my wife has had her brain surgery.

[Courtesy Flush]

I don't know if any of you remember my previous posts about my wife's battle with brain cancer, but she just had surgery on Thursday, and we're sitting in the airport now, ready to fly home.

This was a needle biopsy, which is still a big deal when it's in the middle of the brain. They bolted a torture device into her skull, and drilled a hole on the top of her head, where a probe was inserted. We already have gotten preliminary lab results showing that the new tumor is the same as the other tumor in the opposite hemisphere of her brain. That's good and bad news. Good because it's not a higher grade tumor, and bad for obvious reasons.

I have been won over by the doctors at Duke University. We have been fortunate that my wife's insurance covers a top tier facility so far from home. We'll meet with them in a month or so to discuss treatment options. Looks like we'll be making North Carolina our home away from home, because they say they will want her to come here every other month.

My wife looks as if she hasn't had anything done at all. We had been warned to expect her head to swell, and for her to get black eyes, but none of that happened. She took it like a trooper. Awesome person.

[gopiscrap]

1. OMG prayers and good wishes go to you guys!!!

[MineralMan]

2. My thoughts are with you.

[cali]

3. the greatest of good luck to your wife and to you.

I so hope that that she beats this.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Best wishes for her.

I'm sorry that she and you are going through another round.

[dkf]

5. Absolutely wonderful to hear.

Sending good vibes for a speedy recovery and a comfy flight home.

[mzteris]

6. how long ago

was the torture device bolted on?

When they told me they were attaching a device to my head, I didn't know they meant ATTACH! As in drilling holes in my head. . .

horrible experience.

I did have incredible side effects. I couldn't get out of bed for three days. My face swelled up and bruised. It took forever for the holes to heal. I managed to get back to work after three days, but had to buy those really big sunglasses to wear anywhere outside of my house - including work - because I was so heinous to observe. It took a week for the swelling, bruising to go down.

If your wife didn't have them, she's really lucky. If she "just" had the procedure done, it still might occur. The fluid didn't drain down into my face until after about two - three days. Not a fun procedure. (Though my [2nd] procedure was pinpoint radiation.)


I hope she's doing well. Good luck!

[Courtesy Flush]

16. her eyes are swelling a little today.

It's possible that she might still get a little bit of what you experienced, but if it hasn't started in the last 48 hours, I think she's out of the woods.

She was paired with a pen pal who has the same diagnosis who went to the same surgeon for the same procedure, and her story is very much like yours. I think some people just get lucky. I'm guessing that none of the probes hit any large blood vessels or nerves.

[Auntie Bush]

63. I'm sending you and your wife healing energy.

Bless you both with good luck and strength. Cancer is a bitch!

My son had Hodgkin's Lymphoma an already had his first year checkup and he's 100% free of cancer...your wife can do the same...stay positive.

[Liberty Belle]

82. Arnica gel gets rid of bruising quickly; it's cheap and available at health food stores.

[LittleBlue]

7. Good luck

Duke have a world-class reputation.

[enlightenment]

8. Glad to hear she came through so well

and my best wishes and strongest hopes for a full recovery.

Thinking of you both.

[brer cat]

9. I hope she continues to do well.

We will keep both of you in our thoughts and prayers.

[kelliekat44]

10. Best thoughts for you and your wife. nt

[dipsydoodle]

11. Very best wishes to both of you.

.

[onethatcares]

12. from my heart

to you, best wishes for your wife, may a miracle happen.

[petronius]

13. Travel safely! I do hope things continue to go well for both of you...

[tavernier]

14. God bless her!

Wishing the very best for her.

[pnwmom]

15. My thoughts and prayers, Courtesy Flush!

[frazzled]

17. She is indeed brave and awesome

As are you.

Between the courage and persistence you are putting forth and the wisdom and skill of the Duke staff, you've got the best possible scenario. May everything get better from here.

[grantcart]

18. keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting

[AtomicKitten]

19. Brava!

Your wife sounds like a brave strong woman.
Keep fighting!

[kag]

20. Good luck, Courtesy Flush.

I'm glad your docs and insurance company are being helpful rather than adding to the problem. Sounds like you and she have plenty to worry about without them contributing.

Sending warm and positive thoughts your way. Take care.

[LiberalEsto]

21. best wishes for a complete recovery

[mountain grammy]

22. Best wishes to both of you..

[bigwillq]

23. Best wishes to both of you.

Hope everything turns out ok.

