Crash Course in Brain Surgery

Still here

2009-01-25T23:06:00.000-05:00

I will be posting again soon

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T08:58:00.001-05:00

Everyone please be safe tonight.

Jim Breuer: Hardcore (AC/DC)

2008-12-27T16:27:00.001-05:00

Wife's Grandmother loses home to fire on Christmas Day

2008-12-26T20:04:00.001-05:00

We were there to see this........

Spring Township, Pa. - A Perry County family is spending the day after Christmas looking for another place to stay after a house fire yesterday.

Crews were called out to the 400 block of Briner Road in Spring Township for the fire. When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting from the home. It took them about an hour to get everything under control.

The home is a total loss, and four people have been displaced. Officials are still looking for a cause.

The Red Cross is helping the family.

One more day

2008-12-14T08:09:00.000-05:00

Today is my last day to work then two days off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back 2 Work

2008-12-10T09:21:00.000-05:00

Back to Wally World for the next few days.

Dog froze to sidewalk

2008-12-09T19:06:00.002-05:00

Great Wrestling Match

2008-12-05T17:44:00.001-05:00

Good old days

2008-12-05T17:38:00.000-05:00

Songs that I once liked???????? WOW

2008-12-01T19:59:00.003-05:00

2008-12-01T19:08:00.000-05:00

Tired and sick

2008-12-01T19:02:00.001-05:00

Today was a day off from my new job, while my job is easy for me to do, it is not easy on my feet and back. Both my feet are swollen and look like to balloons at the end of my feet. My back hurts because I am limping and I broke my back a few years ago. But I can say that working a job does make me feel like a person again. While I cant say I love my job, I can say I enjoy having something to do five days a week now.

2008-12-01T13:11:00.001-05:00

2008-11-23T15:27:00.001-05:00

Original vs Remake which is better?

2008-11-23T13:59:00.002-05:00

Twilght

2008-11-23T13:58:00.002-05:00

Saw the movie on Friday with my family and the screenwriter messed up the jest of the book.

Really Sad today

2008-11-23T11:03:00.003-05:00

Not sure why but I woke up this morning feeling really depressed. I have the day off of my new job so I should be happy but I cant quit feeling like I want to cry. I am not sure if because I was sick when I turned 40 that it is now just hitting me that I am 40 and starting a new job. This is not where I saw myself at 40, I sometimes think that things went bad for me when my Dad was moving me around and getting married every two years to a new woman. I see my daughter going through the same issues I had to deal with in 9th grade and it makes me sad. I have never been a fan of the Holidays and I hate this stretch of year. Anyhow I am off to the laundromat to wash some clothes and to feel even more sorry for myself.

Anyone remember this song?

2008-11-19T20:00:00.001-05:00

Elizabeth, PA 03/20/2009

2008-11-18T14:26:00.003-05:00

Just lined up tickets to one of my favorite wrestling promotions Ring Of Honor for a show in Elizabeth, Pa. I have to return to UPMC that week anyhow for a follow up so I am going to turn this into a fun visit. Maybe ride the Inclined Plane and eat at Primanti Brothers.

Surgery posts

2008-11-17T22:23:00.001-05:00

I promise to finish my surgery day blog posts by weeks end.

2008-11-17T22:05:00.001-05:00

Humans

2008-11-17T17:31:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it is hard to understand humans and why they do what they do. It is also hard to understand one's self before trying to figure out other people. I struggle at times with people, sometimes not letting them in close enough or letting them in too close only to get burned. My childhood was not the best and it has effected me more as an adult then it did when I was young. But there are always other things that happen or you experience in your life that has such a profound effect on you that no matter how long it has been it stays with you. I truly wish at times there was a pill to take to make you be able to forget things from your past, the bad things and some of the good things. Sometimes the real good things in life from the past can cause just as much heartache as the bad.

Kinda depressed

2008-11-15T21:19:00.001-05:00

You would think that after getting through brain surgery and getting a full time job that I would be happy as a clam, but yet for some reason I feel very depressed the last few days. I hate feeling this way and I cannot put my finger on why I do feel like this.

Still here

2008-10-30T14:08:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to drop in and say hello to everyone. I would love to post more, but I am still tired and I hope to be my old self soon.

Today I turn 40

2008-10-23T17:48:00.000-04:00

And I am not too happy about it

Meat the Heat Chili

2008-10-19T02:09:00.004-04:00

One of my closet friends husbands was in the The National Open Chili Cook-Off takes place on the Saturday of the Williams Grove National Open. This years date is Saturday, September 27, 2008. His Chilli was called Meat the Heat Chili and out of 19 entries who took third place!!!!! Way to go Chris...

Sick

2008-10-17T17:51:00.001-04:00

Sorry for no new updates but I have an infection in my sinuses and with me only being three weeks post op it has me down and out.

In Search of a falafel

2008-10-14T01:39:00.002-04:00

I don't know why but I have been hungry for a food item that I never have eaten. I dream of this sandwich and I just hope that one day when I finally get to have one that it lives up to what my imagination has it built up to be.

Colee

2008-10-11T19:20:00.001-04:00

Surgery Day Part 1

2008-10-08T20:56:00.002-04:00

Ok I know I am way behind here but I have been very tired of late. My friend Ladawn picked us up on September 25 around 3pm and we left for Pittsburgh for the third straight day. After the four hour drive we arrived at the Hotel that was given to me by a close family friend and I have to tell everyone that I sleep at Quality Inn's and Motel 6's so I was not prepared for the five star place. Let's just say that I was way out of my element here, but at the same time my wife and I were so relaxed because our friends had done the driving and got us a great room that was close to the hospital. How close you ask? Here is a view from our hotel window of the hospital.

