Hello! Happy Friday! Happy DEFINITELY RECOVERING NOW day to me!
My brain tumor craniotomy was nine days ago, and it went very well. I’ll share some medical details next, for those who find such things interesting!
They removed a piece of skull, detached as much of the tumor as possible, leaving only “a nubbin” the size of a grain of rice; reattached the skull bit with some titanium discs and hardware, and stapled my head back up with 41 staples. They also put in a lumbar drain to lower spinal fluid pressure during the procedure, and that needed to be stitched up. I had needles throughout my scalp during surgery to monitor brain activity, and I had a complex rig on my arm to track my blood pressure directly from my arteries. The surgery took about four-and-a-half hours, and I either did or did not have a seizure during it (the notes are confusing!), but I’ve been on medication to keep that from happening or happening again. I was in the ICU for three days and then moved to the regular neurology wing for another two days. I am still waiting to hear on the pathology report, but I am expecting confirmation the tumor was benign, and I may not even need radiation for what remains.
I am so, so glad to be home. Recovery has been one step forward, two steps back. The pain level is gradually receding, and so is the amount of time it feels really bad each day; and the nerves on the left side of my face are slowly waking up. My left eye, which wasn’t acting right because of the tumor, is totally functional again. I can’t really chew yet, but luckily I have always been a big fan of soft foods, so I’m having all the gruel, beans, and smoothies I want. I am just feeling a little, little bit more like myself every day, for better or for worse!
I haven’t been accomplishing a single thing. I’m trying to walk around the yard once or twice a day to keep away blood clots and whatnot. My friend Sadie came over when I got home, and she got us set up with a medication schedule and tracking system, and spent the night to make sure we were all okay. One of the kids’ teachers sent home some delicious quiche and salad and bread and butter. The kids have all been pitching in, and Damien took the kids back-to-school shopping and has been getting everyone to school and work on time, keeping me supplied with hot packs and cold packs and endless pillows and drinks, and just basically making sure my body and mind are completely at rest while he takes care of everything. A ton of people sent donations to help us pay for all the gas and meds and to make it possible for Damien to care for me and the kids without getting in too much of a pickle, and we REALLY appreciate that, and all the prayers and words of encouragement.
I feel so incredibly lucky to know so many generous and helpful people. At the hospital, I met a few folks (Jennifer and Paul. Please remember them in your prayers!) who just don’t have anything like this level of support. All of the nurses were nice and caring, and a few of them were really extraordinary. It’s a great hospital, and again, I feel really lucky. And happy to be home. Because even a really good hospital kind of sucks.
There were a couple of times when the pain and fear really overwhelmed me (specifically, in the immediate post-surgery MRI, and one of my first evenings at home), and you know, at a certain point the jokes and lessons and well-expressed thoughts run out, and you’re just up against the wall with suffering, and the only thing to hang onto is the hope Jesus is there somewhere. Some of you guys end up in this spot a lot, and I am just in awe of you.
I also gotta say, I do not see the appeal of oxycodone. I am glad I have it, because it makes the pain manageable, but everything else it does sucks, and I’m really looking forward to getting off it. There’s no joy in it at all; it just tucks normal human experience up on a high shelf where you can’t touch it.
I’m supposed to get my staples and stitches out on September 3, and then I have another MRI in October. In the mean time, I have an actual metal question mark traced out on the side of my head, which just seems fair. I must say, the surgeon did a neat job doing a rather cute undercut, so my hair actually looks pretty normal. I may go to Supercuts and get the them to shave a matching pattern on the other side! Or maybe I will just have some more bean soup.
And that’s my story! Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out. I am praying for you all!
Grateful for the medical, emotional and spiritual assistance you have been granted thus far and praying for your further recovery and healing.
In terms of heavy hitters, Oxy also leaves me wondering what the appeal is. Fentanyl and propofol are where pre and post-surgery meds are at, though!
Oh, I’m so glad for you, that the surgery went well, that they got most of the tumor and you might not even need radiation, that you had some good nurses, that you’re out of the hospital because you’re right hospitals are no fun, and that you’ve had not only some wonderful friends and neighbors assisting but what sounds like a fantastic husband helping all the kids during the start of school season. So very happy for you! I know you still have some recovering to do and I’m sorry for the pain. You and your family will remain in my prayers.
