Step-son in rush surgery

[Sickie Ickie]

Hey folks, my oldest stepson Ryan is 16 and we just found out he needs rushed surgery tonight/tomorrow morning. His vision problem is from a toumer on the brain pressing on his optic nerve.

Please provide prayers for him/keep him in your thoughts.

Sorry for straying so far off-topic.

[Ms. Parker]

Oh Bryce - I'm sorry sorry :(

You and your family are in our thoughts!

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks, Ms P. Update: Just got a phone call from my wife. They're running more tests all night. Definately a large toumer. we're all praying it's benign...

[CandyCane]

I'm so sorry to hear that.....y'all are in my prayers for sure!

[spookineer]

And ours as well...

[Nancj]

oh Sickie, so sorry to hear about your son.
keep the faith, don't lose hope, miracles do happen.
you and your family are in our prayers.

[Sickie Ickie]

Hey guys. Thanks for your prayers and support! You have no way of knowing how much this actually gives me strength! Thank you!

It appears that prayers and well wishes may be working. The tumor may not be as bad as was once thought. Current thinking is they'll put a shunt in his head soon and relieve fluid and swelling. He may be coming home in a day or so. Then in the upcoming week he'll go back for surgery.

Looks like things are changing slightly folks- please keep up the prayers and good wishes!

[Mummy deer-est]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear this, Sickie...but glad to hear things are looking a little better. We will include you and your family in our prayers too.
Your Christmas forum family is here to support you.

[putrid]

You got mine Sickie Ickie. And may the outcome of all this only strengthen your family.

[bethene]

Sickie, I hope this sees your step son better, you and your family have been in my prayers, May God be with you, and bless you and your family.

[wintersmistress]

Sickie,


My prayer for you is that God gives you the strength, courage and guidance that you will need. Always remember he is your ROCK.

I'll keep your son,you and famliy in my prayers.

Take care and keep us up to date

[BlackRose]

Hope things are continuing to progress positively. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers.

[Ice Princess]

Hey SI - just want to let you know that I have you and your family in my prayers. Keep us posted.

[RRguy]

So sorry to hear about this. I can only wish the best for you.

[Sickie Ickie]

Heyya folks. Sorry for not updating sooner. Been at Children's Memorial Hospital much this week. Well, my stepson had his brain surgery on Monday. His tumer is craniopharngioma. In a nutshell, I guess we are all born with a membrane surrounding our hypothalamus. In most people, buy the time they are full tern themembrane has be reabsorbed. Fos some it doesn't. This has the possibility in developing into the tumor- a thickened fluid filled balloon like thing that stops fluid from traveling around the brain and draining.

His surgery consisted of making a burr hole and inserting a tube through teh brain to the tumor. Then a needle was inserted and the fluid withdrawn by suction. In his case 25 cc of fluid was suctioned out.

His pitituary was smooshed by the tumor, so hormones now to be given to him. He is on cortisone, and will have to have many others including growth hormone. The growth thang made us kind of snicker because he is already 16 and 6' 2" . more growth hormone? What will he wind up 7' tall? heh

Anyway, he'll wind up with taking hormones for quite a while, if not part of his regular life.

After surgery Monday (and coming out of anesthesia), he didn't sleep for roughly 3 days because his body was adjusting from the new cortisone. Seems a side effect is insomnia. Thurs he was able to go home, back to his smiling self and no longer having headaches, unbareable sleepiness, etc. YAY!

Thurs eve he slept for 7 hours. His body is finally adjusting to his hormones. Yay!

A bit of a bald spot on his head, but the stitches are dissolvable. Yay!

He has some blood tests coming up, more MRIs, CTs, etc. due to3 smaller cysts/tumors But hopefully things are going well so far. Almost all signs point to benign! Yay!

Wed or thursday this upcoming week, they have to drain some more fluid, but at least now they can just go through the scalp into the tube. He's not looking forward to the needle, but thank God it's only a needle this time!!! :D

Thanks again for all the prayers and well wishes folks!!!

[CandyCane]

I'm so glad to hear that he's recovering from this horrible ordeal. I've been thinking about your whole family all week and wondering what was happening. Thanks so much for posting this info. I'll continue to keep you all in my prayers.

