I am putting the blog to rest for a bit.....  We got news yesterday, some of you have heard form myself or family and friends who were with me, but if you want the update, please send me an email and I will put you on my email update list.

lindsey_peyton@hotmail.com

Thank you for your love and support, we are all going to need it!!!!

May it is!!!!!!

It is officially official......... Matt and I are having a May wedding. Lots to do in 3 months!!!!! My little redheads and maybe a blondie are going to a bridal show with me this weekend, we've got to get one in the mood....... :)

 Just wanted to look at some photos from before my haircut last week, and thought I would share.....  These are from our engagement session at Cherokee Park in midJanuary, before the news......

I got 2 really pretty scarves yesterday, I am wearing one tonight when I go to dinner with the girls, thank you Mrs. Deahl.  My mom found her bridal train and the head band is wide enough that it should cover my lack of hair, YYYEEEAAAHH.  Thanks BeaBea for getting that train for Mom 35 years ago!!!


I am getting very excited about seeing my precious nieces and my brother who are coming in tomorrow!!!  I have to get the "girls club" in my basement ready.  My middle niece picked out the name of their bedroom.  We already have some fun outings planned, my cousin Carrie is having us over for pizza on Saturday so the girls can play with their Kentucky cousins, and Matt's mom is having us over for brunch on Sunday so our siblings and nieces and nephew can meet.  Seth seems really anxious to get with Matt's brothers to make plans for the wedding.  Anyone who knows my brother knows how he likes to tease and play jokes on me, sorry Matt!!



So, as you can tell, I learned how to post photos on my blog.  
I am excited to have some visitors today, my friend Lynn who I work with at Kosair Children's Hopsital, and Heather, who has been a sweet friend since our days at UK, learning how to be nurses are both stopping by!    I am even going to venture out to the mall with the girls to eat at CPK and go look for scarves..... 


I don't know that I will be able to post once the girls get to KY, but if I hear from Dr. Vitaz tomorrow, I will make time for that news!!




 I know it is hard for me to understand all this stuff about brain tumors and I am in the operating room while they are being removed, so I can imagine the difficulty for most of my family and friends who aren't from a medical background.  Some brain tumors, like mine before are not so dangerous because they are in a "safe location".  I was able to have surgery to completely remove the tumor without chemo or radiation, but now it has grown back and is invading some more delicate tissue that can't be disrupted by surgery.  Not all brain tumors are cancer, but depending on their location they may or may not have to be removed.  Cancer varies in its aggressiveness, some grow very slow and never cause problems and some grow very fast and are very tough to treat.  There is all kinds of research out there, I check it out from time to time, but I have decided to leave that to Dr. Vitaz and Dr. Spalding.  I was told by a couple of my coworkers to try and stop micromanaging this and let the doctors do what they specialize in.  I am trying, but it is HARD!!!

No news today :(

Just spoke with the surgeon and he was very nice, sometimes surgeons aren't, but he was very kind. He said nothing is back at this point, so he will call me if he hears anything by Friday. If the results still are not back, I will find out Monday when I meet with he and Dr. Spalding (the radiation oncologist). He did tell me that regardless of how the biopsy turns out, he would recommend me doing radiation since the tumor has already returned once. The goal of radiation is to kill off the aggressive cells. It is easier to remember and process information now that the surgery is over and I have accepted this recurrence.

May have some info this afternoon........ :)

So I talked to the neurosurgeon just now and asked him what he had heard from the pathology here in Louisville (usually only takes 3 days, so I know someone knows......) and he said the pathologist who was looking at my specimen does a major battery of immune testing so it takes a bit longer. He told me he would look this afternoon and see if there was any results. I hope I hear something today!!!!!!!!! I really thought I would have the results from here by last week, so I was disappointed. I know we won't have a plan till we hear from the other centers, but any information will help me. I am still having headaches, I have to be careful with the "miracle drug" I took last week because I found out it can cause rebound headaches. I asked the neurosurgeon why I was suffering so much this time with pain and he blamed it on the incision, I am not in agreement with that because this incision is half the length of the other ones I had and they caused no pain...... Who knows.... I will be on here to update I'd I hear thus afternoon!!!!

HAPPY HEART DAY!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  


I am so lucky to be sitting at home with my sweet fiancee!  Thanks for the beautiful roses, Babe!!  We are going to celebrate our love, by eating out, another night, so I can rest, but I am happy to be eating leftovers (thanks Alisa and Steve!!) with him!!  
I LOVE you Matt!!!

