What is the big deal?

I have discovered that although brain surgery is one of the most ancient of medical practices (evidence has been found dating back to the Neolithic period around 10,000 BC), the understanding of the brain, especially as it relates to surgery, is truly still in its infancy. I had no idea. We've obviously made far advances in brain surgery, but there is still a long way to go. This might explain why more surgeons won't do the kind of surgery I need done. After all, what is the big deal?

I think I wrote in a previous post that this is the most difficult part of the brain to operate on given that the surgeon will be in direct contact with the most vital brain functions. There is a book called "Do No Harm - Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery," written by neurosurgeon Henry Marsh from London, England, (May, 2015). He has a chapter devoted to pineocytomas (it is believed I have either a pineocytoma or pineal cyst - their symptoms are the same). Below I explain a little about my own upcoming brain surgery and then offer an excerpt from the book which explains about the vital functions the neurosurgeon will come in contact with during the surgery.

Warning...CREEPS ME OUT Alert: If you don't like details of surgery because they creep you out, stop reading here!

For my surgery, they will do a craniotomy on the back of my head (they will remove a portion of my skull and then put it back with a titanium plate after surgery). The surgeon will use a microscope to access the pineal region tumor through the craniotomy. 

For those of you who are curious, and if you are one of those who likes to know about surgery stuff, here is an excerpt from the chapter on pineocytomas (and thanks to my cyster Lynsie Payne for making this image from the book):

What's the big deal? Pretty big deal and really fascinating stuff! I'm totally in awe of surgeons who do this kind of work, especially since there are so few of them. I'm hoping that patients like myself...the pineal guinea pigs of brain surgery...the pineal pioneers of changing beliefs...will help change what is understood about the brain for future generations! Pineal tumor sufferers need more surgeons in the world!

Three weeks to my surgery date! 

Copy that, Houston!

Houston has confirmed my surgery date for:

Hmmm. November 4. Traditionally known as voting day in America. Well that's certainly appropriate because I vote YES to evict the unwelcome brain invader! Who's with me?

Between now and then I have lots to do because I'm going to be in Houston for a while and home recovering afterwards for however long it takes. Slow and steady, day by day.

I'm going to try very hard to focus only on a positive, successful outcome and not on having to go through the surgery itself or the what if's. Otherwise, I'm going to get really, really scared.

I'm also going to focus on gratitude for everyone who has reached out to me with offers of help, prayers and healing energy, and encouragement. From this I draw strength! I am surrounded by so many wonderful, loving people. Thank you for your kindness and concern. Thank you for being my cheerleaders!

And now, because humor makes everything less scary, here's a little humor...

"Brain surgery. Its not exactly rocket science!"
(click on the link below for a youtube video)
Brain Surgery - Mitchell and Webb