[Nancj]

So glad to hear from you again Sickie, you've been missed much around here. so glad to hear that you son is back home and recovering, hopefully the worst of it is over. I used to volunteer at Children's Memorial Hospital so I can imagine that your son was in good care. Hope He is feeling much better and that he recovers soon. Best wishes for you and your family. Thank you for keeping us posted.

[RRguy]

This has to be hard on not only him but you and your family also. So glad to hear that it is going well.

[bethene]

Sickie, been thinking of you and your family all week, thank God for answered prayers!!!! I am so glad he is doing better! I will continue to keep you and yours in my prayers, We missed you on here!!

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks people. I missed being on here. Nancj, the nurses and volunteers were second to none! Very rarely were we disappointed and although he was a grouch much of the time, patience and understanding were abundant. The scenary there was beautiful as well. :)

[Mummy deer-est]

Oh, Sickie...so glad you guys are doing okay. I can't imagine the stress you have been through, and we will also keep you in our prayers. So happy to hear all the good news, though. Will he be going back to school?
We have missed you bunches, but obviously all understand why you have been away. Any SI is good SI!!! But family comes first. Hugs for you and yours. :)

[Sickie Ickie]

The doctors gave the option of going back, but because he only has a week or so until Christmas vacation, we are keeping him out. LOL He doesn't mind at all.

I've never been vain enough to turn down prayers, so keep on prayin' and keeping us in good wishes. It has very appearently helped so far! :)

[Mummy deer-est]

Not like he doesn't have a valid excuse, or anything....lol.

[Sickie Ickie]

*wink* .

[bethene]

I don't blame you, I wouldn't send him back wither, and I am sure it doesn't break his heart!! I am so glad he is doing well enought to even consider going back though! . Will definately keep you in my prayers, Glad to have you back Sickie!! Missed you humor!!

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks bethene. :) Believe me, I'm glad I'm back to joke around for now! :D

[Nancj]

Hmmm... a 16yr old that doesn't mind being at home until after X-mas break.. So rare. lol

[Sickie Ickie]

Go figure, eh? :p

[lyssa-anne]

Hi SI - I havent been on here for awhile - I am sorry to hear what you and your family had to go through - but i am very glad to hear the outcome was good!! Wishing you and your family the very best and hope you have a great christmas!!

[Sickie Ickie]

Not over for a very long time, Lyssa-anne, but you can be sure we're going to try our best to have a terrific Christmas!

[BlackRose]

Thank God! I'll keep you guys in my prayers but I am so happy to hear that things are turning out OK!

[Sickie Ickie]

So far so good. :) We still have hormones he'll have to take on a daily basis for the rest of his life, lots of blood tests, monitering, and radiation treatments, but for now we're accepting tidbits of good news with open arms. Future surgery to remove the tumor is still unknown, bt we're hoping that won't have to happen like they originally thought.

[Sickie Ickie]

My stepson has been overweight so we previously let him have nutrasweet pop. No calories and still tastes okay, right?

Now medical studies have come out showing a link between nutrasweet and vision problems and tumors. From the advice of surgeons, our son has been taken off diet pop.

[bethene]

I have heard that about the pop too- but I still drink a lot of it- sprite zero or diet coke -that's what I drink I have wuit a few times but always go back, nothing tastes as satisfying to me, I like coffee early in the day, but can't drink that at night, and decafe has the same chemical as rat poison in it, and water doesn't cut it for me, and I don't like tea, so I continue to drink the stuff. But every once in a while I hear about how bad it is and try to quit again. Sounds like I should try again. I basically am addicted to the stuff!

[Sickie Ickie]

Yeah. Luckilly for me, I've never quite liked the taste of the diet stuff. However, now that I'm back to the regular, I feel myself gaining weight already. yuck!

Well, my step-son went in yesterday for more draining of the fluid from the tumor, but basically it was just a small needle into the scalp where the fluid had collected from the plastic tube that had been placed in it.