[magical thyme]

24. best wishes and healing vibes

to both of you...

[Hekate]

25. Best wishes to you both

[idwiyo]

26. best wishes

[William769]

27. Wishing your wife a safe & speedy recovery.

[Rebellious Republican]

28. We will be waiting for positive updates, best wish's.

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. I will keep you both in my thoughts. There is a rather well-known Youtuber

who has recently been dx'd with brain cancer, after previously benign tumors removed...

I don't know if it will help, but here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/CTFxC?feature=g-subs-u

[renate]

30. glad the surgery is over... love your positive attitude

It's a really tough road you two are on... I'm glad for the good news and sorry about the bad news, and I'm very glad you're by her side to cheer her on. to you both.

[Emit]

31. My thoughts are with your wife and you, Courtesy Flush

sending healing thoughts for a good recovery and positive outcome

[roguevalley]

32. please tell your wife that both of you and all the rest of your family are in my

prayers and thoughts. Good vibes are coming to both of you from Alaska. I am glad that on top of everything else, insurance isn't one of your worries. {{{HUGS}}}

[PCIntern]

33. My best to both of you and your family...

please keep us updated.

[Myrina]

34. Blessings, hugs and light to you and Mrs.

My mom had a glio in 1986 and the only surgery/treatment available was still pretty barbaric.
She came thru it ok, and we had about 6 good months with her until the tumor came back with vengeance and she left this plane.

Glad for you and Mrs. that treatment options and prospects are so much better nowadays.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. Best wishes to you and your wife

[Grateful for Hope]

36. Sending you my well wishes

To your wife:

[DesertFlower]

37. sending positive thoughts. nt

[bobGandolf]

38. Thoughts with both of you! n/t

[calimary]

39. Thinking lots of good thoughts in the color green!

Green is the color of healing, health, renewal, springtime, youth, vigor, and vitality. An easy thing to envision. Time to light the green candle!

[LoisB]

40. I do hope the best for your wife (and you). Lots of DU good wishes.

[Savannahmann]

41. Best Wishes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

42. Wow! Love and good health vibes to you both!

[classof56]

43. I add my healing thoughts and best wishes for your wife's recovery.

Brave woman, she is, and fortunate to have you by her side. Be safe and keep us posted.

Hugs from your DU family!

[graywarrior]

44. Big fat hugs to both of you!

[Stuart G]

45. Best Wishes Now, and Always..

[historylovr]

46. May she have a speedy recovery. nt

[spanone]

47. good luck with all.....!!!

[sad-cafe]

48. my prayers that she continues to get better

I am sorry you and she are going through this.

[question everything]

49. Best wishes for both of you

How lucky both of you are to have each other.

[davidwparker]

50. Duke has a wonderful system. Glad your wife is well. n/t

[hrmjustin]

51. My prayers for you both.

[Triana]

52. My thoughts are with you guys.

You have DU friends in NC Raleigh/Durham area. Myself for one, and others in the NC forum. PM me if there is anything you want to know about the area ie: where to find stuff.

[nolabear]

53. Hooray! Rest up and get better.

I once worked at Duke Hospital. They are indeed wonderful.

[Squinch]

54. My thoughts are with you both.

[noiretextatique]

55. wonderful!

celebrate all the victories, no matter how small or large. sending positive vibes to you both

[kestrel91316]

56. Modern medicine is amazing. Wishing her and you good things.

[TxDemChem]

57. You two are in my thoughts

Best wishes for your wife and a big thanks to her doctors. She is a real trooper. And I can tell that you are a wonderful support to her.

Tell her to keep on going. We're rooting for her!

[elfin]

58. You are at the right place

Do not know if it is a glioblastoma or astrocytoma or a blend or something else from your message, but some exciting news happening at Duke for the glioblastoma kind involving polio virus as a treatment.

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/poliovirus-vaccine-trial-shows-early-promise-for-recurrent-glioblastoma

[AngryOldDem]

59. Best wishes to you both.

[IrishAyes]

60. Your entire family is in my prayers for healing.

Yes, your wife is awesome. And so are you.

[madrchsod]

61. hopefully that will be the end of the tumors

my wife and i went through something like this when i had my cardiac arrest.this near death experience has taken our 35+ years together to a whole new level. what would we do with out our wives?.......

