10 Reasons Why You Should Have Brain Surgery
It seems only appropriate to share our personal 10 Reasons Why You Should Have Brain Surgery just days after the second surgery. We came up with these about a year after Haley's first surgery. Brain surgery is terrible, the recovery is terrible and very very long. We were finally out of the really yucky stuff we were dealing with and were able to find some humor in our journey.
10 Reasons Why You Should Have Brain Surgery
You can start comparing things with brain surgery, "Compared to ...
2 Years Ago We Knew Something Was Wrong
It was about 2 years ago when we went on a family vacation and thought we had a sick 2 year old. Little did we know that those were the first big indications of a growing brain tumor. It wasn't until months later when lots of little pieces were put together and a very helpful doctor referred us to the right specialist.
Finally in September of 2013 we saw the whole picture...which was not a fun picture. I took her in for her first MRI to confirm another theory when I was told the doctor ...
Why I Support The Tyler Robinson Foundation
I first found out about the Tyler Robinson Foundation a couple weeks ago while preparing for the Build Your Blog Conference. Since then it has been on my mind a lot. The TRF is about pediatric cancer. As I was talking to some representatives of TRF I shared a little about Haley's story, they then called me a cancer mom. The funny thing is that is a title I obviously never wanted but also never connected with myself until then.
I love that the TRF helps pediatric cancer families in big ...
Learning Apps for Active Learning: Numbers/Counting Android
It has been about 16 months since Haley went in for brain surgery to have her tumor removed. She was 2 1/2 when we discovered she had a major problem which we later learned was cancer. She was a smart girl who was talking at 18 months. Post surgery we have realized her brain works a little differently. We have learned to patiently wait while her brain heals. That hasn't been the easiest! She is now 4 and in preschool. You could look at Haley, have a short conversation with her and then ...
Haley’s 7 Week Update
The good news is Haley is progressing. She does not seem to get frustrated as quickly when she speaks. She is trying to get all of the sounds in each word which causes her to speak a little slower. She seems to speak a little clearer. When I do not understand a key word she tells me over and over and if it is an object she will show it to me to help me understand. Yesterday she was trying to say 'headband'. I thought she said 'hair bands'. When she showed it to me I said oh you mean headband. ...
Haley’s 5 Week Update
I realized in the last update I did not include a key piece of the puzzle. We finally received the pathology report! It took so long because the two pathologists here did not come to the same conclusion. That meant the samples were sent to Massachusetts for a second opinion. After all that they believe the tumor is 99% benign and 1% fast growing. Pretty good odds...but I still think about that 1% every now and then. The name of the type of tumor is only a few years old.
We discovered from ...
Haley’s Update
Just over one month ago we found out our 2 year old had a very substantial brain tumor. Since then we have been through a crazy journey. Surgery was just over 3 weeks ago and I feel like it has been almost constant crying, screaming, and little sleep. Between figuring out Haley's pain tolerance, post surgery issues, 3 older sisters with school and sports schedules, play dates, piano, a 4 month old and Jeremy interviewing for a new job, each day has been intense and rough. Luckily Jeremy's ...
One week later.
What a month we have had! In fact it hasn't even been a month since we realized something was seriously wrong with Haley. One month ago we were waiting for test results from the EEG, the beginning of this journey. At one moment it seems like these last weeks have flown by because we have been so wrapped up in it, but a moment later it seems to have gone by so slowly because of all the waiting and wondering and sitting through days and nights of listening to Haley cry.
The moment I realized ...
Day 7 post-op, Tuesday
Today was a cheese day. Before the surgery she would choose to have a cheese stick and then only take one or two bites. Today she ate 4 cheese sticks in a row before I could convince her to choose something else. She ate 3 more at other times of the day. Strange. Sometimes she looks at food in wonder. It appears that she doesn't know what it is even though she has eaten that food previously. She is afraid to taste it and then does, likes it and wants more. I wonder if this is why she has ...
Day 6 post-op, Monday
I was giving Haley a horsey ride like I remember my Grandpa doing. "This is the way the lady rides..... all through the town." She was ok with the lady but when we got to the gentlemen she said her head hurt so we stopped. She did a somersault today and decided that was a very bad idea! She would have done it even if I told her not to just to see for herself. I can only hope she learned her lesson and will not try that again for a long time.
Haley played with play dough today, went down the ...
Day 5 post-op, Sunday
She slept so much better last night! We decided to only wake her once to give her medicine. That meant she would be a little off schedule but she would be able to sleep more. She woke up with her head hurting some. We immediately gave her medicine. Surprisingly she wasn't thrashing in pain she just seemed uncomfortable. After holding her and patting her for a little while she was fine and wanted to play with her sisters. It was a full day of playing!
She walked up and down the stairs a ...
Day 4 post-op, Saturday
Last night Haley slept better then in the hospital but still not the best. We had to wake her up to take her medicine. As you can imagine she did NOT like that at all. After screaming and yelling she finally took it. She is expecting it to taste horrible like the steroid medication. Luckily we are done with that and all the others are flavored. She doesn't understand taking her medicine will help her head feel better.
For about an hour this morning she was fine. She stood in the shower ...
