Awake Craniotomy August 27 2008

Hello my friends, guess who is back and still fighting!!!?? Yep, just me, the one who refuses to let this thing wrap its ugly arms around me as it attempts to squeeze the life out of me. I apologize if I feel a little "smug" or "big-headed" right now but I feel deep down inside that the score is 2-1 for my team against the C-Team and I couldn't be more pleased!!!

First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for your unending support throughout this path of mine. I know.....truly know, that without all of your thoughts, well-wishes and prayers, that this fight would be so much more difficult to battle every day. I will forever hold you close to my heart.

Ok, lets get into the brains of this thing!!

Finally got my "infected hangnail" cleared up and given the ok to proceed with surgery. The hangnail seemed so trivial but after l listened to my surgeon explain the higher infection risk factor already involved with having surgery a second time in the same area.....I was ok waiting another 10 days until this active infection in my finger went away!!

So my surgery day officially began at 6am with the usual paperwork associated with being admitted to hospital. Dad and I were even there 20 minutes early!!! After that, I was whisked away to the second floor for surgery prep where I saddled up onto the bed in preparation for the medical ride of a lifetime! From there it was off to the MRI suite for my pre-surgery MRI (just to make sure this all wasn't a joke or something??) lol

Now I am being wheeled down corridors that are getting eerily colder as we near the operating room. Once in the O.R. I am greeted by a host of new faces who are going to be involved with my operation. I believe in total there were anywhere from 10-12 people in there at any given time, all of them with smiles and idle conversation to share with me while they went about their work strapping, clamping, poking my body for game time.

Unlike my first surgery where I was flat on my back with my head in its natural position, this time around, I was placed on my left side and then my head was physically clamped sideways (still with poke holes to prove it) to prevent any movement. For this part as well as the initial cutting of the skin, the Doctors took my level of consciousness down to nil and then brought me back up minutes later to my awake state. Ok, be forewarned, here is where it gets a little graphic for those of you who may get squeamish. (is that in the dictionary?)

The first sound and sensation I hear and feel is that of a cutting tool being used to remove a larger portion of my skull for access. There was no pain involved, although I MAY have winced a couple of times as the blade bound up and had to be removed and started again. Anyone who has used either a hand or power saw should be able to relate....kinda. The next thing I felt was the skull being chipped out tenderly to expose the the "goods". The anasteciologists (x2) were right in front of me the whole time, asking my pain level etc so that they could instantly adjust the medication levels to make me more comfortable. It was they who graciously took pictures for me too. From this point, they began to remove brain tissue, both tumorous and dead non-tumorous (the downside result of radiation treatment) and as the surgeon neared the outside perimeter of the mass, is when he asked for my input regarding things such as :can you raise your left leg, turn your ankle, bend your knee etc. These physical activities were a result of my tumour being located on the right side "Motor Strip" portion of my brain controlling the left side of my body. I think he got my bank card PIN number too because since Wednesday, my account has been dwindling!!!

I guess in this day and age its all about "cost-down" since they now use rivets and strapping to secure the skull back to its original position in the head. I guess I don't need to worry about anyone trying to thieve them as they do with copper wire etc now!! lol

The surgery took 6 hours overall and I came out of it with quite a large "U" shaped incision containing 32 stitches to be removed in 10 days by my family Doc.

Just as happened with my first brain surgery, as soon as I was in Recovery for the 24 watch period, I wanted food and I wanted it NOW!! I almost felt embarrassed for feeling so good as I scanned the rest of the room and seen others who had just undergone the same or similair surgery and were not feeling nearly as spry as I was. That being said, of course I was the thorn in the Nurse's side until they finally kicked me out into the general population. On Thursday, they put me into a semi-private room with a 91 year old Italian gentleman named "Ted" for short. Ted was a full blown Italian from the the Chatham/Windsor area. He has been in and out of hospitals for the past couple of years and according to his son, has not spent more than a month at home before landing up in hospital again. His conditions were alot to do with just old age I think. So from then until I departed, it was the "Ed and Ted" show. For him being 91, he was still fairly sharp and we had some good conversations, with me sitting on the edge of his bed, about the old country, the war etc. How can you not oblidge when a 91 year old man is patting the mattress as you walk by and says "EDDIE, please sit for 2 minutes here." (in his very Italian accent.) Ted will be one of those memories that will be etched into my mind forever, just knowing that I made an old man smile and actually convinced him to get his butt out of that bed and walk to the chair (with qualified staff at hand of course!!)
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON
So by Friday August 29 2008, I was ready to get out of that hospital. Of course prior to departing I had to see a few different specialists ranging from Occupational Therapists to Physiotherapists to a Social Worker. On the physical side of things, I am told that an "off the shelf" AFO (ankle-foot orthotic) will not work (did try one weeks ago and no, didn't work) and that I will require a custom-fit orthotic brace to allow me to walk "somewhat normal" ....at least to the extent that it will help in forcing my foot not to drag along the floor and also to force my left foot to point forward as opposed to its current position of wanting to turn inwardly. I may dance again one day! (now thats funny)

I will post the surgery pictures here also but will leave out the actual brain pictures. If your morbid fascination gets the better of you and you'd like to see it, feel free to just ask, I did!!

I am hoping to spend at least the long weekend having some down time. As headstrong as I am, I also know the importance of the healing process and how that will help me when its time to step up to this again. First and foremost is recovery, and then the trip to "you know where" planning begins!!!!! Nothing is going to stand in our way now.

I will be returning to the LRCC (cancer clinic) in a few weeks time to discuss our options going forward. I will certainly update you all on the outcome of that as things get laid on the table.

Thank you all again....for your support and love

With love

Ed