Ok, I think I can finally write details about the surgery. When I got the call from the nurse that after 4.5 hours that they were closing up and it would be another hour and a half I got really happy and thought it went well. I'm optimistic. So I called Ryan and he wasn't as excited. He immediately thought that a 10 hour surgery over in less than half the time wasn't a good thing. He tends to have better instinct than I sometimes. Anyway...When Dr. Menezes finally came to talk to us he explained a lot.
The tumor is a clear cell meningioma. This is not a good type of tumor. This tumor spreads and grows back if it's not fully removed. Her tumor had gone into the middle of her brain and had totally consumed all the major nerves that control voice, hearing, face movement, swallowing, and balance. He couldn't even find the nerves to try to save them. He had to take it all out because he knew it was bad. He said for all intensive purposes he thinks he got it all out. He didn't want to go into the center of her brain but he knew he had to to get the tumor out or else it'd grow back or spread to the spine. He has seen this in the past in a mother and two children. So he asked us if we had this in the family and no not that we know of. So the surgery didn't go fast because the tumor came out easily. It went fast because he had to cut it out and take everything with it. Since all those nerves are now gone. We don't know how well she will hear if at all in her right ear. Best case senario she will have a droopy right side of her face and her right eye lid won't shut all the way. Her voice may be different and she may not be able to say words correctly anymore. Her swallowing maybe be affected and her balance will not be the same. I see a lot of therapy in our future.
The breathing tube will be in her for 5-7 days now. She will be sedated to a state that she can tolerate everything they have to do to her but also where she can cough, open her eyes a little, wiggle her toes and squeeze her hands when the docs ask her to. It was encouraging to see her responding to the doc when she was doing these tests with her. I didn't realize she'd be able to do that. For those planning on coming to visit we ask you be healthy and not sick. There aren't visiting hours so we can take you in to see her any time. Kids shouldn't come in. They let Nate come in to see her but of course he didn't know what was going on. If you still want to visit this first week that is cool with us. She won't be awake much. If you want to see her more awake and without tubes allover then I would suggest wait until this weekend or next week. She has a breathing tube, tube in her nose to empty out her stomach of anything she swallowed during surgery, two IVs and another line to monitor things and take blood out for tests. It is terribly hard to see Ellie like this. Horrible. There is a wonderful lounge for us to stay in during the day or night that we can visit with people in. Or if you want to visit for a meal we'd gladly go out with ya. We plan on staying this first week at the McDonald house so we also get sleep. When she's awake in her own room one of us may be staying with her at night on a cot.
The major concerns are the brain swelling and blood clots. She lost barely an ounce of blood during surgery so that went well. She didn't need a transfusion. Please pray for little brain swelling, no infections, no fluid leaks from the brain, and no blood clots. Also that she comes off the pain meds in a good way and that withdrawal isn't terrible for her. She has a CAT scan tomorrow morning to start monitoring the brain swelling.
As always we will let you all know how you can help and I will keep you all posted. Thanks for the prayers, I like what the church has started. Depending on your birth month that's the time of day people at church are going to pray, so there will be prayers all 24 hours of the day. For example if your birthday is in January you pray during the 1 o'clock hours, Febr. 2 o'clock hours, Dec. 12am and pm hours. Neat idea Jill!
God bless you all and thanks for everything, WE LOVE YOU!!
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