Update on Age

For anyone who has facebook, this news in not new. For those without it - or who don’t look often; take a seat.

First - Age is ok - for now.

Thursday afternoon while he was waiting for a bus to meet us at the Library, Age had a massive seizure.  He lost consciousness for about 20 mins, waking up disorientated in the ambulance near the RBH. I got a call to come immediately and that he was in emergency.. so had a pretty hellish drive into hospital, thinking all those positive thoughts along the way…( note the dripping sarcasm)

One of the worst things was the waiting and not knowing what was going on.  When I arrived and asked to see him, the emergency nurse asked for my id and then rang ahead to see if I could be admitted.  Now I REALLY had positive stuff going though my head then…

When I got to see him, he was all hooked up to machines ( that went bing) and was strapped to the bed so he couldn’t move. They suspected head injuries and spinal problems.  On his head was a lump the size of an ostrich egg.

He was still pretty dazed then.  He was wheeled off for scans and bled out for blood, and finally allowed to be unstrapped. Poor bloke was starving as he’d had nothing since lunchtime - and being gluten intolerant couldn't have the sandwiches being offered. 

I have to say I was very impressed by the emergency team.  Adrian had another seizure - not a big one - and the nurse pressed the button… and people ran from everywhere, wheeling trollies and ready to go… It was like being on the set of Grays Anatomy.  He was shot with an anti seizure drug and steroids.

Jodi - who had kindly taken the kids as I threw them out on the way past, came in with a care package of coffee and lots of chocolate, and some fresh clothes. We sat together and chatted to Age while we waited for more tests and for a doctor to come and tell us what was going on.  She got the kids sorted out to get off to school the next day too.

I was impressed too by the light atmosphere of the emergency ward - the people coming in - how polite and grateful they were to the nurses.  Nurses - by the way do not get paid enough.. Especially for working past midnight when the weridos, drunks and druggos came in, abused shouted and yelled at the staff.  We had people refusing treatment and being handcuffed to the chair.  It was pretty ordinary..

By three am, it was clear to me that we weren’t going to see a neuro and I was exhausted - so drove home.  Age tried to sleep in the bright lights of emergency, whilst being hooked up to drips.

Incredibly, the neuro did turn up - about 4 am. Age was moved to another ward and put under hourly observations and a list of more tests to do later on that day.

Later - well - Friday morning, Max and I went in to see Age in his new bed, sat around a table and chatted when Scott came to visit and were generally heartened to see Age in a positive and up beat mood and outlook.  

Age had seen another set of neuros, desperate to push their case for surgery.  He was moved up to the Neuro ward and taken off for more scans. His medication had changed and perhaps it has something to do with the thickening of his tongue or he may have bitten it the day before, but by mid afternoon, it was obvious he as having trouble forming words properly. About 5 pm he had another mild seizure - so was moved to a private room, next door to the nurses station and put onto regular observations.

Hes is a bit spacy with the drugs they have him on and noticeably forgetful, which I know will irritate him to no end. The drugs have side affects such as more seizures, enlargement of the liver and fatty liver, so alright for now - but not a long term solution.

Its our intention to gather as much info about the options available and to talk them through - without being forced into a fear based one. Two options immediately presented involve surgery - one to partially remove the tumour, the other to try and get the whole thing.  Each with risks involved. 

The scans so far have revealed that there has been growth in the tumour  - but not to a dramatic amount which would warrant this sudden change in seizures. The other is that there is calcification within the brain - esp around the tumour area.

Its been 11 years since the tumour was found. After radiation, Age had five good years with no seizures. Seizures have gradually progressed from a mild annoyance and now to potentially dangerous situations. 

So that brings us up to Friday night.  I’ve come back to Jodis house where the kids are having a wild time.  I’m numb I guess. Have cloaked myself in the masculine and coping that way; just getting through.

Again, we are taking this an hour or two at a time… and I’ll keep you up to date as I know stuff - via Facebook mostly.


I guess the best thing you can do is to just send blessings, good luck or whatever it is that you may believe.  Adrian would love to chat with you - even for five mins - so a call is always appreciated.