I know a lot of you have been very concerned about Jeff and his health. We aren't big on blogging, and if you know Jeff very well, he sees very little need for cluttering the air with a bunch of words! I, on the other hand, am quite willing to use all the words necessary to let you all know what's going on and how we are doing. More importantly, I want all of you to know how very much we appreciate all your prayers and acts of kindness, as well as your respect for our privacy.
I'll try to follow Jeff's lead and use as few words as possible. Here goes:
March 13th Jeff had a seizure at work caused by a grade 4 brain tumor.
Surgery was done at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, followed by several weeks of radiation and chemo. Jeff had virtually no problems for 5 of the 6 weeks of treatment. He went on a couple of hunting trips, a golfing weekend, and watched Maggie's club team knock out the #1 seated team at the Houston Regional volleyball tournament to qualify for Nationals. He also continued to work. Unfortunately, he saved the worst for last.
Following a night of tremendous headaches, I took him to CTMC in San Marcos.
The MRI showed tremendous swelling in the brain. He was admitted to ICU where he was sedated with Morphine and given steroids through iv's to reduce the swelling. It worked. He has no headaches at this time. However, it is unclear what caused the swelling; radiation or the tumor. We are home today and VERY grateful.
Because CT's and MRI's have not been conclusive, we are going to MD Anderson for better diagnostic testing. Jeff's treatment plan will be determined by what is discovered in Houston. Since he had only 4 radiation treatments left, he does not have to complete them, and he is no longer taking the chemo. He has earned a break!
His physical and mental strength have been amazing! We have been so blessed with his good health up to this point. Our family and friends have been around when we needed them and stayed away when we needed our space.
These are the times that determine what you are really made of. I will tell you, our family is made of pretty tough stuff. As strange as it may sound, we have had a lot of laughs. We stick together and move forward. Though we are living moment by moment at this point, I can tell you it's not a bad way to live. Talk about not sweating the small stuff! We see blessings all around us, and all of you are a part of that.
I hope this finds you and your family well. I will try to update more regularly, but for now, just assume that no news is good news.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.