Monday, November 17th

Say Whaaaaat?

Hello Everyone,

Unfortunately, there is something to report tonight.  Cindy's CAT scan this morning revealed that her ventricles have continued to swell, indicating that her brain is not absorbing the cerebrospinal fluid as it should.  This revelation prompted still another CAT scan this afternoon for further assessment.  

Consequently, I have to be at the hospital no later than 8:30 tomorrow morning to sign consent forms for her to go into surgery at 1:00 to have a permanent, internal shunt put in.  This will drain the fluid into her body cavity where it can be absorbed.  Of course, this is not what we had hoped for, but it's better than having the risk of serious problems down the road.  We're told it's a pretty straightforward and commonly performed procedure, but as we all know, any surgery carries a fairly high degree of risk.  She'll have to go back to the ICU for at least one additional day after the surgery for observation.  It's just one more insult I wish she didn't have to endure.

This puts a temporary halt to any visitors, flowers, etc.  I'll let you all know when the visitation situation reverts to the conditions since Saturday.  The visitors who came by over the last two days certainly lifted her spirits, and I'm sure she'll welcome more when the time comes.

Otherwise, she continues to improve daily.  She's been walking around the halls, getting physical therapy, and her memory gets a little better each day.  She still can't remember things from minute to minute, though, and much of her cognitive therapy addresses that deficit specifically.  The therapists give us mental games to play with her to exercise her short-term memory as much as possible.  (Half the time, I can't do much better than she does!)

Please keep her in your thoughts prayers.