Journal entry by Barbara Bradley — Oct 20, 2010

We got home Monday evening from Duke after completing all the recommended tests so I am a bit late with getting out an update. I got to see the Chief of Neurology before we left the hospital. He had just gotten back in town so he has not been able to look over Katie’s test results personally but his team shared what they knew. He agrees she is definitely a candidate for surgery. His first words to me in his accent were, “Good side good, bad side….verrrry bad.”  He was pleased to see all the seizures coming from the left side and the PET scan showed the right side to be healthy. However, he said he was basically taking the choice of a lobe recession off the table because his experience shows a more aggressive approach is needed for hemimegalencephaly cases. I must say I was thankful for that as I didn’t want to have to decide.

Next steps, we go back November 3rd for a follow-up with neurologist and neurosurgeon. By this time the team will have met and decided what they want to do and we’ll figure out when they are going to operate. I suppose many of you can’t fathom being happy your child will undergo brain surgery. It is certainly not something we take lightly but it is necessary. As it is, I will forever have the image in my memory of her panicked face when she was not able to breathe. That being said, I am pleased things are moving right along and thankful we have the option.

I suppose I should go now. Today is my 9th anniversary…. whoo..hoo.. No big plans for us. No diamonds or fancy trips here. Nothing says love around here like “honey, I’ll sleep on the couch and watch the baby monitor so you can get some rest.” Ha ha! The highs and lows of marriage. All kidding aside, I have the best husband in the world and would not change a thing. Ta ta for now!