The Good: When we ask Orion what's concerning him, his answers are always schoolwork and grad school applications. (Since he's hooked up to monitors, we can see his pulse quicken at our questions, but perhaps that's always true with parental prying.) Yesterday, when he was having trouble holding focus, he couldn't remember any passwords. Today, he remembered, and we completed the U of Chicago application (due tomorrow) by cutting and pasting from other applications.
O gets a little nervous about the short-term memory loss, but they assure us this should only last a few days.
The Bad: While it's good that the pressure on his cranium is relieved, it's still remains true that he has a 4cm tumor on his brainstem that is likely inoperable. The tumor has not been identified and the possible prognoses and treatments go from bad to horrendous. (So wish for bad.) The preliminary pathology results are due Tues or Wed, but they may just send us home until they have the whole story. The head neurologist said to expect this to be a long haul.
The Ugly: What were the surgeons thinking? Shave half his head and leave the rest? Steve says he looks like a Samarai warrior with an 8" scar. He is not cute. Of course that's not what we're thinking about.
Amazing that he could remember the passwords -- I imagine his are much more complex that most.
ReplyDeleteN and I will be hoping for bad.
He's still cute to me :)
ReplyDeleteI may be praying for bad, but I'm thinking: beautiful. Beautiful that O is up and remembering and worrying about deadlines...it sounds so ordinary in the face of what he has been through.
ReplyDeleteDear Sally, Steve and Orion, Thank you so much for sharing this in the midst of all that is happening. Sometimes exhaustion, especially emotional, eggs you on to do more. We are sending loving thoughts, minute to minute, for the best outcome possible. Ruth and Don
ReplyDeletePlease view this as a comment also from Paul. He can't type. He has tried and I did buy him Mavis Beacon this Christmas. I can't remember my password unless it is Bode Miller. Otherwise, meh? Then the hints really through me off as I always try to encrypt them.
ReplyDeleteWe are wishing for the best for your recovery and treatment.We were glad to hear that U of Chicago was on your list. Both Annie's parents got their degrees there . Her mother got a MSW and her father a law degree. She went to kindergarden there in their lab school.
Chicago is a great town.Annie grew up there until she was ten and we stopped there many times on our annual bus tour. We are sure you will love it , if you choose it.
We will try and keep up with all the news and read it all and whatever else we can find. Maybe you should dye the other half one of Rachel's old colors. That would be interesting.
Try and remember that bad isn't "that" bad, it is just something you have to get through .
Please let us know if we can be of any assistance. We kind of have the hospital thing down a little too well for comfort after last years double kidney experimental whammy for Paul. But it IS working.
Virginia says "hi", and sends well wishes.
Kathleen is out there somewhere, but we haven't been able to connect since really early Christmas morning. She has been working round the clock. We love you and are looking forward to seeing you. Love, Annie & Paul.