They're about 75% sure they want to schedule another surgery to drain some of the 3 other smaller cysts/tumors they also found. I guess they have to go between a side lobe and another lobe to get at them, so he'll seperate a tiny channel and go in that way with a optical camera and needle to suction. The good news is that it's just done through a tiny opening, and they are not talking partial removal of the tumor at this point since he's responded so well to the other procedure.

I'm very happy with our surgeon. Many I've met are "trigger happy" to do surgery for any reason. Ours doesn't like the idea of opening anyone up unless it is absolutely necessary. To say that I have complete faith in this guy is an understatement. He wants to wait a week or so to see how the body is doing with it on it's own, then make the decision. So, my oldest will be home for Christmas.

[CandyCane]

That's great news.

[Nancj]

That is great news SI!

[SantaPaws]

I have been keeping an eye open for you on Hauntforum about this topic. I am hoping for the best.

[Blinky]

Hey Sickie Glad he has improved so Much.. Our Thoughts are with you ..

I dont know how I missed this thread earier.

[XMASBB70]

Glad to hear everything is going well......... but I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers! Enjoy your Christmas!

[Mummy deer-est]

It is great when you find a doctor like that, that you can really trust, and that you feel is looking out for you and your family, and not on a God complex. I hope you all have a great Christmas together, Sickie!

[Clarice]

Sickie I'm so glad your son will be home for Christmas. I'll be keeping you and your's in my daily prayers.

P.S. Thanks for the tip on the soda, my youngest likes diet soda. I don't like letting him have it, now I have a good reason to put a stop to it.

[bethene]

That's great Sickie- I am glad he will be home. It's great you have a good Doctor too, sounds like he has your son's best interest at heart, not his bottom line. I continue to keep your family in my thoughts and prayers, have a blessed Christmas sickie!!

[putrid]

Totally cool to hear Sickie Ickie. You still have my prayers and hopes for a good outcome.

[Sickie Ickie]

Glad to hear everything is going well......... but I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers! Enjoy your Christmas!

No need to stop prayers and well wishes. We don't know what the near future holds. We just grab on to small news and go Yay!

[Sickie Ickie]

Well, we were just informed that Jan 8th he needs to go back in for more surgery. This one is more invasive. They have to remove a skull "window," and separate the lobes to get to the other 3 tumor/cysts for draining. (sigh) this is getting emotionally tiresome...

[putrid]

I think it's great that they are able to do the medical things they can do now. Will still keep you and yours in my prayers. Looking forward to hearing good things from you soon.

[bethene]

Sickie, I can certainly understand why it is emotionally draining, worrying and thinking about it, definately would wear on you. I will continue to raise you and your family to the Lord in prayer,for both healing and for strength and guidance for you and your wife.

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks guys! Support in good wishes and prayers are always good for strength!

[Sickie Ickie]

The surgery is today. They wanted him there at 11:00am, so we'll see how fast he goes in. May be a long pre-op time.

Previously I stated some info that didn't hold true. I guess they are going to drain some of the 3 other smaller cysts/tumors they also found, but it will be more invasive than before.

They'll have to cut a section of skull out of the side of his head to get to the lobes. This will be wired back in place afterward. The side lobes will be separated to get to the tumors. No small channel and no small burr hole this time. The scar will be above his eyebrow to all the way back behind his ear. (sigh) I used to use the Schwarzenegger quote when anyone had a headache, " It's not a tuuuuuumor." heh I guess at the moment, it's not as funny as it used to be.

Unfortunately we don't have the money that both the wife and I can go to the hospital to be with him. So she went and will be calling me with updates to pass on to y'all. He'll in good company though, his dad (wife's ex), and his grandparents on dad's side will be there, too. I'm home with my 3 yr old waiting for news.

[Mummy deer-est]

I'm am so so so sorry, Sickie. I know how hard that must be for you to be at home. Wish I had the money to give you (or our government, heh) so that you could be with your family. We are still praying for you guys.

[Mistress Muffy]

Sickie you hang in there and give your wife our best & let her know he is in our prayers! I'm so sorry he has to go thru this. You take care.

Muffy

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks guys. No news yet. I'll let ya know as soon as I know...

