Feeling Lucky

So last week I had my long awaited Gamma Knife surgery.  It isn’t too often that one has brain surgery and needless to say I was a little leery going in.  The day started bright and early and as Blaine and I left the house just after 5:00 am I made sure to give my dear, sleeping kiddos a little kiss for good luck before I was on my way.

Truth be told, luck is already on my side. 

• I am lucky that a few years ago they found my fairly large benign brain tumour by chance.  If they hadn’t it may have grown to the point where I would have experienced symptoms; seizures, visual disturbances or damage to my facial nerve. 
•  I am lucky that Dr. Michael West is my neurosurgeon.  They don’t get much better than him and I have the upmost confidence in his abilities.  He is also a super nice guy, to boot.  He may not be McDreamy but he is a close second in my books.
• I am lucky to live in a city that has one of only three gamma knife centres in Canada.  What a blessing to have been able to have my surgery in Winnipeg, instead of traveling and dealing with planes, hotels and being away from home. 
•  I am lucky that my tumour is benign and treatable with gamma knife.  Three years ago when I was diagnosed it wasn’t…how lucky am I that the medicine and technology has advanced so much in three years that I avoided the real “knife” and the invasive surgery of which the recovery would have been months.
•  I am lucky to have a life filled with so many wonderful people…..my family, friends, and colleagues are my greatest gifts in life.  Kind, thoughtful, caring, attentive…I thank all of you for thinking of me, your prayers and your warm wishes.

Last Wednesday, I suffered through the not so pleasant experience of attaching the imaging frame to my skull with the four pins.  I wore that cage like apparatus for about 6 hours and they were right…I really did get used to it.  I had a little sedative and made it through my MRI (I am extremely claustrophic).  After that the team of doctors and physicists read the MRI results and devised their radiation plan of attack.  My sequence was about an hour and twenty minutes long.  I was allowed to listen to music in the machine but even Madonna’s Immaculate Collection could not distract me enough to make it all the way through without a little break. After that pit stop it was clear sailing.

My recovery went well.  I ‘ve had some headaches, and I had pain at my pin sites for a number of days. I slept a lot.  But after a couple of days off work and the weekend, I felt much more like myself and a week later all is well. 

And now we wait.  The benefits of Gamma knife surgery can take weeks and even months to work.  The goal is to stop a tumour in its tracks and prevent further cell growth.  I have a MRI scheduled six months down the road to see where we are at, but until then I am feeling lucky!

Comments

[Scott C]

Not many people can say they have punched a ticket on the Gamma Knife ride! (awesome ride, eh!) Way to go buddy, it's stuff like this that make you stronger as a person and allow you to appreciate the little things in life!

[chris]

Your positive attitude goes a long way towards getting through something like this.

So glad it went well.

AC

[chris]

What is the picture of? Is it a personal one or one from the internet?

AC

[Shauna]

AC...it is my tumour. The MRI image is from above. My meninginoma is located above my right ear.

[Lydia]

Glad to hear your story more closely, and even more glad to hear all went well. We were all sure thinking of you, and I agree with Chris, your attitude contributed a lot to getting through. When we see ourselves as lucky no matter what life throws at us, it's like a life raft to take you through choppy waters.

[Eva]

So glad ifor you that it went well . It's amazing that the technology has developed even in the three years. Thanks for sharing your story!