<p>Oh Creekland- my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family that it is benign and the outcome will be positive. </p>
<p>Sophomore year seems so much easier than freshman year. She has a huge class load and felt the mid-term crunch but she got through it. I think it is helping that her brain isn’t swelling causing all kinds of problems. She had an appointment with her neuro-ophthalmologist in NYC and he said she’s showing a lot of improvement and he doesn’t need to see her again for six months. Her vision is almost 100%, she’s not having any headaches or head pressure and she said she realizes now, she thinks it was affecting her memory too. She just didn’t realize it at the time. She’s managing 18 credits, 3 jobs, her volunteer position as a health peer counselor, and sorority responsibilities quite well. It feels like she’s been gone a long time and I’m ready for Thanksgiving because I’m missing her a lot recently. It’s a long stretch from late August until Thanksgiving, but then the breaks are better spaced out.</p>
<p>I haven’t posted in a while either - guess everyone has been quite busy.</p>
<p>Creekland - I am so sorry to hear that you are dealing with this. Thoughts, prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way in hopes it is benign.</p>
<p>Creekland - I’m so sorry you are dealing with this, what a blow. My prayers for a benign diagnosis. If you want to share, what is the next step? Is there anything we can do to help or support from afar? You know my son is with your son at school, though I’m uncertain if they know each other - however he would step up and step in anytime. He’s a pretty nice, sensitive kid, it sure sounds like your son is too.</p>
<p>If you need a traveling companion for Bora Bora I will offer my services! I’ve actually looked at those resorts for years, what’s not to love about a luxury hut over the water? We could jump off the deck and snorkel, absorb some sun - enjoy a cocktail or two or more…</p>
<p>Well, my plan to tell college boys didn’t happen. Oldest never answered (left a “basic” message to call back so we could catch up). I caught middle right before a dance and ASL performance - hardly the time to update him! I wished him well and he said he’d call tomorrow to fill us in about it. I do hope they don’t find out via FB. We’re in a small town. While not many know, some at school do and word can travel VERY quickly. The first thing I got today was a hug from one of my favorite students… who had overheard a couple of teachers talking (friends).</p>
<p>Next? We expect to find out the next step later next week. It could range from watching it to check on growth to options for removing it. I’m just hoping it is routine for the doctor(s) involved. It’s definitely not for me or for those around here. No one in my family has ever dealt with anything remotely like it. Heart disease? Check. Diabetes? Check. I’ve always figured I was doomed for one or both of those. Cancer? It’s just not there… though they say they don’t know the cause for this type. I rarely even use a cell phone of any type, so that shouldn’t be it.</p>
<p>It is incredibly tempting to run off to Bora Bora… and just try to forget all about it. On good days/times it’s pretty easy to wonder if it’s all true. At other times I’m ready for them to do something about it.</p>
<p>Right now needs from here are none. Finances should be ok via a health sharing plan we belong to. We have plenty of community via neighbors, work friends (both mine and hubby’s), and church friends offering pretty much anything and everything. The most we might need to take them up on right now would be critter watching (we live on a farm) for days we need to travel to appts. I’m also utilizing school friends to watch out for youngest (his senior year) as he’s not the type to share emotions with us, but sometimes will with them. I might let my other two’s respective school counseling areas know, esp is surgery ends up being involved soon (I honestly don’t know yet). I’m not quite sure what to do with that. This is all quite new.</p>
<p>Hopefully it will all work out to be routine and this will just be a small blip we all talk about years later. That happens.</p>
<p>Bora Bora may end up being a “reward” I insist upon when it’s all over… </p>
<p>Thanks for all the cares and well-wishes… community is good for the soul. Getting older can be a literal pain though! (And I really don’t consider myself old enough for this… - mid to upper 40s.)</p>
<p>Creekland so sorry you are dealing with this. </p>
