Good Bye Riverside! Hello Home!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

To catch everyone up to speed...On Thursday, March 10, 2011 Tom was diagnosed with a brain tumor after having an MRI. Tom had been experiencing some "weird" things along with some major fatigue and headaches. Our primary care physician scheduled Tom to see a neurologist on Friday, March 11, however when Tom's symptoms worsened on Friday our doctor told us to go directly to the emergency room. Tom was admitted to Riverside Methodist Hospital on that Friday. They immediately started Tom on steroids to reduce the swelling in his brain. We were on hold for surgery until the swelling subsided. By Monday, March 14 Tom was ready for surgery. We waited all day. Surgery began about 5:30 that evening and the surgeon met with the family by 7:30 with news that rocked our world. Tom was "preliminarily" diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), which is a malignant brain tumor. An "official" pathology report was not due out for 48 hours so we decided to keep the preliminary diagnosis "mum" until the official report came out. By Tuesday Tom was not responding to hourly neurological assessments. This caused much alarm and sent Tom back into emergency surgery to remove the bone flap. The removal of the bone flap allowed room for swelling. Tom came out of surgery with a ventilator in place to allow his brain to rest. The vent was in for about 36 hours. A swallow test on Friday then allowed him to eat for the first time in five days! He remained in the Critical Care Unit until Saturday, March 19. He moved to a step-down floor until Wednesday, March 23. We then made a decision to have Tom move to the Acute Rehab Unit of the hospital to help prepare him for home. In the rehab unit Tom had 3 hours of therapy a day, 30 minute sessions throughout the day of occupational, physical and speech. We are now on day 19 and ready to go HOME! We plan to leave the acute rehab unit today. We will return hopefully on Friday, April 1 to have the surgery to replace the bone flap . The flap is tucked in Tom's abdomen under his rib cage to preserve it for future use! amazing