Good News from Mayo Clinic

Well, we arrived safely at Mayo and saw the Neurologist. I LOVE HIM!!! He was very upfront with us, answered every question we had, and has a lot of the same philosophy as John and I. I think all the turmoil with the previous ones was so that we could finally find someone we are completely comfortable with.

Ok, ok... so what did they say? Well, there was definitely change in the June MRI and there is a good possibility of it in the October MRI. However, we are still in the 6 - 18 month window that changes occur post radiation and any changes are not significant at this time. So, we will have another MRI in Springfield at the 8 week mark and we will continue working with the doctors at Mayo to determine the best path of treatment. Should any of the future MRIs show change, I will most likely be starting Temodar but he doesn't feel it is to my benefit to start it at this time.

For those that have no idea what I'm talking about, they do not believe it is anything to be concerned about at this time and therefore we will continue to watch it. This is good news!!!

Love ya all and huggles from Minnesota!

-- Amy (Now it's off to find some food)

Adding Just One More Stressor

Today they announced at work that they will be closing the plant I work at sometime in the next year. I would be lying if I said I was surprised. We have all felt for some time that our jobs were already on borrowed time. After they announced the closure of our sister plant earlier in the year, we were even more certain it was just a matter of time for us as well.

We don't have a time frame nor do I know what this means for me. Things can go in several different ways and we'll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, I am preparing what is needed to ensure that my family is in good position regardless of what happens with my job. We are fortunate in that we can live off of John's salary and it would just be my medical expenses that would cause issue.

We'll have to wait and see what path we must go on. From what I am gathering from those making the decisions, God is truly the only one that knows what will take place at this time. We are strictly along for the ride until which time the pieces fall together. As I said, I know that we will come out stronger in the end and that we will come out on top just as we always have. Everything happens for a reason.

Results from Three Month MRI

Here's the latest from the brain front...

October 8th I had my three month follow-up MRI.  My Neurologist gave me the results saying that he didn't feel qualified to diagnose what he was seeing and therefore wanted me to see my NeuroSurgeon.  Of course, my NeuroSurgeon was formally fired back in January after the fiasco that occurred following my first post-radiation MRI.  I began researching NeuroSurgeons in the area after I had my seizure in June.  I had a few likely candidates should I need them so I was able to move fairly quickly in finding a new NeuroSurgeon and I have a backup should it be required.  Although I hope that I will strike it with this one.  Mayo Clinic is rated number 1 in Neuro in the USA so I think I should be in pretty good hands. 

I will be seeing a Neurologist and NeuroSurgeon at Mayo in Rochester, MN on the 29th and 30th of October to get their opinions on what the last couple of MRIs have shown.  If you remember my July MRI showed an area of enhancement that they were uncertain about.  My suspicion is that it's this area that is concerning them and thus why they wish me to seek a more experienced opinion on it.  This is one of the many things I like about my Neurologist and thus why I have not allowed his nurse to run me away from him.  He knows when he's in over his head and you have to respect a doctor like that. 

It will be a long drive at around 7-7.5 hours but I think it will be well worth it.  After we find out what is going on, Mayo is known for working well with doctors in the patient's area so hopefully it will not be one of those treks we have to make often.  Even if it is, to put a group you can trust running the game makes it worth it.

I guess this isn't really giving much in the way of information but I'll know more when I get the MRI report and after I see them at Mayo at the end of the month.  For now, we just have to know that it is in our Father's hands and that there are a lot more options still out there should they be needed.

Huggles

To Thirteen Years of Marriage

Today, John and I celebrate 13 years of marital bliss. It has been a wonderful 13 years and I hope we have many more to come.

So much has changed and happened in those 13 years but I would never trade a day of it for the world. True love is hard to come by and I'm glad I was blessed with it.

John - I love you now and always. *Kisses*

There's Some Major Milestones Now

Ten years ago today, I became officially employed at my current place of employment under a small company known as Hobbs Corporation. I have seen a lot in those ten years here. The walls have changed a few times. My original office is now a row of cubicles and the area of our IT lab used to be Quality. I have seen three corporate employers including the latest where we also lost our Hobbs name. I have seen our company go from 204 users on a Novell network to 55 users on a corporate run Microsoft domain. I have seen co-workers and friends come and go. I have seen a good company fight its way along a sometimes difficult path. Most importantly, I have made friends here that have meant more to me in the last two years than anyone will every know. It's been quite the journey since I started here. May there be many years yet in this site.

One year ago today, I went to the hospital to take my last radiation treatment. I was excited but exhausted at the same time. It marked the end of phase two of my treatment for what turned out to be a cancerous brain tumor. Now a year after the end of it, I am still fighting the cancer and even some of the effects of that treatment. The key word is I'm fighting it. :)

On Monday, it will be 13 years since my husband and I walked down the aisle. It really doesn't seem possible that it's been 13 years. I guess it's true that time flies when you are having fun. We've been through so much together and I love him more with each passing day. How could I not when we have been through the struggles we have? This should be my lucky year. 13 is my lucky number so we'll see. We have come a long way from the two kids that we were when we were first married, living on his meager paycheck while I completed school. We have bucked the odds in so many ways as we stand united after 13 years. We are happy, have a healthy son, own our own home, and would never dream of it being any other way. Sure, we'd love to win a huge sum of money so we could enjoy the benefits of our hard work but we also realize that having each other is just as important. 13 years... wow.