<p>My suggestion is to designate someone, spouse or good friend, to be the contact point for disseminating news if you do need surgery or other therapy. It is exhausting to answer the same questions over and over, and it prevents you from escaping to thinking about non-illness related things (like trips to Bora Bora). Also check out web site Lotsa Helping Hands if you do need friends to help and support. It allows people to organize so you don’t have too many casseroles or critter sitters on one day, and none on the next. Sending hugs and prayers.</p>
<p>Creekland-although you didn’t get to talk to the kids last night, hopefully you can today. I know this is a worry for you. It is stressful living in a small town-word does travel…</p>
<p>Knowing that there has been so much advancement in the medical world makes me feel like you will come out of this very well. Wishing this to have the best possible outcome for you. Prayers headed your way!</p>
<p>I did get to talk with middle son this morning - it felt good - and with him having had a few neuro classes, he’s a bit less worried than I thought he might be - which makes me feel better. He’s doing superbly academically and socially at school. I’d hate to see that slide over worry. I don’t think it’s going to happen at this point (assuming the tumor is benign and routine, which it really should be).</p>
<p>Oldest has yet to call back. I’ll try him again later. He works during the day on weekends.</p>
<p>I actually do think all will work out well - great place - knowledgeable folks - plenty of assistance when/if needed here to help hubby and youngest. I’m just WAY out of my comfort zone with anything that in depth medically (seriously, I’ve only been to the Dr 4 times since we’ve been married if you don’t count pregnancy and childbirth - yet we’re coming up on 4 times in less than a couple months here). I’ve got to reprogram my brain to deal with it. I was brought up on a small farm and as a youngster, learned to be tough - plus how to take care of usual medical issues at home. Doctors were only for necessary things (two of the four times I’ve been were for antibiotics, once was updating vaccs, the other was to become employed). I kind of like it that way… Eating healthy and “living right” (active, etc) was supposed to assist in avoiding these sorts of things.</p>
<p>It honestly is a big temptation to be satisfied with the knowledge, then opt to “live with it.” The desire to run off to Bora Bora probably comes from that. But… I also know that is the “stupid” option, so as much as I want to, I probably won’t. If I did, I suspect my mom would kill me. That would, however, end any potential problems from the tumor. ;)</p>
<p>If I couldn’t joke about all of this (or other issues in life over the years), I would be dead… and it wouldn’t be nearly as pleasant as just having my mom do the job quickly. I’m not quite sure why, but I need humor in life - I have to laugh at what happens at times. Fortunately, hubby is the same way.</p>
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<p>I have been pricing weeks… it looks like it’ll run between $3500 and $4500pp for a week (including airfare from LA - we’d have to price airfare from BWI personally). Going for a whole month could be rather costly, but I suspect the cost will still come in at less than the traditional treatment route. Since it’s less, I’d be willing do discuss as to whether the health share should cover it instead…</p>
<p>The way I look at things… I had ALL good days while we were in FL, and that was just one week and “just” Florida. We had to put some actual “work” in there (looking at colleges) and couldn’t just concentrate on snorkeling, scuba, the whole salt water ionization thing, and cocktails for refreshment (or to drown the little bugger). If we improve the setting and focus on the “needs,” who’s to say it couldn’t work? It seems plausible. </p>
<p>If it didn’t work and my mom killed me upon return - I still wouldn’t have to worry about the tumor. ;)</p>
<p>I’m so sorry you are dealing with this, Creekland. Some years ago a mom I knew (her kids were little then) had a tumor in her brain. It was benign, they removed it and she’s been fine for many, many years.</p>
<p>eyemamom - it does sound like fate, but when I mentioned your offer to hubby he told me that he’s my only personal nurse, so gets to be the one who goes along (for medical reasons, of course). We could always have a 2012 group on one of those overwater bungalow wings… it would be really medically rewarding to get to know everyone in such a situation - and who knows - anyone else with medical issues could find healing as well!</p>
<p>Sending good vibes your way Creekland. Hoping for the best and safest resolution. My DD is a freshman at your sons’ college (thank you for all the help!). If there is anything we can do to help, please let me know.</p>
I will pray, pray, pray that the tumor would be benign. I’m praying for grace and mercy on you.</p>