Friday, July 11, 2014

Meeting the Neurosurgeon

I wasn’t planning to do another blog about this, but we’ve had a lot of people asking and I thought this seemed to be an easier way to spread the word. Yesterday, David and I met with the neurosurgeon at University of Utah Neurosciences Center. We went in with a lot of questions and came out with a lot of answers and possibly a few new questions. Here’s what we know:

1.   It’s brain surgery. That automatically makes it more complex, dangerous, and delicate. However, it is not a very difficult procedure or a necessarily tricky one to perform. A well practiced brain surgeon considers it a routine/standard procedure (And we found a very well practiced brain surgeon who is very familiar with Chiari). 

 2.  While my Chiari is a much more significant case, it doesn’t make the surgery or recovery more difficult.

 3.  I will be in surgery for approximately six hours.

 4.  I will stay one night in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and then another two nights in a typical hospital room. If there are any problems I might have to stay one more night but the typical case is in the hospital for only three days.

 5.   The procedure entails cutting vertically through the muscle and skin at the back of my neck until they get to the spinal column. They will then cut through the Meninges (I hope that’s the right medical term for it….it’s the stuff that surrounds and protects the spinal cord) and put a patch in. That allows my spinal cord to expand and not be so cramped up. They will also cauterize the brain tissue that has grown down past the foramen magnum. As it is cauterized it will shrink and allow the space to be filled by only the spinal cord. In rare cases, the doctor will also have to remove some of this brain tissue if it is still not providing enough room for the Spinal Cord.  THANK GOODNESS THAT BRAIN TISSUE ISN’T FUNCTIONING! Removing/cauterizing it will have no affect on me.

 6.  Complications that arise from this surgery usually trace back to the patch around the spinal cord. It might not heal properly, or it can leak, or it can flat out tear. Fortunately for me, the Surgeon said that they have found a new material (human skin) to make this patch from and it has showed a drastic improvement! YAY!!

 7.  My surgeon has also “Pioneered” a new form of pain management for after the surgery making my recovery easier.

 8.  After surgery, it is best to be up and moving around rather than lying in bed all day. I am to take at least two walks for 30 minutes every day.

 9.  I won’t be able to do household chores or “kid chores” for a month to six weeks. I can’t lift, or pull or be pulled on or “strain” myself.

 10.  I will have stretches and movements to do in order to regain range of motion in my neck.

 11.  My surgeon has never had one of his patients need a second surgery.

 12.  The surgery is scheduled for August 8th.

Well I think that about covers it! While I can’t say that I’m excited to have the surgery, I am looking forward to a migraine-free future and the worlds that can now open up to me. For anyone who would like to, we will be holding a fast on August 3rd in hopes of a routine surgery and speedy recovery. I am so grateful to everyone who has surrounded us with love and support at this time. It has been such a great comfort to me to see that we are not alone in this. Thank you. Thank you for your prayers and your offers to help in any way you can. I am humbled to see how many people care and are ready to help us on this journey. We love you and are grateful for you.


Labels:

2 comments:

KDex said...

I'm glad you got so many answers and that there are people with the skills to give you the help you need. We'll be praying for you, David, and the kids.
-Greg Peterson

July 11, 2014 at 11:09 PM
Amy Bowen said...

I'm so happy that things are going well so far. Do you need help with your kiddos while you're in surgery or recovery, or are you planning on leaving them with family in Afton? If you need a babysitter or someone to keep you company, I am not very far from the hospital and would love to help.

We'll continue to fast and pray for you and your family! Love you Em!

July 14, 2014 at 2:43 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Married!

Married!
May 23, 2009

We're engaged!

Dave and I had mentioned getting married and we knew that's what we wanted however I was not expecting to have him propose until the spring semester had started and to not be getting married until the beginning of the fall semester.
Dave had other ideas.
December 12 was the last day that Dave and I had before I headed back to New Mexico for Winter Break. For my Christmas Present Dave had told me that he was taking me up North to walk around Temple Square with all of its Christmas lights, and to the church history museum, to see the new Joseph Smith movie, and to take me to dinner anywhere I wanted to eat. He also gave me a gift card to one of my favorite stores, Deseret Book which he also planned to let me roam through while we were up North.
Others had mentioned the possibility of him proposing but I brushed it off knowing that he didn't want to get engaged this semester. I knew I was right when the week of the trip, Jake and a date (Emily Dutson), planned to join us for the trip.
The day we had set to leave, I was a stressed out mess. I had packing to do, and a final to finish. Dave, Jake, and Emily all arrived at my apartment while I was still in my Pajamas finishing the last of my work. I very quickly showered and got dressed (thank goodness my roommates had already picked out my clothing for the occasion). We left town and I slowly de-stressed as we continued the drive. By the time we made it to Salt Lake we were all starving. We stopped and got the soup and sandwich at the Nauvoo Cafe, which was absolutely amazing and incredibly delicous. We then found the times for the Joseph Smith Movie and left to walk through the Church History Museum. On the way there Dave and I realized that his camera had no batteries so Jake and Emily walked through the museum and Dave and I went to buy the batteries. We all made it back in time for the beginning of the Joseph Smith Movie. It was a fantastic movie which also had me crying by the end of it. When the movie finished the lights were all on at Temple Square so we decided to walk around. As we walked Dave began tossing his keys in the air. He dropped them and I stopped to wait for him while he picked them up. It took me a few seconds to realize that he was proposing to me! I said yes and he slipped a beautiful ring on my finger.

Engaged!

Engaged!
I know this picture isn't the best quality but this is right after Dave proposed to me and was putting the ring on my finger!

How We Met/First Date

Dave and I first met when he and his best friend Jacob Thomas ( a fellow resident on Castilleja Dorm like myself) decided to decorate Duke Dance's apartment before he returned home from his honeymoon. At the time they claimed that they needed help knowing how to decorate it and therefore were looking for the help of a few girls. They roamed the hallways until they found a room of about 6 girls (including myself). We agreed to help and set up a time for later in the week. Later that week we all met up and made a trip to Walmart to get the needed decorations. While there Dave and I ended up separated from the rest of the group. Dave and I talked while we looked for the right decorations...he asked what brought me to Snow and I answered honestly. "The Lord. This is where he wanted me and there is no other explanation for it." He claims this impressed him...and I think I believe him. The next Friday, I had the apartment to myself for one hour before my next class. I had just succeeded in splattering miracle whip all over after dropping the bottle on the floor when someone knocked on the door. Lo and Behold it was Dave. He came and we talked for the next hour. He invited me and my roommate Marsha to go on a hike the next day. I thought carefully and decided it would be fun. I was almost late for my next class which I just happened to have with Jake. Jake and I started talking and the plans changed so that we ended up turning the night into a double date and doing the hike that night rather than the next day. Sadly enough I am not much of a hiker and I gave a little over halfway through the hike. Dave, ever the gentleman stopped with me and we again talked for the next hour while Jake and Marsha finished the hike and came back to us. The men had brought with the makings for a sandwich which we all ate while watching the sunset. Afterwards we headed back to the car and went back to Duke Dance's apartment to watch the Emperor's New Groove and Mountains of Ephraim (most of you won't know this one..it's a home video Dave and Jake made before their mission) and enjoying a bowl of ice cream. Before ending the night Marsha and I invited them to join us for the rodeo in Manti the next night. They agreed and that concluded our first date!