[steve2470]

62. best wishes to you and your wife, hope she heals soon ! nt

[Stinky The Clown]

64. I toast your wife and wish her a long, happy, comfortable life

To, I wish peace.

To both of you together, I wish a loving marriage that last for the ages.

[JesterCS]

65. *hugs* Hope all goes well in the coming days/weeks

I hope to never have to deal with cancer, but being a smoker I'm sure its inevitable. Prayers and Good Vibes for your wife.

[glinda]

66. ((((((positive thoughts and healing)))))))

[ms liberty]

67. Duke is great...I was treated for breast cancer there, in 97-98...

They don't treat you like a number and it is one of the top cancer hospitals in the country. I'm only a two and a half hour drive away, so it was pretty easy for me to go down there every three weeks. And the cafeteria has excellent food. If you have to go back in the spring you need to visit the Duke Gardens, and they're easily accessible - they're right behind the old hospital. Sending healing, happy vibes your way!

[Courtesy Flush]

77. We did go to the gardens

Totally was not expecting such a fabulous garden.

We also toured the cathedral that they modestly refer to as a chapel.

[rhett o rick]

68. Best of luck to all. nm

[pacalo]

69. I wish you both the very best, Courtesy Flush.

[mike dub]

70. Healing thoughts!

We live near Duke (north Durham, NC) and I have to agree that folks at Duke med center are great. Wishes for a good recovery and continued journey.

[ailsagirl]

71. She's an awesome person

...and so are you.

[Samantha]

72. Best wishes to you and her

for a full and permanent recovery.

Sam

[FSogol]

73. Best wishes for you and your wife. n/t

[msanthrope]

74. Best wishes for a full recovery for her, and for your well-being, too. nt

[jtuck004]

75. The best for both of you... n/t

[MrsKirkley]

76. Best wishes to you both.

[PeoViejo]

78. I wish her well.

I have walked in your shoes.

[JohnnyLib2]

79. Prayers and best wishes.

[LibDemAlways]

80. Joining all of the other DUers in sending

positive thoughts and best wishes your way.

[tblue]

81. Hugs and good wishes to her and you!

[SoutherDem]

83. My very best wishes for your wife's recovery

[Iwillnevergiveup]

84. To the Courtesy Flush family

Hoping the coming weeks bring hope and healing. It seems you have much in your favor - doctors you have confidence in, a great medical facility, no insurance hassles, and a strong, abiding love for each other. Those will all take you far.

Please check back in and update us on your wife's progress. We'll be waiting.

[Liberal_in_LA]

85. may those tumors shrink and disappear

Glad the procedure went well

[Mz Pip]

86. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

It's good that we live in the 21st century where new advancements in treatment come everyday.

Sending good thoughts your way.

[Skittles]

87. Mrs. CF sounds like my kind of gal

wishing her and you all the best

[Courtesy Flush]

95. Not surprised

I wanted my username to be "Skittles" but you beat me to it. That's the name of my sailboat.

[Skittles]

96. WOO!!!

Skittles was my cat but I did name him after the candy

My DU name has also become a poignant homage to Trayvon.

[Courtesy Flush]

97. I hadnt thought of the Trayvon connection.

My boat isn't named after the candy. Skittles is a chess term for a noncompetitive game. When I got into sailing, everybody wanted to race. They'd hardly step aboard a boat if it wasn't a race day. I just wanted to enjoy being on the water. I don't care who is faster or slower than me.

[Skittles]

98. interesting

[mike_c]

88. best wishes for a full recovery....

[Enthusiast]

89. I wish you the very best.

Forwarding healing vibes.

[Granny M]

90. Sending healing thoughts her way.

I hope these wonderful doctors have good treatment options. And wishing you both ease of travel and arrangements for the road ahead.

[mgardener]

91. Good Luck

Keep us informed. Your wife does sound like a trooper and you sound like a good guy for taking such good care of her.

[niyad]

92. healing thoughts and prayers for a most positive outcome coming your way. keep us posted.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

93. Blessings of light and love to you both. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

94. Congratulations on getting over that hump in good shape

Best wishes to your wife, to you, and to all who love her.

[malaise]

99. That's good news

[Beacool]

100. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your wife.

I wish her a speedy recovery.

[samplegirl]

101. So glad your on your way home

keeping you both in my prayers!

[meti57b]

102. May she be healed and have a complete recovery.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

103. Wishing your wife all the best

A quick recovery and take care of yourself Courtesty Flush, you need to be healthy to take care of her!