A few months ago my mom noticed her vision was getting blurry. A visit to the optometrist confirmed that something was causing her to have blurred vision. My mom was then scheduled for tests at the U. of Ia. hospital in Ia. City. The test revealed a brain tumor. The tumor was growing and pressing on her optic nerves, thus the blurry vision. The tumor had also begun to wrap around the pituitary gland on the left side of her brain. This tumor was no stranger though.
In 1972 mom was diagnosed with her first brain tumor. The surgery to remove the tumor left my mom without the sense of taste or the sense of smell and many medications to take on a daily basis. Nineteen years later the brain tumor returned. Advanced surgical procedures since 1972 aided in the removal of the tumor. Again my mom recovered. Nineteen years later the tumor returned again. Many factors were considered on the removal of this tumor. Surgery or radiation for months? Was my mom well enough for either option? Age. Recuperation time. All of this was happening as my parents were being told my dad has cancer. Mom elected to have the surgery. If everything goes well she would be out of the hospital in a few days.
Mom had her surgery on Tuesday, May 18th. We arrived at the hospital with the surgery scheduled at 8:00. She came out of surgery around 3:30 and everything went as planned. The Dr. told us they had removed most of the tumor and relieved the pressure on her optic nerve. The 20% of the tumor that remained was around the pituitary gland and unable to be removed.
After a 3 day recovery in the hospital, mom will be going home for 6 weeks of recovery. And going home to be with dad.
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea that you’re writing about this. I try to understand people’s feelings as they work through very difficult times. I hope that your experience will help me someday as I will have to walk the same path. Unfortunately our parents are getting up in their years; it's just too bad they have to be hurting. You are all in our prayers.