Pray for my daughter too!

[Snowflake]

My 21 year old daughter, whom many of you from the Xmas Place may remember me talking about, just had a massive brain tumor removed. It is rare, less than 1 percent of all brain tumors are of this kind. There was just a small piece they could not get, but pray that she has options and we can find someone who specializes in this type of tumor. It is a gray area, between benign and maliginant. what ever that means. :sad: :sad:
She is a little depressed about her hair, It was more across the front, which wasn't so bad, but then she had to undergo a 2nd operation to put a shunt? in and they took more and she is so down, even tho it will grow back. She will miss the first semeseter of her senior year of college. this was a complete suprise to us. she did not tell us she was having these headaches that bad and had went to several DR's but no one would listen to her, she finally had to go to ER and this was 2 weeks ago today. And my husband had his defibrillator put in at another hospital 1 week before, so I have been stretched pretty thin.

[Ervserver]

Best wishes for you and your family

[number4son]

I will certainly mention you and your family in my prayers.

[Goldie]

My prayers for you and your family.

[Christy Carol]

Your family will be in my prayers

[hollybow]

My prayers for you and your family.

[ElfSpirit]

Snowflake, I'll be praying for you all...much strength to you.

[topaz 64]

Adding you & your fsmily to my prayers. Make sure you get enough rest as well Snowflake.

8-)

[lightitup]

Snowflake you and your family are in my prayers. I pray God will give you the strength to get thru this. I pray God will heal your daughter and hubby.

[Snowflake]

Thank you everyone for your wishes and prayers. We go Tuesday to hear what options we have or if it will just be watched. (the part they could not get) We do know that she will have an MRI every 3 months for 5 years regardless. We will probably be going to St. Louis for a 2nd opinion also. altho her neurosurgeon has great credentials, we do want a 2nd opinion on treatment as this type of tumor is so very rare. Do keep us in your prayers!!!

[Ervserver]

2nd opinions are a good thing, certainly can't hurt. Keep us informed

[YodaPHX]

Snowflake you have been in my prayers for a couple weeks now and will continue to be in them. I hope the second opinion offers better news.
God Bless

[Snowflake]

Thank you Yoda and everyone else for your prayers! We did go back yesterday to have the stitches removed and talk to the neurosurgeon. We are pleased with the news, although, she will require more treatment.
The good news is that the tumor was benign and so is the tumor piece that is in the ventricle on the other side of her head. The not so good news is that by the time she has her next MRI in 3 weeks, she will need to make up her mind on two options she has for the piece they could not get in this surgery, as they were not in that part of her head. That tumor is about the size of your thumb tip. If she will have another surgery, they can remove it and she will never have to worry the rest of her life, or they can shoot it with 'Gamma knife' radiation to that spot and hope to shrink it, but it could come back in 10 years or anytime and then she would have to have it taken out.

This tumor is rare, maybe 100 of these a year in the USA. Opinions were from Mayo Clinic, From Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis and a Neuro Surgeon in California happened to be in the area and he also looked at it/or the info. Of course her neuro surgeon has excellent training. He went to Med School at Loma Linda Univ in California, Did his internship at the Minnesota University Hospitals, Residency at University of Wash. at Seattle and his fellowship at the Baltimore Cancer Institute. He is not real young, so has had experience. Really a smart Dr. I have a feeling there were quite a bit more conversations with other Dr's on this.

This past surgery was life threatening, to take out the other will not be. He would not do anymore surgery for a year regardless. she may go the 1 time radiation route and see what shows up in a year also. And she has had this tumor at least 10 years, maybe since early childhood, It is just caused by cells growing where they are not supposed to be and was not attached to the brain, just in the cavity. Sorry for this to be so long winded. So we still need your prayers and I have not forgotten to pray for others on this forum either, in fact, I have probably been more aware and praying for you than normal. My husband is hanging in there, doing everything he is not supposed to do!!!

[Ervserver]

Thanks for the update Snowflake, hang in there!

[Goldie]

Thanks for the update, Snowflake. Thank God that the tumor was benign. My prayers continue for you and your family.

[savingstar]

its brilliant new that the tumour was not cancerous, it will still be toughto make that decision but whatever she decides she knows she has a great mom and family behind her to support her all the way.
I will pray for you

[lightitup]

God does answer prayers. That is good news snowflake. Tell your hubby he better listen to the doctors and do what they say. Tell him we are going to put the Christmas hex on him if he doesn't. What ever your daughter decides to do she has a awesome mom on her side. The prayers will continue.

[Snowflake]

thank you everyone!!! And remember I am praying for all of you too!!! Prayers really do get thru!!!

[YodaPHX]

Snowflake that is good news. If it was me I think I would just want it over with. I'd take the other piece out and not worry about it. But thats just me she will decided what is right for her. I'm so happy you got some good news, you deserved it.

[WintersElf]

snowflake know you and your family are in my prayers...
im glad you got some good news tho...at least she will be on her way
to recovery and maybe not have to deal with that tumor anymore..my DD
goes thru terribly migraines and yet they cant give her enough meds to make them go away...as soon as she gets insurance will be geting her a specialist..the hospital turned her down before not believeing how bad they get...prayers going up for you dear..hang in there...may God give you the strength you need during this rough time...

[Snowflake]

WE had unexpected good news from the MRI this week! The MRI did not show any of the piece of tumor left. It is gone!! So she will not require radiation or surgery next year. I honestly beleive it was the power of prayer! She has went back to her apt with restrictions etc and has the ok to take 2 courses this semester. One will be online and the other at the college, where she hopes to be in the same class as her fiance and ride with him. Then 2nd semester, she should be able to go back full time. Her hair is growing fast and she wears her baseball cap with her pony tail out the back. The back of her hair wasnt' shaved, only the front top and sort of one side. well more later. Thank you everyone for your prayers

[Goldie]

Snowflake, that is such wonderful news!!! What an answer to lots of prayers. I'm so glad that she is getting back to her normal life.

[number4son]

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[fenwick]

May your whole family find the strength to go thru this. Especially your young daughter. Keeping you in my prayers. Glad to read the updates. Take Care.

[Ervserver]

Thoughts and prayers for all in the path of the hurricanes

[YodaPHX]

I'm sorry for being late on this but I am so happy to hear the good news.