MRI June 24

Today was the first MRI since the surgery and wonderful news.....

No sign of the tumor!!!

He'll have another MRI next June and annually for 5 years (Dr. Robinson said we may skip a year if the next couple are good).

We are so thankful for the news today!

Follow-Up

Wes's recovery has really been remarkable! Better than we ever thought it could have been. He still suffers from headaches but not every day and he never had any damage to his facial nerve. His scar is minimal and he has chosen to continue to shave his head!!!

Thank you again for all your prayers.

I'm asking for them again now.....

This Wednesday we go back to the hospital for his follow-up MRI and will see the neurosurgeon the same day to find out if all the tumor was removed and will discuss the course of action if it wasn't. We are hoping and praying that what was left was a piece of tissue and this will all be behind us. Please keep Wes in your thoughts this week.
I'll post later in the week when we know the results.

Happy Father's Day

June 5, 2009

4/15 - 3 weeks out

WOW! Today is exactly three weeks ago that he had surgery. He's having an unbelievable recovery!
We saw Dr. Cerenko today (ENT) for follow-up. Wes is having no balance issues, mainly because that nerve had been destroyed some time ago which works in his favor now. He is FREE to drive again!!!! However, he should not be lifting or doing anything strenuous for the full 2 months.

Something very inspiring happened while we were there. There was only one other couple in the waiting room & we got to talking with them a little. Turns out they are there because her husband has an acoustic neuroma and is meeting with Dr. Cerenko for the first time. We were able to tell him what an amazing job he's done with Wes & about Dr. Robinson as well. They were absolutely dumbfounded that he had surgery three weeks ago. The same way we would have been back in January when we got the news. When we met them they were aggravated about waiting there but when we left them, they were happy & hopeful! I can't tell you how great that felt! I gave her my number and encouraged her to call me with any questions and I hope she does.

Next week we'll see Dr. Robinson & get the follow up MRI to see if there is anything left (tumor I mean, not his brain!) I'll post again then or if anything changes....

4/6

It's hard to believe it's been less than 2 weeks since brain surgery! He's doing amazing...recovering much quicker than anyone would have expected. He got the staples removed today & then we went to the mall! He gets tired quicker than he normally would & still has to take pain medication for the headache (although much less frequently now) but other that, he's doing wonderfully. If you saw him today, you'd never even know.
Thanks to everyone who has prayed for Wes & our family. I believe he is prayer at it's best right now:)

9:45pm 4/3

A good day today!!!  Wes has been up & about today for the first time this week.  We went to Harbins to eat lunch with Dawson, who turned 7 today.  The noise got to him after a while, as you could imagine an elementary school cafeteria could, and he had to leave a little early.  We ran a couple of errands, even went into Bass Pro (guess who's idea that was)!

Of course he needed to sleep when we got home but he actually felt like being up and about, which is awesome!

8:15am 4/2

Still headache & meds....the story of the week. He's in quite a bit of pain and doesn't like taking so much medication. He got up for a couple of hours yesterday. He can get around well but his head just hurts tremendously.

12:10pm 3/31

Lot's of pain & lots of sleep is what's happening now. He's pale & has the headache that we were warned of. He's taking his meds as prescribed (no extra time in between right now) & just staying in bed mostly. He's eating enough to not be sick but just doesn't feel like being up & about yet.

Thanks to those who are playing with our kids & helping keep the house quiet! :)

11:45am 3/30

Spoke to soon....
He slept most of the morning & was only able to get up for about 15 minutes. The headache they warned us of has arrived! He's back in bed now & in quite a bit of pain.
Now's the time I'll be calling on those who offered to keep the kids.....

8:45am 3/30

We spent our first night home & it was so nice! Wes is still sleeping but he did awesome yesterday. He was awake for the entire afternoon. His pain is managable & he's feeling good, all things considered. Doctors all said that he's progressing very well, most likely because his vestibular nerve was already destroyed so he didn't have to recover his balance.

Thanks again, a million times over, to all who've prayed for him. It has got him this far & I know he'll have a amazing recovery!

3/29

We're going home today!!!!

6:00pm 3/28

We just took a walk around the floor!  He hasn't been up much today but is doing better now.  Pain was not unbearable & he's going much longer between meds.  The plan is still to come home tomorrow.  So far so good!

10:00am 3/28

He's exhausted!  He had to start getting up yesterday & he did fine but it really wore him out.  He slept all afternoon & night.  He has had breakfast this morning but still no energy.  They want him out of bed more today so he'll be even more exhausted later today.

With all that in mind, he has asked that no one visit today.  He'll feel more like visitors when we are home & he can move more easily.  Hope everyone understands.

Thank everyone for all the prayers & warm wishes.  We knew there would be a lot of recovery time involved & now we just have to be patient.

11:30am 3/27

He's in room 444!

He hasn't stood yet but will have to soon.  Has less tubes now!  He's eating good & all is great!  He will take visitors now....

8:45am 3/27

Seeing him for the first time today & he's still GREAT!!!  He'll get moved out of ICU sometime today (could be late this afternoon).  He's taking more time between pain med. & still says that it's his shoulders; however, they are MUCH better than before.  He will probably get to go home Sunday!  Can you believe that???  He's anxious to get up & move, which he'll get to do today also.  His vision is getting better.  He ate a biscuit & eggs this morning!

I caught up with Dr. Robinson this morning & he is so pleased with his progress, as are we obviously!  He looks great, still no facial changes or swelling.  

Wes won't let me post a pic or I would so you can all see how fabulous he's doing.  

He isn't ready for visitors yet, since he's still in ICU but hopefully he will be once he's moved, or plan to visit him at home next week.  

6:00pm 3/26

Shoulders are starting to feel better & b/p is coming down.  He has eaten jello, italian ice & now had broth too.  He slept most of the day today, which is what he needs.  Still looks awesome!

10:30am 3/26

Never thought I'd like to hear him snore!!!!  Sure sounds good right now knowing that he's resting.  His shoulders still hurt but he's better than yesterday, whether he knows it or not!  His blood pressure is coming down.  His vision is blurring but that should be a combination of swelling & lots of pain meds.  He can't get up until that is better.  Don't know if he'll stay in ICU again tonight or not yet.

I just can't express how great he looks.  For them to have worked on his brain for 10 hours solid & he's not even swollen...it's just unbelievable!!

The day after

I lost WiFi last night so I couldn't update again.

I got to see him about 10:00 last night & he looks AWESOME!  You wouldn't even know he had surgery except for his head being wrapped!!!  I stayed with him until after midnight & went to get a little rest.  He is in a tremendous amount of pain in his shoulders.  I'm not sure if that is from they way they had him secured to the table or something else.  He says it's the worst pain he's ever felt.  I hope that subsides today.

THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends & family who've been so wonderful.

AGAIN, Wes is in ICU now.  His blood pressure was up last night.  HE HAS REQUESTED NO VISITORS for now.  Perhaps when he's in a regular room & feeling a little better, he'll change his mind.  As of now, I'm asking everyone to respect his wishes......

6:00

Assistant came out & said that Neuro. was about 80% done removing the tumor.  Everything still is going great.  Don't have a time frame but hopefully we're in the home stretch.