Thursday's News

Yesterday was a long day for us. I have to sit in one room the whole day because that is where they come to get you when they have updates or when the surgeon wants to talk to you. It is physically taxing on me. I can never time things right because everytime I left for something or another the nurse was looking for me. I want to the restroom and when I came out the surgeon was there waiting for me. Luckily, I wasn't gone for long because he would not have waited for much longer. He told me about the surgery (see previous blog). Then the waiting continued. Kyle was in the recovery room from noon until 10:30 p.m. because there were no rooms available. I continued to wait in this room until his nurse would call me to go and visit him for 5-10 minutes at a time. He was very nauseaous--throwing up or dry heaving whenever he was awake. In the 10 hours that he was in the recovery room, I saw him a total of 4 times. Finally, he was moved to a surgical floor. I helped him get settled and off to sleep. I arrived at the hotel at midnight. I went right to sleep and slept like a baby.

Today, Thursday, Kyle was allowed to get out of bed. His tubes and IV's were removed. His pain level is a 3 in his head and neck. His head is swollen. He is walking great. Dr. McCutcheon had mentioned that second surgeries were rough and that the patient would feel so bad that they don't even think about going home, but Kyle is not showing any of the symptons that the doctor mentioned. In fact, he feels good. I hope that we can make it home by Sunday.

Today, we are just walking around the nurse's station, watching movies, and eating. Right now he is getting a MRI.

Thanks for all of your comments and prayers--love, Lynette

Surgery Successful

Although, Kyle and I checked into the hospital at 5:00 this morning, surgery didn't start until 8:20 a.m. and finished at 11:45 a.m.--a little over three hours. They were able to use the same incision line as before. Dr. McCutcheon said that it was a tumor and not nercosis. It was shaped like a sausage with a length of 3.2 cm. He cut out the main tumor and an extra 5mm worth of surrounding tissue. He also cut out some of the tissue that connections the right brain with the left brain. He mentioned that second surgeries often require a longer recovery time--so we don't have an idea as to when we will be home. He will reevaluate on Monday.

We have confidence in the doctors here and feel good about having this tumor removed. Dr. McCutcheon said that no two GBM's are the same. Some grow fast and furious, while others are slower. But as much as you try to get all of the fingers out--it isn't unusual for some of them to grow back. That is why regular MRI's are an important tool to catch them early.

I'm doing great emotionally and physically. It is very hard to sit, but not too bad. Thanks again for your concern for us. Love, Lynette

Oncology Report

Dr. De Groot is waiting until after the surgery and the pathology report to talk to us about any treatment. We are planning to talk to him on Friday after the pathology test confirms whether this spot is a tumor or a radiation necrosis. Let's all pray that it is necrosis because that means the Temodar (chemo) is still being affective. He didn't think that it was necrosis, but we can always pray for miracles!!!! Thanks for your prayers-- keep them coming.

Neurosurgeon Information

We met with the neurosurgeon, Dr. McCutcheon, this morning. He said that it is very common for tumors to grow on the edge of the void from the last surgery. He showed us on the MRI that this new growth is just to the right of the void, close to where there is a natural division between the left and right brain. Right now it is very small and in an area where seizures and motor functions are not a concern. That's great news. They will remove the surrounding area around the tumor so that the tumor doesn't spread to the right side of the brain. He was very optimistic that the surgery was not as extensive as the last one--only lasting about 4 hours--compared to the 8-9 hour last time. Kyle should handle it fairly well. We feel reassured that this is the right thing to do at this time. We have an appointment with the oncologist this afternoon and will post that information later.

An Update

We were hoping to hear from MD Anderson before the weekend, but when we hadn't heard from them by early Friday afternoon I (Lynette) called them only to receive their voice mailbox. Thankfully, they called early this morning to inform us that surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27. Thanks for all of your prayers. We will keep you posted with any new updates.

MRI Results

Bad news, the MRI reveled a tumor that is about 1 inch long and 1/2 inch wide it just outside the cavity of my first surgery. The other part that is bad, is the oncologist said that the chemo does not seem to be keeping this at bay, so he suggested that we go back to MD Anderson and have it surgically removed. He felt that was the best option, so we are currently talking with MD Anderson and sending the MRI's that I have had here to them. Then they can let us know if it is in a place where they can operate on it. We are praying that it is. We will try and keep the blog up to date with any new information. I personally am feeling really good, it was a big shock that the MRI, came back with something, as I have been feeling strong and more normal. Just another leason in patience.

Things still going very well.

It is hard to believe that it has been a full year since this blog was started, a lot has happened the past year. Thank you again for all the prayers, thoughts, acts of kindness for my family and myself. I have a wonderful family and love them all. We did just get together a little while ago, before Tony had to ship out and took a family picture. I thought I would post it and pray this next year will still find success in beating this cancer thing. I have another MRI in 3 weeks, and will post the results when I have them. Bryce and I had a great time snowmobiling this last Saturday. It felt great to get out and play. I am a little sore from getting tossed off couple of times, but if you are not riding hard, your not playing hard :)

-Kyle