The Morning After the Surgery

Is it 11:30am... I have finally made it back to the apartment to take a break, and get a little sleep. Helaini and Mummy are with Toren, bless them.

Toren had a rough night... he didnt get to recovery until around midnight. The surgery went well. All the grids, stripe and probes are appropriately in place. The left front temporal resection was also completed successfully. The was some complications upon waking him. He was hard to rouse... very hard, enough that the did an emergency CT scan before bringing him to recovery. He is post seizure... that was the problem. He has what we hope is only temporary loss of mobility in his right leg and hand, he is struggling to speak, but has said, YES, NO, STOP, MOVE and OK - and clearly recognizes his family and reaches for us, and hugs us with his good arm. He is in a lot of pain, which the doctors are trying to manage. He is clearly confused, and exhausted, Thank God however, he is stable... now we wait for more seizures, to get more data about the 2nd focal point. He is still in Neuro ICU and we might move to Epilepsy floor later today, or tomorrow... For added excitement he lost his IV access at about daybreak... and it was impossible to find another vein.... okay they found one, but it only lasted 5 minutes. So then we went down with Alison, Dr. Doyle's very wonderful and capable NP and got a PIC line put in... and then to MRI just to check how things look today.... Now that he has a line in, he can get his medications.....

The left side of his face is swelling slightly....but his color is good and he often reaches for us, to give us a hug to his chest.

Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers... we will keep you posted

Toren's surgery was successful. He is stable, although he has had a rough night, and is in the Neuro ICU. As soon as Martina gets a chance, she will blog more details.
- Fiona

8 hours into the first surgery

We have moved waiting rooms, now we are waiting outside of the recovery area, Toren is still in surgery. About 1.5 hours ago Dr. Doyle was starting to put the grids onto the second half of his brain. We are all playing Rummikub - I am channelling my angst by getting out fast twice... off we go for a 3rd round. Once the surgery is complete, they will wake him up in the OR and keep him there for a while to check that he is stable before moving him to recovery for 4-6 hours... then we will go to Neuro ICU. This will not be a short day!!

Surgery Update

It is 4:30 and the news from the OR is that Toren is very stable and that they still have a long way to go... the original estimate was about 8 hours... however, longer isn's a bad sign, they are thinking that they are about halfway through. It is a very complex surgery working on two separate areas of the brain.

We are doing rather well, much calmer than I anticipated, Mummy is having a rest now, Fiona has spent most of the day fully supporting us, plying us with liquids and foods, and distractions. We are very blessed, Eve, visited for a while which was wonderful. The first 8-12 hours after surgery are rather critical, so he will be very closely monitored. I will be staying with him tonight while he is in the Neuro ICU. Mummy and Helaini will use the apartment as necessary. Again and again, we aware of our blessings each one of you reading this, expanding the circle of concern and prayer are holding us up.

Thank you.

PS: we have some great photos, hopefully we will post them later in the week... Toren fully shaved his hair last night... he looked good... with just the goatee/van dyke.....

He just went into the OR

So it is just gone 11am and Toren has gone in for his first surgery. We met with all the doctors and nurses. What a wonderful team. We are very fortunate and blessed. Toren has been so positive and upbeat, while owning his angst.

The first surgery is more exciting than we had expected. The medical team has been able to ascertain without doubt, one area of the brain where the seizures originate and they will be removing that today, as well as placing depth electrodes, and a grid. The secondary areas of concern will then be more clearly observed and appropriate actions considered for the second surgery. Please keep Toren, Dr. Doyle and his whole team in your prayers... surgery will be about 8 hours, or maybe longer. Thank you for all your reaching out to keep us strong.

Today is the Day

We are heading over the to hospital

we went out for a lovely dinner last night Mexican food and frozen Margaritas

We are blessed, NBC interview went just fine and Toren was amazing

Thank you for all your blessings

and your prayers

Helaini and I both have cell phones up and running

Surgery Update

Hi all,

Toren's surgery has been moved just a couple of days... it will now be on August 31st, 2010 and we will be in the city from August 30th. Just a little over two weeks to go.

We are anxious and hopeful.

M