Update...

Just wanted to send out an update on today's neurosurgery appointment. I will be having surgery to correct the Chiari I Malformation this coming Friday at Univerisity in Columbia. It is scheduled to begin at 7 am. It is expected to be a 4 hour surgery. I will be in Neuro ICU the remainder of Friday and a portion of Saturday, then placed on 5th floor. I will be in the hospital for about 4 days if everything goes as expected.

The surgery itself consists of going into the base of my skull and removing some bone from my skull base to allow more space for my descending Cerebellum. They will also remove a portion of my first vertebrae as my Cerebellum is also resting on it. Making more space in these areas will allow my brain to no longer crowd my spinal column thus allowing the spinal fluid to flow more freely. I have been telling everyone that my brain is merely too big for my head as I am such a genius!! They will also be inserting Bovine (cow) tissue for support for the base of my cerebellum. Mom says I am going to wake up "Moo-ing" LOL....and I might just have to make a point to do that (if I am aware enough of what I say upon first waking up!)

This surgery will correct the Chiari, and hopefully with the combination of this surgery, my current diuretic, and some major wieght loss in the next 6 months, I will be able to also cut down on the Pseudo Tumor Cerebri (PTC) symptoms. There is a possibility that I could have another surgery (for a shunt) to help with the remainder of the symptoms that I am having from the PTC. Time will tell.

We all thank you for the many phone calls, emails, and especially for the prayers being made! Please keep them all coming. I will not be updating this for a while, but family will be making calls to update many of you after my surgery. It is great to know that I have so many wonderful family and friends thinking of me at a time like this.

Love you all, KIM