Finally an Update

I haven't blogged for a while because there has been a lot going on. Here is a summary of what has been happening:

• Started having severe headaches - went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a brain tumor;
• The day after being diagnosed, I was hospitalized and had a MRI and CT of the chest and belly;
• Transported daily from St. Francis Hospital to the Reimen Center to receive radiation treatments - received 14 treatments in all;
• Underwent Gamma Knife procedure to reduce the size of the brain tumor - the procedure was to take only 20 minutes and ended up taking 2 hours;
• Started physical therapy at home and started to experience back pain;
• November 6, 2008: Started back on chemotherapy;
• November 9, 2008: Dr. Cuevas orderd a spinal tap due to back pain;
• November 10, 2008: Spinal tap completed;
• November 11, 2008: Spinal fluid positive for cancer cells;
• November 12, 2008: Met with Dr. Lloyd to discuss placement of port - the port will deliver chemo directly to the spinal fluid;
• November 13, 2008: Port procedure completed;
• November 15, 2008: Traveled home to South Bend, Indiana for Dad's 60th birthday party;
• November 18, 2008: Chemo at clinic to spinal cord;
• November 23, 2008: Morgan and I moved to new apartment on the ground floor (yay! no more stairs);
• November 24, 2008: Hospitalized due to high fever;
• November 27, 2008: Moved to Intensive Care;
• December 1, 2008: Admitted to hospital again for observation after having a fever and headaches on Saturday and Sunday;
• December 2, 2008: Admitted to ICU (again) due to high fever (103.9), headaches and difficulty breathing;
• December 3, 2008: Blood clots were found on my heart and lungs;
• December 6, 2008: Released from hospital;
• December 6, 2008: Day of the Beneft in my honor - could not attend but got to talk to people via a web cam;
• January 12, 2009: Chiropractor appointment - had a seizure while in waiting room - unconscious for about 45 minutes and transfered to hospital - released home with more pills.