Tumor, you say?

Yep, you read that right. TUMOR. Brain tumor, to be exact. ANOTHER brain tumor to be even more exact.

That was what my MRI results showed & what the neurosurgeon confirmed. Although, he was pretty matter-of-fact. No sugar-coating going on in that room. Yep, you have a tumor. It’s on your pituitary gland. You have 2 options here: 1) just let it hang out. Keep experiencing all these dreadful symptoms (but ya know, if they’re not bothering you too bad…🙄) and conduct yearly MRI’s to “watch” it progress & eventually have surgery when it starts making you go blind. Or 2) have surgery to remove it. Umm, scuse me? But what about just removing it from the get-go? There’s no sense in waiting til I go blind, then I could care less.

The actual procedure is called a craniotomy, a procedure in which they go through my nose to break a bone in my skull to expose my tumor, pull it out through my nose, and there ya go. Doesn’t sound too horrible, but after all, it IS brain surgery. Positive note: I get a 2 for 1. Since they’re going through my sinus cavity to get to this thing, they will surely clear those boogers (literally & figuratively) out & I won’t need that surgery – like ever. Downside: I’ll probably look like a clown for a while AND they encourage you NOT to sneeze. Ahem, really?! I totally get that & realize why but how in the Holy Land am I going to be able to stop myself from sneezing?? Because I sure as hell am NOT going to pinch my nose like I normally do.

Ok so, that was that. Back to the doctor’s remarks–

I’m gonna schedule you for a follow-up in a month so it can really sit & sink in (more like fester) – and then you tell me what you want to do. This is pretty much how it was handed to me. Or how I felt that he presented it to me anyway.

Umm, no thanks. I don’t even want this thing. Can I return it? Maybe even do an exchange for store credit? Something… Nope. It was all mine. Geez, how lucky am I?! Two brain tumors in 1 lifetime. BINGO – I must have hit the jackpot, right?! Just without the moo-lah.

First, let me not leave you wondering (or is it wandering – I stay confused about those two) about the “brain tumor numero uno”.  Not to worry, I’ll be brief.

I had just turned 6. Like 6 years old. Like my Reesey Girl in 4 years. I can’t imagine the devastation my parents went through. It was categorized as an astrocytoma of the cerebellum (big fancy, eh). The cerebellum is located at the back of your head. The headaches, I can still remember to this very moment, as being excruciating, so bad I would black out & not be able to see at times. It didn’t discriminate when/where these black outs would take place. Sometimes I would be walking to get a sip of water in the middle of the night & BAM – black out! Fall to the ground & have to call for my mama & daddy to come get me. All at 6 years old. I was still a baby in my now-adult eyes. The headaches were so terrible that some nights I would just sleep sitting up because of the pressure. The pressure the tumor was putting on my brain was awful, completely awful. Sitting up seemed to be the only thing to give me relief. Oh wait, I said I would be brief huh?  So — fast forward, I had 20% of this monster removed at OLOL & the remainder taken out at St. Jude. I also had a shunt placed there to alleviate any fluid buildup from my brain. Shunt – still intact & chuggin along just fine.

So, for those interested — this is where we stand as of now. I promise promise promise, I’m not intentionally leaving anyone in the dark after appointments. 1) I spend literally most of my day there on the day of. 2) I’m exhausted when I get home to the point of just falling over & crying. Bc once I pick up Reesey Girl, she has had her nap & is in 5th gear. Not the case with Mama. (One of unexplained side effects, blah) 3) Oh, do you know I have a crazy active toddler who demands Mama’s attention with her 8,764 babies ALL DAY ERR-DAY?! Ask Tommy’s mom (our beloved Mimi), she can vouch. 😂 4) Please, please, please – do not hesitate to call or text either of us, anytime. (Also know, we are totally fine.) Anybody who knows me, knows that I’m an open book. I will tell all. So please, don’t be afraid of getting in touch for fear that I’m upset, etc.

This is all part of God’s plan for me. He knows the outcome of this already. He’s the ultimate Healer & I’m placing my full trust in Him.

Ok – I’ve rambled on enough for tonight. It’s late & I can hear Tommy sawing logs in the next room. Guess it’s time for me to go join him, or I’ll need 6 cups of coffee to do the trick tomorrow morning.

xo

-Maegan