Kristy's Story...First Day Home From Duke Hospital

Kristy and Michael expected a long day of calling radiology oncologist specializing in brain tumors. But thanks to a very good friend, and Kristy's sister, they were able to find someone first thing this morning. Kristy's sister found Dr Simpson who specializes in brain tumor radiology. But before Kristy could call him a very good friend of mine gave me the name of someone from Washington University, Eric, that could look over the medical information and decide if they could help. He could greatly help to get the whole radiation process started quickly. Eric is associated with Washington University, Siteman Cancer Center, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. So Kristy called Eric first.

She told Eric her situation. He said he could review their case but needed all Michael's medical records from day 1 of the tumor. Kristy and Michael had brought home the Duke records since they knew they would be needed. She then called Saint Louis University and ask to pick up the records from the first two surgeries. We then left to get the records from SLU and take them to Eric.

After getting the records we drove to Siteman Cancer Center to meet with Eric. But as we walked into the office we looked up to the sign above the desk and it said Dr. Simpson. We were meeting with my friends contact and he was working with Kristy's sister's choice of doctors! Let's all hope that was a good sign and they can help Michael.

Eric was on the ball and had already talked with some doctors about Michael. He is meeting with them again tomorrow and going over the medical records we brought to him. Once they review the records they will contact Kristy and Michael with their decision. When we hear back from them we will post their decision.

Kristy's Story...More Bad News

Kristy and Michael met with the doctors today to discuss Michaels tumor. The surgery did not get all of the tumor and they found out why today. The remaining tumor is about one inch in size and on a critical part of the brain. If they remove it it will cause permanent damage.

The doctors say the tumor is growing fast. They want Michael to start radiation if the radiologist thinks he can do it without causing other damage. If he can't do radiology then Michael will start chemotherapy immediately. They need a treatment started this week because of the rapid growth of the tumor. The treatment, whether radiation or chemo, will be back here in st. Louis because of the length of time required for both treatments.

Michael and Kristy are on their way home now and should be here late tonight. They will return to Duke Hospital in 8 weeks to check his progress on whatever treatment Michael starts.

Kristy's Story...More Bad News

Kristy and Michael got the results from the MRI he had Thursday and the doctor did not get all of the tumor. Now they are waiting for a Tuesday appointment to meet with the doctors and see what the plans for treatment are going to be.

Kristy's Story...Hospital Stay After Surgery

Kristy and Michael have met with Dr. Friedman this morning. Dr. Friedman wants Michael to stay close to the hospital until next Wednesday. Michael is doing good but he wants the pathology report back on the tumor he removed before they return home. Depending on the pathology report there may be other treatments needed, such as chemo. He said Michael will be able to leave the hospital and check into a hotel until he is released. That will be later today or tomorrow.

Michael is walking but very slowly. He will still need a lot of help after leaving the hospital. He is having headaches but thinks it is from the surgery, not the tumor. They have him on some pretty strong pain medicine right now. He has been unable to sleep since the surgery, nurses in and out at all hours, so maybe a quiet hotel room will help.

Kristy and Michael are still very nervous about this whole ordeal. They were hoping for a definite answer to the question "Is the tumor and cancer gone?" Because of the possibility of micro cancer cells they don't have the answer they want to hear. The doctor is doing another MRI as I write this to see if anything shows up.

I will update this story again soon.

Kristy's Story...Day After Surgery

Michael is doing great and already messing with the nurses. He feels better than he has in some time now and wants to get out of bed and move around. He will be released from ICU soon and put in a private room. Dr. Friedman has stopped by briefly to check on him but has not sat down to talk with him and Kristy yet. They really like Dr. Friedman, not only is he a great surgeon but a super nice man.

Kristy will update me after they talk with the doctor more.

Kristy's Story...Surgery is Over

This has been a very long day for Michael and Kristy. Surgery was originally set for 10:00 a.m., then it was changed to 12:30, but the doctor came in a little later and said the tumor has grown even more since he checked it three weeks ago. So the surgery ended up not starting until 3:30. It lasted only three hours and Kristy is still waiting to see Michael. He was given a strong pain killer and they want him to take his time waking up. It is now 9:30 in North Carolina.

Kristy and Michael said Dr. Friedman has been wonderful and very supportive. He says he is almost positive he got all of the tumor but there could be some micro cells. He will give them more information tomorrow when Michael is awake. Then I will pass the information on to all of you.

Kristy's Story...Night Before Surgery

Kristy and Michael are at Duke Hospital tonight. Michael had his pre-op test done, including another MRI, and he is ready for surgery tomorrow. His surgery is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.

I keep the boys on their regular schedules while mom and dad are gone. And they have busy schedules! One gets dropped off at school at 7:15, the other at 8:15, and the schools are about a half hour apart. Then the oldest gets picked up at 2:15 and an hour later I pick up the youngest. They have a couple hours to eat and do homework then we go to football or baseball practice or a football or baseball game. We get back home around 8:30, one hits the showers then the other the tub, they talk with mom and dad, then off to bed around 9:30. Up at 6:00 a.m. and start all over again!

So sometime tomorrow, as soon as I know something and have the time to write, I will let everyone know how the surgery went.