Here are a few things that happened today:
a) Not all brain surgeons look at things the same way. That is a good reason to go with the most currently esperience. And so we will.
b) Dr. Lillehei reviewed the MRI results with us again and advised it seems while the tumor is rather large, it probabkly has been growing for years and does not appears to be either fast growing nor malignant in the sense that it is spreading.
c) The tumor is located in a par tod Laurie's brain (front upper lobe or cerebrum). It just so happens that none of the area it covers appears to be related to motor activity. This is good. That means removing the groeth will not cause peril to any part of the brain responsible for motor.
d) Tumors of this type are called derived from the glial cells that assist the neurons in the brain that make up brain matter. These glial cells die and new are born and sometimes they just mess up (due to the fall of humanity, no doubt) and create a growth.
e) Now, while the surgeon belives the tumor is not malignant, he is not 100% and so only a biopsy can tell once they remove the roof of Laurie's cranium to get at this thingy. Ideally, it would be a low-level risk (I being completely benign to IV being horribly cancerous). They would remoev it all and if it REALLY tests to be low risk, they might not even have to radiate. But there are a lot of variables they nede to test adn check before that call can be made. if there is any suggestion of a level III, they would need to radiate. We like this cautious approach.
f) Theer will be two phases to the surgery (check this out):
i - Laurie will initiatlly be put to sleep shile they frame out a scalp trap door large enough to work through. They do not shave heads anymore for this (cvan you beleive this??). Then they will cut through and remove the skull plate so they can access the tumor which is right next to the top of the skull in the front right side.
ii - Then after they make sure she is really juiced up locally, they will wake Laurie up and perform the surgery with her awake. Becasue they are messing around in an area very close to the motor control central, they need to make sure they check motor skills all throughout. They can only do this predictably if she is awake, albeit really drooling.
g) Surgey is Scheduled for Wednesday October 27th at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, CO. More details will follow.
h) Thank you all again for all our heart-felt care and prayers!
For those who have expressed concern, The Journey will be coordinating some evening meals for the family once Laurie is surged upon next week. If you have an questions, feel free to post them to this blog.
We love you all!
Laurie, Frank, Laura, Sami, Teddy Bear, Nocciola and Indigo.
a) Not all brain surgeons look at things the same way. That is a good reason to go with the most currently esperience. And so we will.
b) Dr. Lillehei reviewed the MRI results with us again and advised it seems while the tumor is rather large, it probabkly has been growing for years and does not appears to be either fast growing nor malignant in the sense that it is spreading.
c) The tumor is located in a par tod Laurie's brain (front upper lobe or cerebrum). It just so happens that none of the area it covers appears to be related to motor activity. This is good. That means removing the groeth will not cause peril to any part of the brain responsible for motor.
d) Tumors of this type are called derived from the glial cells that assist the neurons in the brain that make up brain matter. These glial cells die and new are born and sometimes they just mess up (due to the fall of humanity, no doubt) and create a growth.
e) Now, while the surgeon belives the tumor is not malignant, he is not 100% and so only a biopsy can tell once they remove the roof of Laurie's cranium to get at this thingy. Ideally, it would be a low-level risk (I being completely benign to IV being horribly cancerous). They would remoev it all and if it REALLY tests to be low risk, they might not even have to radiate. But there are a lot of variables they nede to test adn check before that call can be made. if there is any suggestion of a level III, they would need to radiate. We like this cautious approach.
f) Theer will be two phases to the surgery (check this out):
i - Laurie will initiatlly be put to sleep shile they frame out a scalp trap door large enough to work through. They do not shave heads anymore for this (cvan you beleive this??). Then they will cut through and remove the skull plate so they can access the tumor which is right next to the top of the skull in the front right side.
ii - Then after they make sure she is really juiced up locally, they will wake Laurie up and perform the surgery with her awake. Becasue they are messing around in an area very close to the motor control central, they need to make sure they check motor skills all throughout. They can only do this predictably if she is awake, albeit really drooling.
g) Surgey is Scheduled for Wednesday October 27th at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, CO. More details will follow.
h) Thank you all again for all our heart-felt care and prayers!
For those who have expressed concern, The Journey will be coordinating some evening meals for the family once Laurie is surged upon next week. If you have an questions, feel free to post them to this blog.
We love you all!
Laurie, Frank, Laura, Sami, Teddy Bear, Nocciola and Indigo.
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