Madi Update: Surgical success!
I was so exhausted last night, I asked Kurt to write the update. Here it is:
Madi's operation lasted about 10 hours today, so it was a grueling day for all involved. We're so grateful to the medical team that took care of her, who were so meticulous and methodical in the process of mapping out how to remove the rest of the tumor, and so careful in removing it. The great news is they were able to remove all of the visible tumor! This is something we didn't think was possible a few weeks ago, and will give her the best set of options for a full recovery.
She's resting in the ICU now. This procedure took 4 times as long as the last procedure, since they were operating in the really sensitive areas of the brain this time. So it will take a bit longer to recover, but that's to be expected. If all goes well, she may be able to leave the ICU tomorrow and move to a regular room.
The primary concern with this surgery was collateral damage to motor functions on the right side of her body. She currently has a bit of weakness in her right arm and right leg, but the surgeons expected that and believe the weakness will be short lived. Most likely it will resolve itself sometime in the next 7 days. They believe it's a function of working so closely to some of the areas that control those functions, so that area of her brain is just a bit sensitive right now, and not because the surgery caused permanent damage. So this is an area we just need to watch and wait, but very early signs point to a full recovery.
So we're feeling quite optimistic that this surgery was a complete success in what we set out to accomplish. There is still the lingering concern that part of the tumor has already spread to areas that are untouchable via surgery - her corpus callosum and right side of her brain. We'll do more imaging in a few days, and then more in a few weeks, that will help determine whether that has happened or not.
In the meantime, we're feeling so grateful for the wonderful progress the medical team made today. And so grateful to all of you who offered up so many kind thoughts, words, prayers, and sacrifices on Madi's behalf. We all definitely felt it!
Madi's operation lasted about 10 hours today, so it was a grueling day for all involved. We're so grateful to the medical team that took care of her, who were so meticulous and methodical in the process of mapping out how to remove the rest of the tumor, and so careful in removing it. The great news is they were able to remove all of the visible tumor! This is something we didn't think was possible a few weeks ago, and will give her the best set of options for a full recovery.
She's resting in the ICU now. This procedure took 4 times as long as the last procedure, since they were operating in the really sensitive areas of the brain this time. So it will take a bit longer to recover, but that's to be expected. If all goes well, she may be able to leave the ICU tomorrow and move to a regular room.
The primary concern with this surgery was collateral damage to motor functions on the right side of her body. She currently has a bit of weakness in her right arm and right leg, but the surgeons expected that and believe the weakness will be short lived. Most likely it will resolve itself sometime in the next 7 days. They believe it's a function of working so closely to some of the areas that control those functions, so that area of her brain is just a bit sensitive right now, and not because the surgery caused permanent damage. So this is an area we just need to watch and wait, but very early signs point to a full recovery.
So we're feeling quite optimistic that this surgery was a complete success in what we set out to accomplish. There is still the lingering concern that part of the tumor has already spread to areas that are untouchable via surgery - her corpus callosum and right side of her brain. We'll do more imaging in a few days, and then more in a few weeks, that will help determine whether that has happened or not.
In the meantime, we're feeling so grateful for the wonderful progress the medical team made today. And so grateful to all of you who offered up so many kind thoughts, words, prayers, and sacrifices on Madi's behalf. We all definitely felt it!
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