Brain Tumor: Surgery Day

Tomorrow is the big day. Brain surgery. It sounds almost ridiculous, and its hard to believe that this is my current life sometimes. Just over two weeks ago I was a perfectly healthy person with headaches. Well okay, I have a thyroid disorder, allergies, and vision problems  - but aside from those conditions nothing was life threatening. Sadly, I now have something life threatening to worry about. 

(Catch up on my posts So I Have a Brain Tumor, Next Steps, and Emergency IVF.)

This past week went by in a blur as I wrapped everything up for work and prepared for the day of surgery. David's mom came into town on Thursday, my dad arrived on Saturday, and my mom and step-dad came today. We hung out at home for most of the day today before heading to the 5pm service at The Rock followed by a family dinner at Pho Point Loma. (Note - My mom called me to warn me a few days ago that hospitals don't usually have Vietnamese food, so I better load up on pho! Luckily I already assumed this.)  :)

Beautiful Layout from My Friend Christine

Schedule

The schedule for tomorrow is as follows:

• 5:30am - admitted to the hospital (Thornton Hospital at UCSD)
• 6:15am - MRI 
• 7:30am - surgery begins, should last 4 hours
• 5:00pm - the neuro-oncologist is coming over to answer questions from my family

They estimate that I will be in the ICU for a couple days before being moved to a lower level of care for another day or so before being discharged to go home and recover. If I'm feeling well enough I will work from home the week after surgery, and if not I will just sleep the week away until the surgical wounds are healed. 

Keith Starting the Miles for Mokie Sign Trend

I have only had one surgery in my life (septoplasty in 2006) and have never broken a bone, so I'm really sensitive and fearful of pain. While the headaches themselves are really painful and would have driven me to the ER if they had ever lasted more than a minute, they are something I have learned to withstand and suffer through. I am terrified of experiencing a new kind of pain when I wake up from the anesthesia, and throughout the course of my recovery. 

Bruce Showing Support from Arizona

When I had my septoplasty I remember coming to and being cold. Soon after I was taken home where I was given painkillers and put to bed, and I never experienced pain over the next four days that I was home. I was never awake for more than a couple hours at a time, and essentially slept my way through recovery. I hope this surgery goes that way too.

What You Can Do
There are a number of things you can do to support me tomorrow and throughout my recovery and treatment. The number one thing I would like you to do is pray. Please pray for me and my family.

Christopher's Bib Dedication

Please Pray
The things that I am praying for are:

• Finding peace in the love of my family, friends, and God that will allow me to remain calm in the hours leading up until my surgery. (I'm really afraid of having a panic attack in the MRI. I was shaking with nerves the first time, and at that point I didn't even think I had something seriously wrong with me. I also wasn't an hour away from brain surgery ....)
• A successful surgery with no complications or pain
• A biopsy that reveals that my tumor is Grade 1 (least aggressive)
• A quick recovery that helps me keep my spirits up
• The ability for my loved ones to find comfort in each other and their faith so they don't worry and suffer too much during this time
• A treatment plan that is short and successful (currently they estimate 6 weeks of radiation and 1-2 years of oral chemo) and allows me to live a 'cancer-free' life full of hope
• The ability to get through this and have children some day
• The ability to get through this and have a long happy life with David

Log Your Miles

The doctor said that I probably won't be able to run for six weeks following surgery, and I anticipate that it will be much longer considering my radiation will not finish up until about nine weeks after surgery. In that time you can run in my honor, let me know how your runs go, and allow me to smile as I read about all the fun everyone else is having out there pounding the pavement or traipsing around on the trails.

Sign Love at the Chicago Marathon from Jenny, Jay, & Kids

My friend Rose created a challenge on DailyMile where everyone runs or walks at least one mile tomorrow. If you're on DailyMile and would like to join, visit the challenge page here:

http://www.dailymile.com/challenges/6154-miles-for-monika/leaderboard 

Rumor Has It Mokie Signs Equal Race PRs!
(Congrars Elena!)

Miles for Mokie

You can also join the Miles for Mokie page that my friends Tara and Trasie made. They have invited people to log their miles between October 8 - 28th.  I was in the middle of training for the Marine Corps Marathon (my 19th full!) when this all happened, and sadly I will not be able to run on October 28th. I'm happy to say that Amy (Executive Director of Girls on the Run San Diego) will be running in my place, and I can't wait to cheer Tara, Amy, Allison, and Christina on from afar. I know you ladies will kick a**!

Join the Miles for Mokie page here: https://www.facebook.com/MilesForMokie

Aloha Miles from Christina in Hawaii

Support GOTRSD

My Girls on the Run friends who are training for the Marine Corps Marathon have created a fundraising page in my honor. Please consider making a contribution to their fundraising to help support an organization near and dear to my heart. 

Their fundraising page: http://www.active.com/donate/sdsolemates/TBaize1

GOTRSD Miles for Mokie Love from Maria
(Outfit made extra special by her Glam Runner tutu!)

Stay Positive

My final request is that everyone stay positive. Positivity is contagious, and by looking at the glass half full all the time, you encourage others to open their eyes and see things the same way.  I am EXTREMELY scared about everything going on. I'm afraid of the surgery, I'm afraid of recovery, I'm afraid of radiation and chemo, and quite honestly I'm afraid of dying young. Dwelling on this will not do me any good though, and I'd like to focus on looking forward to the future, not looking down in despair. I will do everything I can to stay positive, and I hope you will too.

Future Marathoner Little Cousin Lauren

Tomorrow will be a big day. Please send your prayers.