Buckle up….I have some updates!

I want to start by thanking everyone again for your prayers, texts, and calls.  I physically felt the love and prayers sent to me, during the entirety of the MRI.    The MRI that I had on Monday was a breeze!  At no point did I feel scared, claustrophobic or in any pain.  In fact, it could not have been easier.  The MRI techs (guy and gal) were two of the kindest, coolest, young adults I’ve met!  They put me at ease and made it very easy.  It didn’t hurt that the machine happens to be the largest MRI in the hospital.  This thing is huge!  In total, I spent 3 hours at the hospital.  Forty-five minutes of pre-MRI instructions and IV placement, and the remainder inside the actual MRI machine.   By the time I finished and walked back to John in the waiting room, I was still in great spirits! We were home by 10 pm, and I was in bed by 11 PM where I proceeded to not sleep, of course.  LOL.

In the interest of being transparent about the good and the bad, Tuesday was not a great day.  Due to a poor night’s sleep on Monday evening, and just the overall stress of the testing, I was not in the best spirits yesterday which is why I refrained from posting anything.  I have learned that when I am fatigued, it’s best if I simply “hole up” and keep my surroundings quiet.  The last thing I want to do, is snap at someone because I’m irritable.  So if you texted or called yesterday, please don’t take it personally if I did not respond.  It was for your own protection hahahaha!

Today I met with Dr. Mueller, and here is where my updates get FUN!  The functional aspect of the MRI has confirmed that my language dominance and other areas that are vital to cognition are on the LEFT side of the brain!  This means that I will NOT have to be awake during surgery! My tumor is on the right frontal lobe.  Even though the tumor is close to the motor band, there are other ways the surgeon can test function without me being awake.  I was never afraid to be awake during surgery, but recently I was starting to wonder how I’d do on the table, if I were required to be awake for 4-8 hours.  It’s another level of control that I’m happy to relinquish.

SURGERY IS THIS COMING MONDAY 3/14/22!  Dr. Mueller told me that I no longer require the neurocognitive testing, and Monday is open, so Monday it is!

I learned today, that Dr. Mueller’s PA, Katie, is a 2012 Catholic Memorial High School grad! She’s also an avid Taylor Swift fan, has a great sense of humor, and has agreed and been allowed by Dr. Mueller, to take some killer pics of my brain during surgery!  I mention the CMH connection for this reason;  The older I get the more I realize how vital it is to be a member of a faith community!  We are members of Holy Apostles Parish in New Berlin and have been part of the Catholic Memorial HS family for almost two decades.  The friendships we’ve made over the years are like family, and multiple members of the CMH community have reached out privately to me.  To know that CMH has churned out the PA who will watch over me with Dr. Mueller is NOT a coincidence.  It’s Divine intervention.  I would like to strongly encourage everyone to find your faith community!  If you live near me, join mine!  I will take you to church with me when I’m up and running!

I have a pre-op physical tomorrow, and a covid test on Saturday and that’s it.  Monday is the day.  Dr. Mueller would not comment on how long the surgery will take.  It could be anywhere from 4 to 8 hours.  He also could not comment on how long I’ll be in the hospital.  I am ok with this.  I have a profound sense of peace as I head into this surgery, and I have all the faith in the world that God’s will, will, in fact, be done.  I will get through this and be a better person for it.

I will post before Monday because I find it to be therapeutic.  John, with the help of the kids, will try and post Monday and possibly next week.   He’s not nearly as loquacious as I am, which may be a relief for some of you!  But rest assured, as soon as I’m up for it, I’ll be posting again.

Just a few pics today.   These are the socks I chose to wear to today’s appointment.  I love them.