posted
Hi, I've not posted a message like this before, so here goes...
My wife's brother (who's the favourite uncle of our children) was feeling feint a few weeks ago, and to cut a long story short, Joan(who used to be a nurse) eventually told him to get a cat-scan done of his head. He could only get booked in in 7 weeks time-mid July. She told him to tell the doctor's secretary that it was an utter emergency, and needed immediately. This was a week ago. They 'squeezed him in' last Thursday 3rd June for the scan. She decided she wanted to spend last weekend with her parents & brother (he's 48), and while there, he had a fit and was unconcious for 3 minutes. He went off to hospital in an ambulance, but came back with 'no problems' apparently. He's not had fits before, ever.
The results of the scan came through yesterday (Tuesday) and they found a golf-ball sized tumour in his brain in behind his right ear, and the doctor booked him in immediately to have it cut out today (Wed 9th). They decided it looked bad enough to warrant removal, not just a biopsy.
So he went in to surgery this morning at 9am, booked for tests etc, and to go under anaesthetic at 1pm. It's now 10pm here, and they still haven't started. He was 2nd on the list, but they pushed two 'emergencies' in ahead of him.
His courage & optimism/faith in the drs is starting to fall with the delays and the lack of communication about it all, to say nothing of the psyching up & heebeegeebees getting ready for 1pm then such a long delay. (except that it surprised me that the drs could move so fast once the urgency was identified- all in under a week)
I'm an optimist, always have been & always will be, but something as big & sudden as this is a worry, as is his future after the operation,presuming they get it all out.
If those of you who do, would spare a few thoughts & prayers for him tonight as well as the next few days in recovery, it would be appreciated.
Thanks
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'll keep him and his family in my prayer today. My husband's 13 yr.old nephew just went thru the same..only they knew it was cancerious. After losing his hair and many treatments, he is doing fine. Keep the faith.
[ June 09, 2004, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: Laura Butler ]
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Several years ago they removed most of the large brain tumor my mother had. Following the surgery the doctor said they found it very risky to remove all of it, and if it continued to grow at the same rate the procedure will need to be repeated when she's 100.
Do you have any update yet?
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6714 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'll say a prayer too, Ian. What is his name so I can personalize it? I hope everything will work out OK. This happened to my sister-in-law. After the surgery, her gross motor skills were damaged, but her tumor was at the base of her brain. She used to tease about having to wear a wig from the chemo. Love...Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks all... James Heppell is his name. No updates yet. Joan just rang up to say she's staying the night at the hospital with him & her parents. It's about 250km from here, in Brisbane.
How is your sister-in-law now, Jill?
[ June 09, 2004, 08:59 AM: Message edited by: Ian Stewart-Koster ]
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hope all goes well. Give our best wishes from Colorado.
A dear friend of mine had a similar operation here at university hospital 3 years ago. Had the operation on saturday and called me the next day (sunday). Checked himself out of the hospital on wednesday. All that after the doc assured him he would be at least a month (or more) before he would be able to get out. The human body can do some incredeble things.
Mike
-------------------- Mike Milos PrintSation Banner D-Signs & Graphics 489 S. 13th Ave Brighton, CO 80601 303-726-6513 Posts: 50 | From: Denver, CO | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
In 1996 I had a tumor the size of a softball removed from my brain stem.......14 hours on the table! They gave me 6 months....I'm STILL HERE, much to the delight of one or two! The surgery was obviously successful, although it DID leave me with some residual problems.....BUT IM STILL HERE! Keep a positive attitude....just remember....IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHIN'!
posted
We will say one for him too. I think it's interesting that almost everyone knows someone who has gone thru this. Our sons had a friend in high school that went through it and he's fine now...hardly any problems following the operation. I think he has some small vision problems. He does have a pretty noticable scar on his head though but the main reason you notice it is, 10 years later he still keeps his head shaved. Ir's amazing what the medical world can do this day and age. Keep your optimistic attitude. It DOES help!!
[ June 09, 2004, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: Jane Diaz ]
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
We'll think about you and the family. My good friend has been dealing with almost identical circumstances with her mother the last couple months. It will likely be a long recovery but should come out OK. Having family to help will be the greatest thing. That's the only reason I wish sometimes I had another child, so my daughter would have help when she's older.
Hang in there!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Prayers & best wishes to you all from here, too!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I know brain tumors can be scarey. My mother had a non malignate one removed. She came thru the surgery fine and only had a slight slurr in her speech for a time after the surgery. Ian, you and your family and James will be in our thoughts and prayers. Hoping for a speedy recovery. Judy
-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ian, my prayers with your brother-in-law here too. God Bless... I'll pray for the doctors too. (my uncle is a dentist and they discovered he had a tumor the size of a baseball behind his eye. He was in Mayo Clinic last year during Tomahawk meet getting it removed. He lost his eye and doesn't practice dentistry anymore, but, he is okay, and has a beautiful wife. She is an art teacher for high school there in Texas too, and came down with a rare form of breast cancer the year before. They are both doing okay, and have their love for each other. They have been together for over 30 years and still act like kids. I love them and will pray for you guys too.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ian, keep the faith, nothing is impossible with the almighty. I had lung cancer and was given a 2% chance of a cure. Those aren't very good odds but it's been almost 4 years and I have been told by my oncologist that I'm considered cured. God is still in control.
-------------------- Frisby Signs, Inc. El Dorado, Arkansas Posts: 902 | From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA | Registered: Apr 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Wow, thank you all very much, folks. It's amazing to hear of others in similar situations, and the great recoveries.
He was under for 5 1/2 hours, and they finished not long before sunrise today-Thursday. He's feeling very well, up & walking about, albeit with a 5" hole in his head, and can hear better than before, he says. He went for another scan this morning- we won't know the results for a day or two. Opinion is that it was not cancerous but very aggressive. Tomorrow will be the test...
I'll be offline till Monday night- got a big busy weekend ahead organising a Draft Horse Field Day- 121 horses (& donkeys, ponies etc) have been entered for different competitions, ploughing, obstacle driving, log skidding, in-hand classes etc. Even lots of Junior Handler classes for children, and Hobby Horse classes, a Picnic Pleasure Drive... it's usually a great weekend.
Best wishes, and many thanks again
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
![[Applause]](graemlins/clap.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic