An Update. . . Long Over Due

7.06.09

Hello everyone,

First off, sorry I haven’t updated this in a while. After reading over what I last posted, I saw there was a lot of info I never put up such as the results from my last meeting with Dr. Black.

Well, first things first. So yes, I did have a follow up meeting with Dr. Black. And to be honest, it was sort of ambiguous.

The guy may be the one of the best surgeons, If not the best brain surgeon in the world, but when it comes to communication he needs to improve, greatly.

But there were come answers and here are some things I do know from the follow up meeting:

• The tumor wasn’t completely benign. But on a scale of 1 – 10, 10 being a very aggressive malignant tumor that is going to kill you, and 1 being completely benign like a piece of thread, The tumor that they removed was about a 2 or a 3.

•Dr. Black did not remove the entire tumor. There is still a small piece left. The reason for this is because it is very close to 1 of 3 major blood vessels in my brain, and since it is a very low grade tumor the threat of trying to remove it over ways leaving it where it is. The piece that is left poses very little threat at this point.

•The piece that is still there is very small.

•They do not know how long it has been there. It could have been 2 years, or 20.

•They do know it did not spread from anywhere else (I might have already told you that). It originated in my brain, and it is not malignant--which means it is not cancerous and is not spreading to other parts of my body.

•I have a follow up meeting with him in about 4 months to get an MRI and just see what the piece of tumor that was left is doing and to make sure it hasn’t grown of changed

I probably will get an MRI every year from now on just to make sure that everything is ok. If for some reason the tumor has grown or become a threat, there are options other than surgery such as radiation, gamma knife (which I have been told is like a laser that directly targets and can cut and destroy the piece that is left), or there are some other options that can be explored. But like I said, at this point what is left does not pose a threat.

So I am slowly gaining my strength back. I still get pretty tired if I am up and about for a long time, but I can go up and down stairs now without having to take nap…Yay. I know…I was so wimpy when I first got out of the hospital.

I do not know when I will be completely back to normal. My guess is by the end of August, but we shall see. And every week I am progressing. There are still stitches in my head (they are the dissolvable kind and I do not know how long they will be there), and I am definitely not ready for any strenuous exercise yet.

The other big thing is I am completely off medication now, which is good since one of them (the anti-inflammatory) was a really strong drug and wasn’t the best for my stomach or liver. And because I am off the meds, I can drive now, which has been nice. I am no longer dependent on my parents for a friend to get anywhere. Though it was funny, after not driving for 2 ½ months when I first did I felt like I was 16 again and drove really cautious. It was weird.

I am in no pain, for the most part which is great! The only concern that I do have is recently I have gotten some headaches. They did go away after some Tylenol, and I haven’t had one in a couple of days. But if they do continue I will make a call to Dr. Black’s office.

But for the time being I do have a difficult decision to make--

I need to figure out what I am going to do with my hair.

It’s getting pretty long but there is that 1 -2 inch strip that they shaved for the operation which is really short. So I need to decide if I am going to shave the rest of my head short so it all grows in at the same length, or to keep the rest long and have a major comb over to cover the shaved part and then cut it all later. Decisions decisions : )

So that is what is / has been going on with me lately. Again, sorry I haven’t been good at updating this, especially since there was some answers that I needed to provide. I will be better and keep you posted on my progress and of course if any major news or updates occur I will make sure I let you know.

Thanks again for all your concern and support. I really do appreciate it. It means a ton.

Love you all,

James

Recovery. . . Begins. . .

6.08.09

Hi there everyone!

Thank you so much for all the love and B-day wishes!!

So I’m home from the hospital resting at my parents. Guess it's a nice gift to get out of the hospital on your birthday ; ) My nurse did round up some people and sang happy birthday to me and gave me a small cake which was really sweet and nice. The cake wasn't that bad either.

It took a bit longer to get out of the hospital yesterday than I expected. We didn’t leave until about 3:30pm, and I was hoping to get out of there by 1:00, but better late than never. And it was only 3 days in the hospital after having brain surgery to remove the tumor so I can’t complain.

I’m sure most of you have heard, but just in case the surgery went very well. Better than expected is what I was told. I do not remember the surgery as I was completely out. I remember being wheeled into the O.R room and talking to the anesthesiologist for a bit and with one of the assisting neurologists, but that's it.

The first thing I do remember was waking up getting a post-op MRI which was kind of weird. And then I fell back asleep and woke up again in a larger recover room, where I talked to the other neurosurgeon and my anesthesiologist who both said the operation went great and there were no complications.

On Saturday, Dr. Black visited with me and explained the same, everything went very well. He said he is very confident that the tumor was low grade and non malignant but still not completely sure what it is. He did the say the actual size of the tumor was smaller than originally thought which was good.

So this week the tumor was sent to pathology to be analyzed and Dr. Black said he should have the results by Thursday at the latest and set up a meeting to go over what’s next. So there are things still to discover.

But in the meantime I am recovering, trying to sleep (last night was not that great) but considering, I am doing well and so thankful for all of your and God’s love and care in all of this!

I know many of you have expressed coming by to see me. I was thinking holding off for a bit just to see how I feel this week while I just begin to recuperate, but hopefully soon, as I would love to see you--maybe just in small doses at first :)

Feel free to call, send texts, emails, etc though. And I will try and do the same to you. I appreciate all the contact.

I'll talk to you soon. Be in touch.

Love,

James

Facebook Message from Noss

10:52am

Hey there. At Cedars. I'm doing well. Getting discharged sunday morning. A little head pain but not much. I do get dizzy from time to time but it goes away after a while, just makes me feel gross while it happens. Love you guys.

From James

4:07pm

James sent out a text:

I'm doin well everyone. Not too much pain. Little groggy. Sitting up in chair waiting for Dr. Black to come meet with me. Surgery went excellent. Thank you for texts.

(That was the gist of the message with James' spelling looking like drunk texting, but we'll blame it on the drugs!!)

If you wanted to send cards, you can send them to: 17349 Santa Lucia, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.

-amelia

Doing Great! - 7:41pm

"James is doing Great" - a message from his dad via text. 

Attached was a picture of a happy and drugged james with a bandaged head!

Surgery Went Well - 4:50pm

Praise God! I just spoke to Mr. Nossaman.  The surgery went smoothly and didn't take as long as expected.  As far as the surgeon could see, they got all of the tumor out.  Until they receive the pathology report on Wednesday, the doctor thinks it is benign.  James is recovering well and his parents are still waiting to see him.  He is currently getting another MRI. When I get another update I'll post another entry.  Continue to pray for his healing and recovery.

- Amelia 

The Big Day. . .

6/03/09

So tomorrow is it! The day of my surgery!

I finished up today at Cedars doing everything I needed and everything is finalized and set. It’s been a long and very winding road but I am finally here.

I can not express how much I have appreciated all your love, prayers, thoughts, and support. Thank you so much.

My surgery is set for tomorrow, Thursday at 9:45am, however that is may not be exact because by the time all the pre-op stuff is done etc, it could be later. But my guess it will start sometime before 10:30. I have to be at the hospital by 7:45am, so it’s going to be a very early start for me. Enjoy your sleep :)

The surgery is supposed to last about 3 hours, but again that could change for various reasons, none being bad or good.

Ok, below is information that you may want to know in case you are planning on visiting me while I am in the hospital. I would love to see you, but also PLEASE do not feel like you have to make it up. I will have plenty of time to see you after the surgery as I recover.

As of now, Saturday morning will be the first opportunity that I will be able to have any visitors. This may change, and if it does I will try to let you know, but just plan on Saturday morning. General visiting hours are from 10:00am to 8:00pm.

The reason is because from Thursday to Friday afternoon I will be in the ICU unit which family is just allowed in, and they tell me that I will be really out of it for the first 24 hours from the surgery and really medicated.

Sometime on Friday afternoon I will be reevaluated and if ok, moved down to a normal room.

My planned release is sometime Sunday afternoon, but I will know more later of course and let you know as well. I am planning on bringing my laptop and as soon and I am up to it I can update the blog, facebook, send out an email etc.

I will have my cell phone on me so feel free to call, it’s just I may not be able to answer. As I come out of the surgery I will of course be more responsive.

The patient and guest entrance to the hospital is located at 8700 Gracie Allen Drive. For more information about in-patient check-in, please click here.

Please contact the Hospitality Center at (310) 423-4444 for more information.

Below is a Google link for getting directions to the hospital. Just put in your address and it will tell you how to get there.

http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=8700+w+beverly+blvd,+west,+hollywood+ca,+90048

Attached on the top a map of the hospital and parking areas. I would maybe call the number above and find out what tower/ building I am in so you know where to park.

So I think that’s it as far as info goes. I love all of you. I have been so blessed by you from everything you have said and been to me through all of this. Thank you so much.

Now I put my trust in God’s hands and in the hands of my surgeon Dr. Kieth Black. I have seen God’s love and grace get me through all of this up till now and I am confident He will continue to see me through the surgery, and I have no doubt in Dr. Black’s abilities from everything I have heard, so I am completely at peace and ready to do this.

Thank you for everything my friends.

I love you.

James.