Sorry for the delay on updating, it has been a hectic week.
Steve is doing okay and has transferred to a rehab facility to work on regaining some strength and motor skills. When he heard it may be for two weeks, that didn't sit so well with him, he wants to be back to work, the gym etc. He has gotten his head around it and is waiting to get things started.
The rehab plan is pretty much a full time job. Steve will be having occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. Both OT & PT will be twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Speech is once daily.
This has been quite a bit different from the recovery from the first surgery. We have been told this is much more typical. As we heard following the first surgery, Steve's recovery and handling of the major surgery was somewhat "freakish", actually they just said it was not the typical response. What we are seeing now is much more typical. Typical or not, it doesn't make it any easier. Since Steve and I both thought his recovery would be like the other one, we are coming to terms with the reality of this time.
He is still focused on regaining his strength and getting back to his routine day-to-day business. He is doing better each day and is super motivated.
Monday is day one of therapy, I'll blog either Monday or Tuesday to let you know how it is going.
Your thoughts, prayers and support mean a great deal to both of us. Keep them coming and know that we appreciate it.
Peace,
Kim
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Post Op update
You'll have to excuse the lack of Steve's witty comments and quips, you've got me "filling in" while he is recouping. But, I wanted to update everyone so you knew what was happening on this end.
First, I just read Steve's blog post from this morning, can I just say he is remarkable and quite honestly he makes me a better person. That being said let me catch you up.
Dr. Crute is as we thought a remarkable surgeon but most of all remarkable person. Again she took the time to explain things prior to the surgery as well as after. It truly helps a lot to have someone explain what they are doing so you can understand, I am immensely grateful to her for her honesty and don't know how we would have made it this far without her.
The surgery went well, the enhancing "thing" had grown from the time of the scan, it ended up being 1.7 cm but Dr. Crute got it as well as some other "residual" matter. She removed the aneurysm clips from the previous surgery and things went well.
I left the hospital a little before 10:00 p.m. and Steve was resting. He has been struggling a bit with coming out of the anesthesia, Dr. Crute did a CT scan it came back ok, she is planning an MRI in the morning.
I am hopeful that tomorrow morning he will be more alert and less groggy. He did talk with me a bit before I left so that was nice.
Those of you who know Steve know, he is a fighter and doesn't stay down long. With the tremendous amount of love and support he has coming from all of you, he'll be back to blogging himself in no time.
So...keep the good thoughts and prayers coming, they are appreciated more than words can say. I'll do my best to keep the blog updated w/ progress. Thanks again for all of the love and support through this challenging time, it has helped us weather the storm thus far.
Peace and Much Love,
Kim & Steve
First, I just read Steve's blog post from this morning, can I just say he is remarkable and quite honestly he makes me a better person. That being said let me catch you up.
Dr. Crute is as we thought a remarkable surgeon but most of all remarkable person. Again she took the time to explain things prior to the surgery as well as after. It truly helps a lot to have someone explain what they are doing so you can understand, I am immensely grateful to her for her honesty and don't know how we would have made it this far without her.
The surgery went well, the enhancing "thing" had grown from the time of the scan, it ended up being 1.7 cm but Dr. Crute got it as well as some other "residual" matter. She removed the aneurysm clips from the previous surgery and things went well.
I left the hospital a little before 10:00 p.m. and Steve was resting. He has been struggling a bit with coming out of the anesthesia, Dr. Crute did a CT scan it came back ok, she is planning an MRI in the morning.
I am hopeful that tomorrow morning he will be more alert and less groggy. He did talk with me a bit before I left so that was nice.
Those of you who know Steve know, he is a fighter and doesn't stay down long. With the tremendous amount of love and support he has coming from all of you, he'll be back to blogging himself in no time.
So...keep the good thoughts and prayers coming, they are appreciated more than words can say. I'll do my best to keep the blog updated w/ progress. Thanks again for all of the love and support through this challenging time, it has helped us weather the storm thus far.
Peace and Much Love,
Kim & Steve
Surgery Redux
Okay, I did pretty damn good yesterday!
Kept my mind off of the surgery and even made it to the gym. Even got a couple hours sleep last night.
So to keep with this Blog's theme, I thought I would share the mindset that I am in now 4:30am...just a couple hours before my surgery.
Feeling overwhelmed in a really good way by all of the thoughts and prayers sent my way this week. Thank you all! It has really helped keep my head right.
I am not fearing this surgery...I know in my heart its the right thing.
