Monthly Archives: July 2011

6 Week Update

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August 2 will mark 6th weeks since surgery. Everything is going fantastic.

The removal of Rock has meant lots of positive changes…..head aches are gone, my left sinus is unobstructed, my energy levels are back, taste and smell have returned, I can focus on tasks at hand and in general I feel better than I have in 6 or 7 years…..the Rock was a slow grower so as it affected things, I was able to adjust and compensate to allow the deficit caused by Rock to become my “new normal”.

July 11 marked my return to work. It was great to get back. The first week found me tired by mid afternoon, but by the end of last week that was gone.

This week we head to San Diego for Taylor’s triathlon on August 5. My being able to travel to Taylor’s race has been a goal for me to shoot for during my recovery. I am so thankful that I will be able to see her race in the US Triathlon National Championships. We will also be able to spend time with my folks, who are driving over from Tucson and my brother and family who live just up the road in San Clemente.

The boys are busy…..Jamie heads to college on August 15 (can’t believe that is happening, seems like yesterday he was in a car seat) and Will is occupied with football practices and drivers education.

Greg

100% Benign!

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12 days since surgery and I am feeling good.  It was great having Dad here to help us out….he went back to Tucson on Friday.
 
My doctors at Mayo called me today (I was impressed, a Sunday) to let me know that my “Rock” was 100% benign!
 
The tumor was classified as a “Solitary Fibrous Tumor”, not a meningioma as they thought it was from the MRI images.  The doctors told me Monday that they had never seen a tumor of this type in the location mine was in.  Today they told me that they only see around 10 Solitary Fibrous Tumors each year (in a variety of different places – lungs, pancreas, etc.)  let alone one in a person’s head like mine was.
 
So we are really happy and thankful that things are turning out so positive.  Tuesday, I get my 20 staples taken out and then hopefully back to work on July 11th.
 
I have a follow up MRI and doctors visits at Mayo Rochester in mid September.  If all goes well, then annual scans and visits after that.
 
Special thanks to Gordy and Donna Carls for visiting me in Rochester both before and after surgery.  Gordy’s spiritual guidance was awesome for both me and my family.
 
Thanks to Sue, J, Ruth, Ray, Carrie, Susie, Jim and Marilyn for their visits to me while in the hospital.
 
Special remembrances to my cousins Connie and Randy who bravely battled brain tumors before me.
 
Greg