So much about the last 3 months has been about enabling my mind to beat my brain. Fortunately my mind is winning. As my surgery date approaches (Dec 13), I would normally get anxious and worry about the outcomes. The certainty that I am doing the best I can to live a healthy and long life and the reassurance that I have the best support network I could ever wish for gives me the energy to barely worry.
I have been getting notes of support and prayers from people I don't know, and the people I know continue to surprise me and bring tears to my eyes with gestures that are simply incredible.
This week I met a new hero, someone of the stature of my little friend Max (Go Max), who with 2 years old faced a very tough battle and now inspires people in so many places. My new hero operated her brain with the same doctor that will operate me. Her prognostic was tougher as the tumor location affected speech, memory, logic and right side movement as it was large and located on the left side. I simply would never be able to tell what she went through. Today she teaches Marketing at the best MBA programs in Sao Paulo, 5 months ago she was talking to the surgeon as he carved her brain.
The experiences I have been gathering, the recognition of how many people care about me and the new way I look at things have definitely made me better. When I created this blog I included the number 20, to simbolize 2.0, a new and improved version of me. I can't believe how right I was. Family, friends and unkownn heroes all over the world who are fighting your own battles, God bless you.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Treatment Path
Dear Family and Friends,
Sorry for the delay with this update as this is probably the most important one. After analyzing my MRI images my Doctor is very secure that I have a grade III glioma and therefore I need surgical intervention. An alternative would be a biopsy followed by chemotherapy, but since this is also invasive I opted for surgery.
The biggest downside of surgery is the risk of collateral damage (losing movements on my left side, for example). I read about a surgery that can be done while I am awake (intraoperative functional mapping) and became interested in it. This enables the doctor to shut down an area of the brain before removing it. He then asks the patient to move or talk, for example, before removing it. If the answer is yes, he proceeds.
As a coincidence my Doctor returned from a conference in Europe and had a chance to watch an excellent Doctor perform two surgeries using this approach. As he observed him and studied his results (higher resection volume and lower neurological deficits), he is coming to the conclusion that this is probably the best path for me.
Now we are working with this Doctor to find a date for surgery but everything indicates that I am flying to Montpellier, France, in December for surgery. Would appreciate if you could connect me to friends there, if you have any, to prepare the ground.
I am extremelly calm and peaceful with this decision, nearly 3 months have passed since my diagnosis and I don't feel much different, I think I can wait another 3 months.
My dad had a quote from King Solomon that had a very strong effect on me, "We choose our path but God determines our destiny". I hope that I am choosing the best path, I feel extremely fortunate that I was presented with so many great Doctors and that I chose one that was willing to open this new door.
Keep the messages, prayers and thoughts coming, I hope that this is over soon and that we remember this in the future as just another bump in this journey called life.
Sorry for the delay with this update as this is probably the most important one. After analyzing my MRI images my Doctor is very secure that I have a grade III glioma and therefore I need surgical intervention. An alternative would be a biopsy followed by chemotherapy, but since this is also invasive I opted for surgery.
The biggest downside of surgery is the risk of collateral damage (losing movements on my left side, for example). I read about a surgery that can be done while I am awake (intraoperative functional mapping) and became interested in it. This enables the doctor to shut down an area of the brain before removing it. He then asks the patient to move or talk, for example, before removing it. If the answer is yes, he proceeds.
As a coincidence my Doctor returned from a conference in Europe and had a chance to watch an excellent Doctor perform two surgeries using this approach. As he observed him and studied his results (higher resection volume and lower neurological deficits), he is coming to the conclusion that this is probably the best path for me.
Now we are working with this Doctor to find a date for surgery but everything indicates that I am flying to Montpellier, France, in December for surgery. Would appreciate if you could connect me to friends there, if you have any, to prepare the ground.
I am extremelly calm and peaceful with this decision, nearly 3 months have passed since my diagnosis and I don't feel much different, I think I can wait another 3 months.
My dad had a quote from King Solomon that had a very strong effect on me, "We choose our path but God determines our destiny". I hope that I am choosing the best path, I feel extremely fortunate that I was presented with so many great Doctors and that I chose one that was willing to open this new door.
Keep the messages, prayers and thoughts coming, I hope that this is over soon and that we remember this in the future as just another bump in this journey called life.
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