Dear
All,
The
latest is… Dr. Black thinks that the mass on the MRI does
not need to be operated on immediately.
He felt the course recommended by the ID docs was a
good one (i.e. antibiotics).
We will send him the next set of films when we get
them.
Also,
Dan saw Dr. Weinstein today (the ID doc).
He said he went over the films very carefully with a
neuroradiologist at Kettering Medical Center that he really
trusts. The main
issue was whether the growing mass really was abscess or
tumor. They are
treating it as if it is abscess and then we will see in a
couple weeks if that treatment made any difference.
From
Dan:
“This
is both good news and bad news.
The good news is that we are not rushing off to
Boston to get my head cut open immediately.
And, it gives me time to heal whatever this
“mass” is. The
bad news is, the confusing interpretations are hard to live
with. And the
extra medicine is making me have more weak days.
When we
did think I needed surgery, the kids seemed concerned but
un-phased. It
has become so common place that ‘Dad is sick’ and needs
surgeries. There
is a family mode that we go into, it has gotten into a
routine. … the
kids go to the Schmidts, I fly off to Boston, Abi puts off
her life on hold for awhile, I deal with the hospital, and
Boston, and the recovery process… It has happened so often
now, that it is feeling, well, like part of life, something
that happens… not the exception… it is an exception, but
is part of our life, and everyone knows their role and plays
it.
When we
were having the Seder last night, I was thinking about how I
could be in the hospital at that time, and how nice it was
to be with friends and family, and how much I miss when I am
in the hospital, not being at home.
It was nice to be home.”
OK,
dear friends, thanks for hanging in there with us.
It often feels as though there is more to say, but
the ups and downs take their toll, in exhaustion and
confusion.
Much
love,
Dan and
Abi