickey said this needed to be removed. After her recovery he would put us in touch with an oncologist who had just moved down here from Boston.
He told us that this tumor was on the outer layer of her brain and was causing some swelling and other symptoms. He said it was slow growing and they really couldn't say how long it had been there but probably at least 3 years.
Dr. Mickey said this needed to be removed. After her recovery he would put us in touch with an oncologist who had just moved down here from Boston.
Sunday, January 1, 2006
Bad news
At the end of December 2005 Stacie was having increased frequency of migraine headaches. She had one at work that sent her home for the day. On friday of that same week she experienced spots of light that was similar to a camera flash going off. She was blinded in one eye for over 4 hours and again had to go home.
We went to the doctor on a Saturday morning. The doctor (not our family practitioner) checked her for a stroke, told us to journal the headaches and go back to our family doctor in one month....that was not satisfactory.
So, the following week Stacie went to our family doctor who scheduled her for a MRI. Stacie's MRI was on Tuesday January 10th, 2006. We were told not to expect results for approximately two weeks. After the MRI was completed they asked us to stick around. Later they mentioned that they were trying to contact our doctor and we should call the doctor the following day if we didn't hear anything. It didn't dawn on us that something might be wrong.
I assumed that maybe they'd find something insignificant that could be fixed with some rest or medicine and we'd be on our way.
I still remember the phone call. Stacie' had fixed her chicken tortilla soup, which is my favorite. The phone rang around 6pm. Stacie took the call in the other room while Bai and I ate dinner. It seemed like she was on that call for awhile so I went to check on her.
When I walked into the office she was writing on the eraser board....grapefruit sized tumor, left side, just behind forehead....
Once she got off the phone we were both shocked and didn't quite know what to say at first. The first thing we talked about was how to tell Bai. It's hard enough for an adult to swallow.
We went to the living room together and told her that mom had something on her brain that wasn't supposed to be there and we needed to go see another doctor. I think what worried her more than our discussion was all the phone calls we made that night to family and friends. We called our parents first, and then were on the phone well into the night calling others.
We went to the doctor on a Saturday morning. The doctor (not our family practitioner) checked her for a stroke, told us to journal the headaches and go back to our family doctor in one month....that was not satisfactory.
So, the following week Stacie went to our family doctor who scheduled her for a MRI. Stacie's MRI was on Tuesday January 10th, 2006. We were told not to expect results for approximately two weeks. After the MRI was completed they asked us to stick around. Later they mentioned that they were trying to contact our doctor and we should call the doctor the following day if we didn't hear anything. It didn't dawn on us that something might be wrong.
I assumed that maybe they'd find something insignificant that could be fixed with some rest or medicine and we'd be on our way.
I still remember the phone call. Stacie' had fixed her chicken tortilla soup, which is my favorite. The phone rang around 6pm. Stacie took the call in the other room while Bai and I ate dinner. It seemed like she was on that call for awhile so I went to check on her.
When I walked into the office she was writing on the eraser board....grapefruit sized tumor, left side, just behind forehead....
Once she got off the phone we were both shocked and didn't quite know what to say at first. The first thing we talked about was how to tell Bai. It's hard enough for an adult to swallow.
We went to the living room together and told her that mom had something on her brain that wasn't supposed to be there and we needed to go see another doctor. I think what worried her more than our discussion was all the phone calls we made that night to family and friends. We called our parents first, and then were on the phone well into the night calling others.
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