The most prevalent thought running through my head is that I can't wait to wake up from Surgery later this morning and see Kim my beautiful wife smiling back at me! Then I know all my prayers have been answered - in more ways than one.
Peace Out
Kept my mind off of the surgery and even made it to the gym. Even got a couple hours sleep last night.
So to keep with this Blog's theme, I thought I would share the mindset that I am in now 4:30am...just a couple hours before my surgery.
Feeling overwhelmed in a really good way by all of the thoughts and prayers sent my way this week. Thank you all! It has really helped keep my head right.
I am not fearing this surgery...I know in my heart its the right thing.
The most prevalent thought running through my head is that I can't wait to wake up from Surgery later this morning and see Kim my beautiful wife smiling back at me! Then I know all my prayers have been answered - in more ways than one.
Peace Out
Monday, October 5, 2009
A slight change in plans
Well, my latest plan was to get a new MRI on 10/20 and evaluate the 'peculiar' spot at that time. Well, after a visit with Dr. Crute, my Neurosurgeon today, we have decided to change the plans.
Next Thursday, I will be going in for Stereotactic Neurosurgery or in the words of my rockstar neurosurgeon...."A Chip Shot" for her. Two years ago it was the size of a tennis ball, this time the tumor is only slightly larger than a pea. It is in the resection cavity, aka, the hole in the temporal side of my head that the first tumor was in. So to stick with the golfisms...this round of golf will be pretty much mini putting. However, it definitely needs to be MULLIGAN Free. :)
Now this surgery should be pretty simple...I mean really, all she needs to do is cut where my other incision was and use a simple little CRAFTSMAN PHILLIPS HEAD SCREWDRIVER to unscrew the plate from last time and use a common spoon to dig the tumor out...NO PROBLEM! A CHIP SHOT!
Now thankfully, Dr. Crute is the Tiger Woods of Neurosurgical golf so this should not be a problem. However, if she had the golf skills of my business partner Jeff "SHANKAPOTTOMUS" Carpenter...we would have issues.
As you can tell, I have a pretty good attitude about this. I believe strongly that this is the right decision. Removing the tumor is ALWAYS the best case option when Glioblastoma Multiforme Tumors are involved. These thing are nasty as hell and can quadruple in size in weeks not months. I have a great team of doctors and an even better support team.
I will only be in the hospital for a couple days, and be recovering for about 2 weeks before I am back to work and 6 weeks until I am back to my new normal. The benefit this time is that I have the opportunity to manage my schedule which makes me feel better from a business standpoint.
All is good! If this is all we have to do every couple years, then so be it! I feel great and "Damn It Feels Good to be me!" (If you don't know the reference...check this link out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFLIxnbmO5E ) Quickly becoming my new theme song.
I will keep you all informed! Thank you for your Prayers!
PEACE OUT!
Next Thursday, I will be going in for Stereotactic Neurosurgery or in the words of my rockstar neurosurgeon...."A Chip Shot" for her. Two years ago it was the size of a tennis ball, this time the tumor is only slightly larger than a pea. It is in the resection cavity, aka, the hole in the temporal side of my head that the first tumor was in. So to stick with the golfisms...this round of golf will be pretty much mini putting. However, it definitely needs to be MULLIGAN Free. :)
Now this surgery should be pretty simple...I mean really, all she needs to do is cut where my other incision was and use a simple little CRAFTSMAN PHILLIPS HEAD SCREWDRIVER to unscrew the plate from last time and use a common spoon to dig the tumor out...NO PROBLEM! A CHIP SHOT!
Now thankfully, Dr. Crute is the Tiger Woods of Neurosurgical golf so this should not be a problem. However, if she had the golf skills of my business partner Jeff "SHANKAPOTTOMUS" Carpenter...we would have issues.
As you can tell, I have a pretty good attitude about this. I believe strongly that this is the right decision. Removing the tumor is ALWAYS the best case option when Glioblastoma Multiforme Tumors are involved. These thing are nasty as hell and can quadruple in size in weeks not months. I have a great team of doctors and an even better support team.
I will only be in the hospital for a couple days, and be recovering for about 2 weeks before I am back to work and 6 weeks until I am back to my new normal. The benefit this time is that I have the opportunity to manage my schedule which makes me feel better from a business standpoint.
All is good! If this is all we have to do every couple years, then so be it! I feel great and "Damn It Feels Good to be me!" (If you don't know the reference...check this link out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFLIxnbmO5E ) Quickly becoming my new theme song.
I will keep you all informed! Thank you for your Prayers!
PEACE OUT!
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