Simcha you are a warrior. You must be so relieved that it’s over with and the worst is behind you. I’m afraid that when I saw the photo of the staples in your head, I thought of that time in her autobiography when St. Teresa of Avila tells Jesus off: “If THIS is how you treat your friends…!!!”
But of course, since we’ve read too many Catholic books, this means that he actually likes you a LOT, and you’re one of his favorites.
Oh man.
Praying for your quick recovery and lots of down time to think of good and beautiful things.
Anna Lisa! How are you?! My “baby” just graduated from homeschool high school, and is on tract to hopefully become a fulltime music director (he sings, plays the organ and piano). Now I have to figure out what I’m going to be when I grow up! I hope you and your family are well.
Oh Hi Claire!
Wow. How amazing to see a little one blossom into an accomplished musician. What a gift. My babies are almost all grown up. I just became a grandmother again! His name is Leon. My heart overflows when I get to hold him. It’s like being closer to the presence of God. His mother is the dearest, dearest person. Everyone loves her. My second oldest son Max approached her last year and straight up asked her if she knew a nice Christian girl (like her!). She set him up with a friend, on a double date in October, and they are now marrying a year later! So now I have three incredible daughters that make up for a lack of a more feminine presence for all those years…I just wish/pray they were Catholic. All in God’s time I guess…
I’m so glad to hear that your children are doing well, and that you’re loving being a grandmother! Praying for you and your family, especially for those who are not (yet) Catholic.
It didn’t occur to me until today that you were recuperating during the back to school madness. On the one hand, you have a great excuse to opt out. “Brain surgery. Can’t attend your stupid mandatory meeting that should have been an email anyway.” On the other hand – it is September and you’ve still got youngish kids – yikes! Praying for all of you.
I’m so glad the surgery went well and I am praying for your swift recovery, you are awesome Simcha!
Dear Simcha, My prayers are with you. What a journey you and your family have had. Hospitals are great but I know you are so glad to be home. Rest, eat and know you are surrounded by a caring, praying community. Blessings over all of you.
Yes, no place like home! Thank you for writing to update everyone – my daughter sent your day-after-surgery photo with the incision and post-surgery note to me as soon as she saw it. “Not getting anything done” is what you’re supposed to be doing right now – your work is to heal. Glad for all the support you have all been getting. I laughed when you said YOU were praying for US! Oh, my, thinking of everyone else when you have just had a Really Big Surgery after months of what I can only imagine has been varying levels of anxiety – thank you! I am praying for YOU!
I am so happy that you are feeling better and are on the mend!
I enjoy reading “What’s for Supper” and look forward to it every week. I was very surprised and impressed to see it appear in my inbox THIS week! I have enjoyed getting to know you and your family through these essays and have picked up many culinary tips!
I have been praying for you and your family and will continue to keep you in my daily prayers.
I look forward to more culinary adventures with the Fisher family!
Praying for you, Simcha!
Best possible news. I’m so glad it went well, and I will keep praying that things continue to go well.
“Up against the wall with suffering” is an excellent description, and I hope that you will be free from that shortly. Thanks for the update. It’s such a weird thing to “know” someone online, and to know stuff is happening with them, but not really know what’s going on. I have been praying for you and your family, and will continue to do so.
Thank you for the update. I’ve been praying for you, and will pray that you don’t end up needing radiation.
All the best wishes to you for a speedy recovery! It’s also okay to say this sucks; even Jesus asked his Dad to let this cup pass from him. Still, I’m glad things went as well as surgery can. (I have a saying that ‘minor surgery is what other people have,’ but there is no way that this could be described as ‘minor’ by anyone.) I will pray for your continued healing.
Praying for you!
Thanks be to God. I continue to pray for you.
Simcha, I am so so glad to hear the surgery went well and you’re recovering well! I’ve been praying for you; thank you for the update!
I recently read a reflection by Fr. Jean du Coeur de Jesus d’Elbee that said in part, “The Crucified is never found without the cross, and neither is the cross found without the Crucified,” which I found consoling and wanted to share with you. I will keep praying for your recovery; God bless Damien and the rest of your family!
You continue to be our prayers!! Thank you for the update.
So glad things are going well and that you’re getting good support. I agree with you about oxycodone. For me it didn’t really get rid of the pain, just made me feel that I didn’t care about it or anything else at all.
Keep getting better! I and many others love you lots.