Age off for surgery

Adrian is being taken off for surgery - for several hours and will be in the ICU for a number of days now - so if you were planning on calling or visiting, he won't be in the Neuro ward for a while. I am not taking phone calls, but will always answer an sms.  I am not really in the position to talk much - and I know you will all understand and give me space.

Although Adrian and I are very confident and at peace with the surgery, any extra prayers, healing energies and good wishes won't go astray either!

On Monday we discussed with the Neurosurgeon the options and possibilities Adrian faced. I just looked back on this blog and found the posts I put up when he had his major episode and was hospitalised for a week - and found its basically the same discussion - we have just put it off for three years.  Here is a link to one of them - but go back to 2010 to find them. Fortunately, technology has advanced a little more, giving even more options.

Below are photos of two slices of MRI scans done last week, after the swelling had been arrested and he was stable. Those first scans I don't have and were pretty scary anyway.

On the first scan - where the doctor has drawn - you can see two main white patches - thats his tumour. the back part is where motor control and speech sort of lay - so its heavily intwined over the top of it - which is why in 1999, we chose not to go ahead with surgery as the danger of altering or cutting this off was - and still is far too high.

The scan underneath is a 'slice' higher up and shows how the tumour is pushing alot of the left side over and squishing it.  The edema had totally squashed parts, so this is why its going to be a long rehabilitation and timeframe for healing, while things settle down and get back into their normal spot.

So back to the surgery right now - which is happening - like right now as I type.

They will do a biopsy and gathering a sample about the size of a 20c coin. this will be done from the front part of the tumour and will be tested immedialty. They want to know what grade and type of tumour it is and what if any changes have happened since the last one - in 1999.

Depending on the results will depend on what they will do from there while he is still under.

If the tumour is still a grade 2 and has no changes - they will close up and do nothing.

If the tumour has changed, but not yet a grade 3 - they will debulk - and only the front bit - basically remove as much as they can without doing any harm. This will just give more time and space.

If the tumour is a grade 3 - it will be debulking, and then we will need to discuss radiotherapy options.

If its gone to a grade 4 ( which the neuro said he highly doubts) it will be debulking and some major decisions on other surgeries and medications.

While we are both at peace with the biopsy and possibility of debulking, we are both in agreeance that further surgeries, radiotherapy and chemo are not options.  Age and I feel that healing of the tumour had begun and some major changes happened on his spiritual path on the Camino where he utilised a number of tools to gain peace and clarity. These tools are no longer needed for his journey as he now steps into new insights.

Along the way, we have been presented with more options for healing, which only Adrian can decide which is best for him and his healing.  I know and trust that everything will be alright.  I also know its going to be a hard journey for the whole family and that trust and love will carry us onward.