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Shannon is in surgery now, and Crystal is getting her butt kicked! We will get very brief periodic updates throughout the day, but won't know much until the surgeon talks to us, estimated late this afternoon.[...]
Just had to share this cute picture of our Superwoman! She's at MDA and ready to be called back to get Crystal permanently removed!!![...]
Shannon specked out for MRI and electronic guidance of the surgical instrument (see picture!). These are "fiducials", which are GPS tracking for mapping the tumor, pre op.[...]
Tumor! Must come out. Probably a 5 hour procedure. Dr. Sawaya says, no big deal, we do 3-5 of these a day. Worst reasonable likelihood is partial visual loss in the upper right visual quadrant, because some optic tracts run through the region of the tumor. Relatively minimal, even if there is loss, maybe won't be able to see airplanes without turning her head toward them. Dr. Sawaya tolerates hugs extraordinarily well, with extensive signs of bona fide reciprocity. He will be aggressive about the tumor removal, and depending on the type of growth, which will be determined in the first 20 min, he gets to be more aggressive, for a more dangerous tumor type or less aggressive for less dangerous tumors. We do not know about follow up treatment, for example with radiation, until the molecular characteristics of the growth are known.[...]
Shannon met with Dr. Sawaya, the head of Neurosurgery at MDA, and he is WONDERFUL!!
Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24th. Time of surgery is still to be determined. [...]
Even though this website is for updates about our Superwoman Shannon, I'm just so excited to be on my way down to Houston to be with her for the MD Anderson appointments tomorrow. Shannon's mom and stepdad are on their way too. [...]
Hi Everyone,
Shannon has something in her brain that should not be there, visible on CT scan, that was found on Friday, February 12th. It's putting pressure on her brain which was causing severe sleepiness, facial pain, and vomiting, much like a concussion. A Family Medicine physician identified it as NOT a sinus infection, for which Shannon had persuaded a physician to treat her ten days earlier. We were gently encouraged to go over to radiology and get a CT scan. Surprisingly, they were able to work us in! (We didn't realize what was going on behind the scenes yet.) The radiologist, Shannon said, looked like he'd seen a ghost, or like he was looking at one. We went to ER, MRI, hospital, more CT scans. Discharged Sunday, after a harrowing weekend.[...]
We are very excited that Shannon has gotten an appointment with the Chairman of the Department of Neurology at MD Anderson in Houston on Monday, February 22nd![...]