:) Feeling better :)

 think I have had such a high expectation of my recovery, it may have been a hindrance....  My recovery from the brain surgery 8 years ago was EASY.  No headache and was running marathons in 2 days, well, maybe not marathons, but I felt awesome!  I guess hitting the big 3-0 was harder on me than I thought.  I have had zero energy and horrific headaches until....  yesterday.  The doctor called in a different medication, nonnarcotic and NO ITCHING and it took away the pain!!!!  I took one yesterday afternoon and had no problem until I woke up today at 7:30, with a pounder, but after 1 more pill I am once again pain-free.  Dad is back in MadVegas currently, but heading back to the 'ville tonight after work.  Mom and I have enjoyed having my brother, Seth, a ball of energy, around to pick up food and do chores around the house.  So with my headache gone, I have developed an appetite again which helps with my energy!!  I really think I am turning a corner :).  He is such a handyman!!  We have all enjoyed the time together, just wish it wasn't under the current circumstances......  He is flying back to Atlanta Sunday afternoon, but Friday he is packing up his family (my adorable nieces) in the van and driving up for a long week-end with us!!!  I can't wait to see the girls, I just hope my incision and haircut doesn't scare them.
I am so thankful of the calls, messages, prayers, cards, and hospital visits.  We have the best family and friends, God has blessed us heavily!!!

HOME again HOME again!!

I am glad Matt was able to update the blog yesterday.  The surgery went very well, but  honestly the recovery has been harder than the other 2 surgeries where they removed the tumor.  I have had quite significant pain, the last times I only asked for morphine so I could sleep, I had NO pain and I got up and walking the day after surgery with little unsteadiness.  Yesterday was pretty rough, I had horrible itching and then of course they gave me benadryl, so I fell asleep, but with 2 incisions on either side of my head, trying to find a comfortable position was hard.  I am still itching, so I can't figure out what is causing it.  I was very dizzy yesterday and had a hard time walking to the bathroom.  Mom stayed all night with me, and we had some excitement with another patient across the hall, so neither of us got much sleep.  Thank you to all those who came to see me before surgery or later in the hospital and those who came and sat with my parents, sorry I didn't get to see you!  I also want to thank all those nurses and doctors in the hospital who took outstanding care of me!!
Dr. Vitaz (the neurosurgeon) came around this morning and told me that when a brain cancer comes back, he sends it to a couple of cancer centers in other states to confirm the diagnosis, that all sounds great but......  I now have to wait 7 - 10 days to see the final pathology and start treatment.  He was happy with how everything went, but he would not give me any clue as to what he thought the tumor was.  I know he doesn't want to get my hopes up and then a different opinion come in.  
My brother flew in from Atlanta this morning so I am excited to spend time with him!!
I think that is all I have to report....  Thanks to all of you out there for your thoughts and prayers!  I really thought God was going to remove that tumor before I had the surgery, but he has another plan.....
If you see me out in public, you may now recognize me with my new do!!!  I hope Vitaz is a better brain surgeon than hairdresser!!!  I look pretty CRAZY!!!

Surgery OVER

This is matt updating for lindsey. She had her surgery this morning. She is now awake, groggy, and itching. We need benadryl. She is in room 5a09. Phone number 502-629-6259. Her co-workers took great care of her and said she was a great patient. She goes back to see doctor vitaz in two weeks. We should get the results then. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. MZ

A Blessed Weekend

I am now sleeping through the night!!!   YIPPEE!!!!  It is amazing what a few hours of rest will do for your spirit!  AMEN!!  
I had a wonderful weekend full of family and friend time.  My parents came to Louisville on Friday and I got a good nights sleep, maybe because I knew my Dad was in the house to protect me.  On Saturday Dad taught me lots about home improvement, we spent some time at Lowe's and lots of time working around MY HOME!!!  Matt joined us to church Saturday night and we worshipped with our friends Julie and Nathan.  Matt's niece and nephew, and their mom, also sat with us.  What a blessing to be sitting with friends and family who are so loving and supportive in this season of our lives.  We had some yummy chili for dinner with my grandmother and Aunt Annette.
Sunday morning I got to visit with some sweet ladies I serve in the nursery with who have been praying for me and loving on me since I got the news.  It was so good to see them, I miss our weekly time of fellowship while we rock babies.  They both are so supportive and encouraging.  Matt and I had our marriage class and we learned all about communication.
Dad has to be in Madisonville tomorrow, so he drove home this evening when Matt and Mom and I left for my Aunt Liz and Uncle Danny's Superbowl Mexican Fiesta!!!  My appetite is back in FULL!!  It was so fun and distracting to be around my cousins and aunt and uncle, did I mention how good the food was???  We ate and ate and ate and played with kidddos.  My family has been so supportive with calls, notes, advice, and listening ears.  We are blessed.  
I have spent time this weekend reading so many messages and notes and hearing phone calls from Madisonville, Lexington, Louisville, and even Arizona that have been so encouraging and uplifting.  I have to admit that the end of the week was rough, but after such a refreshing and fun weekend, I feel much stronger to head into Tuesday.  My sweet friend, Judi in Lexington went to a friend's church and was Anointed with oil on my behalf, how kind.  My sweet OR friends in Madisonville are going to gather in an OR suite Tuesday morning and be in prayer for me.  I have been told about dozens of prayer chains and Sunday school classes I have been added to cover me through this journey.   My elementary school, WBES is praying for me during their weekly prayer time.  I have received emails, cards, calls, messages and they each are so special and make me feel so blessed. 
I meant to add some congrats for my brother and sister-in-law in Roswell, Georgia..... No they aren't expecting, but they survived their first 7 year old slumber party. My twin nieces turned 7 in December and they celebrated with 7 of their friends Saturday night. From the sound of things, all went well, no homesickness!!!! 
Mom and Matt and I were talking this evening after the Packers victory and we all feel that God is guiding my life now, we don't know what he has in store, of course we hope a cure, but I hope I can be open to whatever His will is for me.
Sweet dreams!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I just was brought to tears, kind of happening a lot these days, but in a good way.  A group of people joined together in Madisonville and prayed scripture on my behalf.  I feel so blessed that so many would take time to gather and  lift me up.  Thank you Madisonville family for loving on us and interceding on my behalf.  I have to hold on and see what good God brings through this.  Thank you for the verses and kind notes!!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

