Surgery date

After all Fay has been through this last couple of months, we feel the surgery team is now on the same page. Fay is scheduled for surgery at University of Utah on March 2nd. One of the biggests risks that will be encountered in this surgery is blood loss. The tumor is large and large tumors are often fed with quite an extensive vascular supply of blood. We will keep everyone updated as we get more information. Once Fay is in surgery, we will update as often as we can. Your prayers for Fay, Jared, Chase and Fay's doctor, Dr. Bull, are always so appreciated. They have strengthened us all. Your prayers have given us the strength to keep going when quitting sounds so much easier. Thank you to everyone.

Fay January 30, 2011

Fay is learning that she needs to take it easy or pay for it. She is struggling to get used to the medications she is taking and learning to redefine what a good day is. She is still vomiting and having a tough time keeping food down. Her pain level is much lower than it was last week. Her family continues to be grateful for your prayers and services. Tonight Sister Peck brought cookies over. They were so good! Thank you!

Fay, January 27

Fay has had a night to sleep on the news of a canceled surgery. She feels a little better about it, but is also asking that a Perinatologist be brought in for consult too. They are weaning her off the epideral and trying her on a different pain med. It was agreed that if the pain is not managed, then in two weeks she will have the surgery performed. It has been a very big roller-coaster ride. She's ready to get off! If everything goes well, she will be discharged tomorrow. Please keep the prayers coming. It has made a big difference. Just trust me on this one!

surgery canceled

Fay was to have surgery at 4:00 this afternoon, At 4:30 the doctor came into her room and told her that he was cancelling the surgery. Talk about a day filled with up and downs. The neurologists who were called in to consult, (neurology feels there is spinal involvement. But Dr. Bull does not really believe that, he feels the tumor is resting in an incostal nerve, and that is what is causing the pain.) feel that if the surgery goes Fay will loose the baby. Tumors of this size can be (doesn't mean it will be) very vascular. The blood lose would cause Fay to abort the baby. Neurology feels that Anesthesia can work with Fay with different forms of blocks that will allow her to manage her pain until she can give birth. This can present a problem too, how long do you wait? The doctor and Fay have agreed to give it two weeks. Then we might be back here again. The best senario is that the pain is managed and Fay can move on for a while. If not, we come do it all over again!

Fay, January 26

Fay had a rough night last night. We all hoped that the spinal block would help her control the pain she was feeling. During the night the pain increased to a point that it was no longer controllable or tolerable. Today they increased the strength of the block and also gave her Oxy-Cotton to get her through the rough times. Tonight she was experiencing some discomfort but was fine with it. Her surgery is tomorrow at 4:00pm Mountain time. I will post as often as I hear how she is doing. Remember she will be in ICU following surgery and then onto the Cardiac Unit when she is stable enough. Please keep her in your prayers. Those prayers have helped strengthen her as well as her family. Fay and Jared's wild little one told grandma (that's me) that I could go home now. Mommy didn't need me anymore!

Fay, January 24

We kind of had a real blow delivered today. So before I tell you what happened, I want you each to know that we believe when all is said and done, Fay will be okay.

We met with the surgeon today. He was very kind to Fay. We discussed what the surgery was going to involve and the magnitude of what needed to be done. The tumor is very large. Because of the size, they believe it will be very vascular also. This type of tumor usually presents itself with no pain. When there is pain, then comes the likelihood, that even though the biopsy came back negative, they're is a malignancy. The other reason for such intense pain is that possibly the tumor is involved with the spinal chord.

Fay was admitted today and a Thoracic nerve block was performed. (I don't think I said that right, but it's an epideral block, but higher up the spine.) When I left Fay tonight, she was comfortable. It has been a long two weeks of very intense pain. Surgery is set for Wednesday afternoon. From Surgery, Fay will be admitted into ICU. We hope to have her home in a week. The doctor said this surgery is in magnitude to that of open heart surgery.

Again, even with the blow we received today of the likelihood of a malignancy, we can't help but feel, when all is said and done, that Fay will be okay. If she needs more treatments after the birth of this little one, it will be okay. Please continue your prayers. They are a great support to us and Fay.

Fay had a rough night and rough morning. The tumor really has caused her a lot of pain. But the last couple of days, she has had a window of time in the middle of the day where she doesn't feel really bad. We like those times. Her doctor is changing her pain meds so they can find one that will take more of the pain away. We are all looking forward to this tumor thing being gone. During her better part of the day, we talked about having a "Schwannoma Fare Well". We'll see how tomorrow goes. Please don't quit on your prayers in her behalf. They are such a support for all of us. This is one of the greatest lessons I have learned., I had never looked at prayer as being a service. Keep on serving!!!!