Biopsy Results

2008-10-06T17:55:00.000-04:00

NEGATIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some Pics

2008-10-01T12:27:00.002-04:00

I will do a nice long post once I feel bettter, but here are some pics in no order from the last few days.

Random Pics

Update

2008-09-24T20:01:00.003-04:00

Might be my last post before surgery, we have made two trips to Pittsburgh in two days. Yesterday was a quick physical at the surgeons office. Then today we went to UPMC @ Mercy, had a great view of The Mellon Arena. Met with my anesthesiologist and that went ok expect for some concern of my EKG but we think it is because I am just fat. Then I had a CTA and MRI with dye and now it is just time to wait.

A Big Thanks

2008-09-22T13:56:00.008-04:00

I need to thank so many people who have emailed me with words of encouragement and friends family and strangers who have donated money to help me with gas, tolls, lodging, co pays etc. I know that I would not be able to get this surgery without the help of all of you. If I forgot to thanks anyone I am sorry as the list keeps growing everyday.

The Champlin Family

The Hipple Family

The Alexander Family

The Flory Family

The Eckenrode Family

The Detwiler Family

The Adams Family

The Deshong Family

A few articles and videos on my surgeon

2008-09-21T15:16:00.005-04:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/8306946#8306946

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8304870/

http://www.wqed.org/mag/features/0506/healing3.shtml

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUowqXCaDQM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJf3eJF-tjA

http://www.upmcminute.com/video.aspx?vidID=9&segID=4

http://www.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/media/news/kassamnbc.mov

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=e9e38bc0-c0a6-4b9b-ba40-3a151a73fdbc

The big shave

2008-09-20T16:45:00.003-04:00

Today I shaved my head and all arm and chest hair. Yes I know that my surgery will be done through my nose but I figure if I need radiation I might as well beat them to the punch. Plus I want any leads or stickies for my surgery to have a clean contact!!!! Yes I am paranoid but what can I do? I have been having chest pains for a week now and I have it made up that my heart is bad.

Insurance companies are funny

2008-09-18T19:35:00.004-04:00

Ok today my insurance company approved my surgeon, the pre surgery visits and the post surgery visits but forgot to approve the ACTUAL SURGERY!!!! So I feel that a phone call on Friday should get everything under control.

Fundraiser Goal

2008-09-18T19:35:00.002-04:00

Today I received a $100.00 donation towards my goal of $350.00. Thank You Mom and Dad

New tests

2008-09-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

Schedule:

History and Physical 09/23/08

MRI & IGS Stryker 09/24/08

CTA & Stryker 09/24/08

Pre Admission testing/Anesthesia Consult 09/24/08

$$$$$$$ Problems

2008-09-17T19:02:00.002-04:00

OK so things were tight money wise with the upcoming surgery and then to add even more issues I received a letter today saying that they needed me to be in Pittsburgh next Tuesday, Wednesday, and then Thursday for my surgery on Friday. With the price of gas I have no idea how I can make that trip three days in a row with tolls and everything. Now the hospital has a place that would only charge me $25.00 a night to stay in the hospital but I don't even have that. Maybe it is time to reschedule my surgery.

Frustrated

2008-09-12T19:02:00.000-04:00

Today I receive an email from my surgeon saying that my health insurance will not cover my surgery on the 26th. It seem that my surgeon takes my name of insurance but not the kind. They thought I had a PPO but I have a HMO. I don't get it because their insurance person told me everything was good to go. Now I had to request a medical review to See if they will cover it or I will have to see a new neurosurgeon that they say. My emotions have been so raw and getting worse with my date approaching. I don't know if I can take seeing another Doc and getting his opinion of what to do.

Today's activities

2008-08-30T23:35:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to say that I had a great day today, I spent the day at the Shippensburg Corn Festival and then the Demolition Derby. Click on the links below for photos

Pics of the Shippensburg Corn Festival

Pics of the Shippensburg Demolition Derby

Fear

2008-08-25T23:11:00.001-04:00

As each day goes by I find myself thinking more and more about the upcoming date. I am not sure if I am more scared of dying on the table or the results of the surgery.

Test Results

2008-08-22T18:38:00.002-04:00

Well so far so good, my blood work is ok and my EKG was normal. I still have not received any results for my Chest X-Ray and that kinda concerns me.

Friends and family

2008-08-16T23:20:00.003-04:00

Today was a great day for me and my family, we were invited to a belated wedding reception and it was a great time. The weather today was spectacular and the food was out of this world. We also got to see family members that we have not seen in a long time. Then on the way home we did a pop in on our old neighbor ( best neigbour you could ever ask for) and it felt good to her again. You really don't appreciate old friends and family members until after you are gone and then see them again. Friends and family are something that we did not have in Ohio and it made today's vists mean so much more to us.

Test Results

2008-08-14T16:48:00.003-04:00

Ok so today I had an EMG and now they feel that I have some pinched nerves in my back, so to add to all of my upcoming tests I now have to get a MRI of my spine on Monday. Both my legs are turning black and blue ffrom the tests today so I am just going to stay home and relax today.

Tests, Tests, and more tests

2008-08-13T20:03:00.003-04:00

Starting tomorrow I start my battery of tests to see if I can be cleared for my surgery. I have a EMG on Thursday and a EKG and Stress test on Friday. Fun Fun Fun

Why Blog?

2008-08-08T15:52:00.001-04:00

Well I was asked today as why I am blogging about my upcoming surgery and follow up care, and to be honest I feel that this is the only way that I can express my fears and hopes without cracking up. I have plans to make this blog not just a personal journey, but as a way to help anyone facing cancer and reading about how someone else handled it.