[Nancj]

Hope all goes well today, thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time, we are here for you.
One good thing your son has on his side is his young age, kids are very resiliant and recover much quicker than an older person would, hang in there sickie , he'll be home before you know it.

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks Nancj

[Sickie Ickie]

Well, my wife called about 10 minutes ago. Everything did well without any complications!

They drained the other three tumors, and found one was still pressing on his optic nerve- so his vision in his left eye (now that the pressure is off) may have a chance to regain some sight back. :)

He went into the hospital at 11:00am and was in surgery by 4pm. Took between 4.5 and 5 hrs for the surgery, and then to recovery, then to his room, IV , etc. My wife just now called. The surgery took a little longer because while they were in they decided to remove some of the calcium deposits from the first tumor. Take the opportunity when it knocks, eh? :)

Anyway, to say I'm relieved is an understatement. heh He still has to be in the hospital for a week, get antibiotics, increase his hormones, make sure no infection sets in, radiation in 2 months or so according to what my wife said, etc., but to me, the major thing right now is over!

Thanks for all your support folks! I'm positive it has helped on a spiritual level and provided strength when I needed it most!

[RRguy]

Glad to hear it is going so well so far. Wish I could do more than hope for the best.

[bethene]

Sickie, I am glad it went well, I will continue to pray and hold up your family to the Lord, for healing and strength, . God bless, Sickie!

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks b and everyone! :)

I wish ya could too, rr! LOL but after all, we're just human. :)

[Mummy deer-est]

I'm so happy you got such good news, Sickie. One step at a time, right?
And up to the top!

[Nancj]

I second the emotion, One step at a time.
so glad for your good news.

[Sickie Ickie]

one step indeed. :)

[Clarice]

Sickie, I'm glad to hear things went well for your son. I was starting to worry when I was checking on the 8th and you hadn't posted any updates after noon. Blessings to you and your family.

[Mistress Muffy]

Sickie so glad to hear that news...my hubby Joe spent 17 years in surgery (he is also a RN) as a technician. When we met we spent time in a chat room working w/ Veterans in various ways. Joe was always helpful when the issue of surgery came up. I listened to him help one wife who's hubby was having open heart. He sure helped her understnd a lot in the course of that all going on. I talked to him about what they did to your son & he explained it to me as he has assisted on surgerys of that nature. He said he wishes you the best.

Muf

[Xmaslilly]

Thats great news Sickie..Hope all goes well with recovery.
hang in there!!

[Sickie Ickie]

Better news. He's coming home TODAY!!! He'll be at my wife's ex's recouping because of our rambunctious 3 yr old, but last estimate was a week in the hospital, and this is two days after. He has his MRI again today and I guess all looks good. :D

[Mummy deer-est]

Yay! Glad to hear the good news!

[RRguy]

Great news! Hope it's all downhill from here.

[bethene]

that's great Sickie!! I am so happy for your family ! I hope your son's recovery goes smoothly and quickly!

[putrid]

Now there's the good news I was expecting to hear!!! Totally cool Sickie Ickie. Will still keep you and yours in my prayers.

[Sickie Ickie]

Thanks guys! He's at his dad's, so I haven't gotten a chance to talk to him or see him yet, but I'm relieved he's home. :D

[Xmaslilly]

Hows he doing Sickie..

[Sickie Ickie]

Fine, actually. Thanks for asking. :) Since the first surgery he has felt much better. Now he's getting the radiation daily downtown for 6 weeks everyday with Sat and Sun off. He says it doesn't hurt at all. His hair will fall out some, but that will grow back. In short, everything's looking good.

[putrid]

Totally cool Sickie Ickie. Glad to hear he's doing fine.

[Sickie Ickie]

Me, too! :D

[Xmaslilly]

cool beans kiddo

[Sickie Ickie]

yeah. :) I'm pacified for now.

[bethene]

I'm so glad things are going well, Sickie!

[Sickie Ickie]

Better than the alternative B! :)

[Nancj]

so glad to hear that he is doing good, send him our well wishes.

[Sickie Ickie]

He and my family already know and appreciate every drop of well wishes, Nancj. :)