Laurie has taken a U-turn on the road to recovery. It is something that she, nor I expected. However, there were recently indications that she was not doing as well as hoped.
On the morning of December 4th we went to the local hospital since Laurie was unable to remember very much at all. Recently, we travelled to this same hospital but these visits were connected to her fever more than anything else. The issue of her failing memory was expressed though. However, after about a three and one-half hour stint at the local hospital, we were told to go to the Ottawa Civic Hospital where they were expecting us. Well, not so much as expecting us since they really did not know we were coming there. So, we waited there and after an excruciatingly long time in the large waiting room we went to the "Urgent Care" area where we waited another eon or two. So much for the naming convention. We saw a variety of nurses and doctors and administrative people who asked the same questions to which we gave the same answers. Eventually an intern neurological man sat down with us and started the important work.
Finally, someone felt that Laurie should be admitted. Top marks for good judgment. Well, in my view I was not in a position to take her back home anyways. So, she went to the same area that she spent her first night in hospital back in July. I left late Saturday (Dec. 3) night with the feeling that we were beginning her journey all over again. She seems a little better than the previous time but still she is very ill and I am very concerned.
Today I arrived to find that she was moved to opposite side of the Observation Area. This is quite a busy ward and activities go far beyond simply observation. She was not permitted to eat or drink. She was hooked up to an IV and monitors - all as before. On Saturday she had two CT scans, one with the contrast and one without. Then today she had another MRI, with contrast. She is having blood samples taken every eight hours and her medication dosages are far higher than taken at home. She also gets these drugs intravenously. She is being checked every four hours for vital signs and cognitive things by the nurse. She looks so small in that big hospital bed and all of the instruments that are attached to different parts of her.
Late this morning (Dec. 4) Laurie was transferred to the Neurological Observation Area (NOA) which I know quite well. She is comfortably resting in a single room and has pretty much full-time nursing care. She slept the good part of the day but we did talk a little. I spoke with three doctors there who said that it is likely that surgery will be done soon - possibly on Monday (Dec. 5). The head surgeon on her first operation team back in July will be in Monday morning and a decision will be made as to her treatment plan. Apparently, a second surgery will be less invasive than the first and likely not take as much time. However, there is always risk here that these assumptions may not turn out as planned.
I do not understand how, having gone through all of the radiation sessions and her chemotherapy treatment, that the tumour can actually be larger in size. Both oncologists have never really addressed the recent symptoms even though I was reporting memory issues once again as recently as ten days ago. She has spent so many days in recovery and been through so much since July. I cry when I think of everything that she was encountered and dealt with, and we have returned to the beginning.
So, as of now I am at a loss. The hands of time have been turned back four months. It is not a bad dream. It is reality of the worst kind. I keep trying to remain as optimistic as I can but it is very difficult to think beyond what tomorrow may bring. I will provide updates when I can but this may prove difficult in more ways than one. Please think of Laurie and send her your positive energy and prayers.
Praying for Laurie, as always, Mark.
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