The Beginning
If your visiting this blog, you must know about Andreas Brain Tumor. First of all – thank you for your concern. We will begin telling you of her journey. It started last week the 8th of March when Andrea had one of her rainy day headaches. Remember all the rain we received that weekend. But the headache would not go away a #10 in pain. She has had headaches in the past on rainy days and with just a couple Ibuprofen they would go away. She went to school Monday in pain and again Tuesday, but she could not stay. She slept for the rest of Tuesday and all day Wednesday. So on Thursday we made a visit to her pediatrician and the doctor ordered a CT scan. The CT scan was normal and it was decided that she must have migraines and was given migraine medicine.
By 5:30 that evening her headache was getting worse so we visited the ER . They administered 2 bags of IV fluids , a narcotic, a steroid, anti nausea medication and a pain medicine. Five hours later her headache was a #6 in pain and we were sent home.
First thing Friday morning we got on the phone and made a Neurologist appt in Lansing. She would be seen at 11:45. The neurologist said he did not believe it was migraines and prescribed a pain medicine, steroid and something to make her not care where she was. He also ordered an MRI for 7:30 Sunday morning. At 9:30 Sunday morning we were called at home by the neurologist and given the bomb shell. Andrea has a tumor (Meningioma) and we needed to see a Neurosurgeon first thing on Monday.
Monday we went to see a neurosurgeon in Lansing. He explained the long road we had ahead of us and literally scared us to death. He changed her meds to see if he could lesson the sleepiness and lighten the pain. He ordered a CT and CTA for Thursday morning and also sent us to a lab for a blood draw and would be sending us to a Neuro opthamologist on Wednesday. It appeared Andreas left eye was going back into her head. Being that the tumor is on the right, that made since.
So Tuesday we had the day to be home and sleep. Andreas pain would not let up and continues to stay between 7 1/2 and 8.
We also started looking for a second opinion and decided on U of M in Ann Arbor. But no appts for over a month and we do not have time to wait. But thanks to her pediatrician who adores Andrea, he made some contacts and we now have an appointment for this Friday.
Now its Wednesday and our 8:00 apt with the Nero ophthalmologist. He examined Andreas eyes for over 3 hours, it was very tiring for her. He found that there was nothing wrong with her left eye, but that the problem was her right eye. The brian tumor was pushing or maybe growing into the Kyassum, optic nerve and artery and not allowing her eye full range of movement. But, he did find that she has no sight loss at this time. He ordered more blood work and a FAT MRI to be completed that day. So at 12:00 we had a blood draw and at 2:30 we would have the FAT MRI.
Thursday was a CT/CTA with contrast and a second visit with the Lansing Neurosurgen. The docter explained the results of her tests she went through all week. The CT/CTA showed that the tumor is not bloody and 95% benign. Also it is sitting is a position where it has moved the brain away and the optic nerve but is not invading them and has attached to the artery. This prognosis looks good, but nothing comes without risks when opening the skull. He explained the surgery would need to be soon and how it would happen. We will spare you the details, it is more than anyone should have to hear.
The surgery would be with a team of 4 neurosurgeons and an anesthesiologist. Also in the room would be many interns and assists and some students. The location of the tumor is an issue and the size is of a plum.
Friday, today is our appointment with the pediatric neurosurgeon in Ann Arbor.
We will try to post what we find out from the Ann Arbor Dr. this evening.
Andrea is a trooper and seems to be in good spirits this morning. It has all been very hard for our family, but Andrea has been the strongest. We miss her laugh and smile the most and can’t wait for it to return. The drugs keep her very tired.