Buckle up, here we go

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update everyone today since the doctor visit. Bryan finally had an appetite so we went to lunch and just let it all sink in.

We met with Dr. J. Michael Desaloms today at 11:00 AM and here's what he told us after looking at Bryan's MRI:

Bryan has a tumor in the back right side of his brain that measures 2" x 1" and is 1 cm away from his skull. The fact that it is so close to the exterior will make the removal less risky.

Dr. Desaloms doesn't know exactly what type of tumor it is. He described it as an uncommon leision, more like a bland mass, but it is definately a cyst with a tumor attached. He cannot confirm or deny that it is cancer, only pathology will tell, but he thinks that it is a low grade Glioma (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glioma). He thinks it has been there for a while, but could not give us an indication of exactly how long it has been there. When Bryan got his MRI yesterday they injected him with dye, which was absorbed by the tumor. When this happens it shows that the tumor is active. The MRI also showed a small bleed within the last year or so. The bleed indicates that there is activity or growth but it is not causing any symptoms or brain damage. Dr. Desaloms believes it would be best to remove it just in case it decides to start growing. If the MRI dye had not shown up in the tumor it would have proven that it was inactive and we would have delayed removal.

Bryan is scheduled to have a 3 Tesla MRI and Tractography this week (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractography) as well as getting his lab work done before surgery.
We have sent Bryan's MRI to Dr. Mark Tu, a close friend of mine and a Radiologist in San Francisco, as well as Dr. Fred Owens, an Otolaryngologist in  Dallas, for their expert opinion. We have already been told by other doctors that Dr. Desaloms is the best one for the job.

He is scheduled to have surgery on Monday, March 8th at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas (which is coincidentally Darcy's spring break from college...just another reminder the God is in control!).
The procedure will be performed in the Brain Suite (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKlMGgF64G0). This is where an MRI is actively used during surgery. They will make a 3 or 4 inch diameter cut in the back right side of his skull and it should take about 3 1/2 to 5 hours to complete. The common risk is that there are some visual nerves that might be affected and his left peripheral vision will be disturbed for a couple of months but should return to normal after time. The hospital stay should be around 3 to 5 days and he will recover at home within 4 to 6 weeks and will probably not be allowed to drive for a while until recovery is complete.

We feel very confident about this doctor and his references. He made us feel very safe and comfortable (http://www.dallasneurosurgical.com/).

This is an unusual trip that we're on, but we're packed and I think we're ready to head down this road. We're going to need some navigation and we're relying on God and the experience of this very intelligent doctor who has a proven and successful track record.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Please keep in touch through this blog, emails and phone calls. Bryan reads the comments often and it really helps with his emotional state. He has been very worried, only because human nature won't let him get away from that. When you call either of us, we will not discuss details over the phone, which is why we post this blog, but please don't hesitate to call us anytime. We will answer when we can, so leave a message if we don't answer and we'll definately call you back. We love all of you and we would go insane without your support through this.

So, buckle up. It's time for a trip!

Faithfully,

Gayla
3/2/10
4:37 PM