Unexpected News

Hello everyone,

This is not a blog I anticipated writing after seeing Dr. Klimo on Thursday. When I sent to see him, first thing is off to the exam room and he checks for lumps and bumps (as he calls them) and asks me if there is anything new I should be telling him. Unfortunately, there was something I had to tell him. Told him that I had been having some issues with my eyes - seeing funny lines and other things along that line. He took me back to his office and we chatted a bit more - and then he said, I needed to go and have a CT scan of the head immediately. So, off I went down to the CT department and was taken immediately to the set up area - IV's etc. Because my veins play hide and seek, they had to call for an IV technician. She did a great job and got it in the first try, Once they put a bag of saline through you it is into the room where they keep the CT scanner. I lay on the bed - opposite way of normal - head where my feet normally are. I was put into a head brace and given the contract dye immediately. Then told to just relax and lay still! I was so comfy - and then they took a second set of scans - that worried me right off the bat. But once they were done, I lay a bit till I got my bearings an then sat up - and again had to sit for a few minutes as I was a little dizzy. No comments from the peanut gallery!

I went back upstairs, had a little lunch and then waited for Dr. Klimo. He called me into his office and he pulled up the scan - first response - "uh oh not good, bring your chair over to me" - that way I could see the screen and I knew what I saw was not good. Large dark spot the shape of an egg on the right side of my brain and several smaller "tufts" as I call them scattered around. Paul said that I needed to see the neurosurgeon on call immediately. I burst into tears as I knew the cancer had spread. You don't know how to react or think. The call was put out for Dr. Mutut and I waited. Called Brian and cried - but he said 'Roni, we have made it through stuff like this before, we will make it again." Then called the kids - that was hard to do. Shannon and Lindsay left work and came directly to the hospital and was so glad that they did. The nurses were wonderful - lots of comforting hugs and head rubs. Laura brought the social worker to meet with me and I was glad that she did. After waiting a while, I asked when the surgeon would be here. He was in surgery the rest of the day and was booked for Friday as well. The earliest I could get in was 9:45am on Saturday. It would be a hard wait, but we made it through it.

Thursday night, I had all my kids at the house - we had some wine and some munchies and just talked and cried and said we would be ok. I thank my kids for coming over - meant the world to Brian and to me. They are great kids. And they also got me two dozen beautiful pink roses - they look stunning!

Then it was time for phone calls to people who should know - and a few tears were shed - but tears of love and fear. I have contacted my family and most of my immediate friends.

Saturday came - Brian and I met with Dr. Mutut - we both liked him. He explained what he was going to do and what the large lesion had affected - some of my dexterity had been compromised. He is going to talk with Dr. Klimo tomorrow to discuss some items which I won't go into detail here. He thinks I should meet with the guy who puts you to sleep (brain not working to spell it!!) to see if my lungs are going to be able to handle the stress of the surgery. Good idea. He went through some of the things that could happen - bleeding from the brain, infection, seizures and stroke. Scary to hear but necessary. He said that he would take the main tumour and if he could he would try and remove the smaller ones. They don't like to expose the brain for too long and risk infection.

Sounds like surgery will be later this week - 3-5 days in the hospital. I will have my bag packed with my own pj's and such - might as well be comfy in there! Messes up Thanksgiving - but someone can cook the turkey and still have a family dinner. I won't be posting here during my time in the hospital.

Meghan or Shannon will more than likely put information on my Facebook wall as to when I can have visitors, what room I am in etc. I will be in Lions Gate Hospital - which is in North Vancouver for those of you not familiar with the area. I am kinda hoping that they will drain the right lung - will make breathing easier for sure. Two drains - one for the brain and one for the lung - ok that one is a chest tube.

I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed and hope that all goes well. Thank you so far for all of the good wishes and love and hugs. And from Sandy in England, the beautiful flower arrangement which arrived on Friday.

Remember to think of Brian too - some cooked meals would be great for him - subtle aren't I?

That is all for now.

Love
Roni