 

Well, the surgery is scheduled, but I am in hopes that my Heavenly Father will heal me before they shave my head!  :)
I am scheduled for surgery at Norton Downtown at 10:00am.  I have an MRI before I go back to surgery and I am praying it looks completely normal and the surgery will CANCELLED!!!
I was hoping to update with the date earlier, but Dr. Vitaz. my neurosurgeon wanted to make sure he has the A team ready!  If God wants to wait to heal me until after the surgery, I will have the best of the best in the Operating Room with me. 
Thank you so much for the prayers you are sending up.  We are feeling them!!

Visit with Dr. Spalding, Radiation Oncologist

 

Yesterday morning, Matt, Mom, Dad and I had the pleasure to meet the wonderful doctor who will be forming my treatment plan and administering my focused radiation treatments, Dr. Aaron Spalding, at the Norton Neuroscience Institute here in Louisville.  He looked through all my MRIs and did a great job of explaining them to Matt, Mom and Dad.  They acted like they understood what he was showing them, I have seen them so many times, I don't need to keep looking.......  He was very honest and let me know his suggestion for my given situation.  He recommended having a several biopsies of the mass, which unfortunately means having some of my hair shaved, hello again scarves!  I wish I had saved them all, but I now get to go shopping for some more cute ones!!  Based on the results of the biopsy he will form my treatment plan of chemotherapy and radiation.  My awesome brother and family friend, John Cox, checked out the credentials of Dr. Spalding and they both reported them to be top-notch!!

I had the great fortune of talking to a friend of the family who happens to be training in radiation oncology at MD Anderson in Houston, TX which is a big cancer center and he was able to help me get a second opinion from the specialists there after I get the biopsy results.  Unless they have something to offer that seems much different and superior to my options here, I will have the therapy in Louisville.  Dr. Spalding seemed to think the treatment for my tumor is fairly straight-forward and all brain tumor centers will use the same therapy.  I am so glad that I can consult with the experts in TX to make sure the plans there match the plans here and if I need to stay in TX for my treatments because they can show me better outcomes, I guess I am going to have to buy some cowboy boots!!!!

I spoke with the neurosurgeon, Dr. Todd Vitaz who will be performing my biopsy next week and he is arranging the A+ team to all be present for my surgery.  He has a neuropathologist, brainlab navigation expert, and neuroradiologist he wants to make sure are all present for my surgery.  He is hoping to have all those people ready by Tuesday to do the biopsy.  I hope to hear tomorrow the exact day and time.  

I think that is all I have to report tonight.  Keep checking back as I plan to update each time I hear news or change the plan......

I am doing this blog to update my wonderful and caring family and friends through this journey, I hope to share fun wedding plans and reports from upcoming vacations, this is not a depressing caringbridge page that people write until they die.  I have hope in my Heavenly Father that I am going to beat this, and in His time, it will turn into reports of how married life is treating Matt and I.  

I also apologize for not getting this out yesterday after my appointment, but I was hoping Dr. Vitaz would get his people scheduled and I could send an update with the exact surgery date and time.  I will have it on here as soon as I know!!!  Each of you reading this hold a special place in hearts of my family, fiancee and myself.  We can't get through this without the support and prayers you are showing.  I thank God for such loving a supporting family and friends!

Love,

Lindsey