Still tied

It is never easy....

We met with the surgeon.

Alex's tumor is twice and large as it was at the last MRI. 

It is currently blocking some of the draining of the spinal fluid in one of his ventricals. 

NOT GOOD... but since some of the fluid can still get by on the side doc says, "that's okay."

WHAT!?!?!

I'm no brain surgeon, but a tumor that is in the brain, blocking anything I would want out. PERIOD.

He's not a cut happy surgeon, so I guess that is a point for him.  I would be more concerned if he just threw Alex down on the table and started right there.....

not likely to happen ever.

He did however suggest another method of treatment, but it will not really fix the situation.

He set us up with an Oncologist.  They have more info on a med that reduces the size of the tumor, but once you stop taking the med the tumor grows back. 

Yes, it is less invasive. No we don't know what side effects are or the rate in which the tumor will return.

When it comes to the surgery....

The surgeon can remove most of the tumor.  Some of it is connect to his short term memory centers, so he may lose some memory.  The tumor WILL grow back.  Don't know the rate.  He will have scar. 

Either option does not effect the seizures.

Those are can only be managed by medication.

Once we meet with the Oncologist and if he recommends surgery rather than medication and if we still are opting for surgery the surgeon with move forward with giving us a date.

So we are right we we started.

I was going to wait to go back to school, but Dave said NO!!!  You go now!  We dealt with what Alex has all the while he, David, was finishing out his degree.....now it my turn and he will support me every step of the way.

I love him.

So I have decided on my major and minor and will be starting next Monday.

When I graduate I will have my

BA in Psychology with a minor in Spanish.

So I am stepping forward.