In Which We Learn About the Surgery

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Jul. 14th, 2005 | 10:30 am

Hello, Scottketeers! (That's supposed to be like Mouseketeers. I've decided to call you all that and start every post that way. What do you think? Oh, okay. You're right. It's stupid. Forget it. I'll cancel the T-shirts also).

Hello. First, let's run the numbers:

less than 1% chance of failure to remove the tumor: Tumor was successfully and completely removed.

less than 1% chance of discovery of malignancy: Tumor was proven to be benign as expected.

30% chance of partial to total hearing loss on left side: Electrical stimulation of hearing nerve after surgery seemed normal, but we have to wait a week or so to know for sure.

5% chance of facial paralysis: Looks good. Facial nerve responded normally after surgery.

10% chance of permanent tinnitus (ringing) in left ear: Have to wait and see.

less than 1% chance of spinal fluid leak: Should know today.

less than 1% chance of infection: Have to wait and see.

Now the news: According to the surgeons, she (Susan White, my wife) came through just fine and they expect a perfect result, even with regard to hearing. She's young and healthy, which helps a lot. She's also lovely, which isn't a factor but doesn't hurt. I sat with her a little in the ICU last night, but she was not really awake by the time I left at 8:30 (end of ICU visiting hours). She'll be in the ICU until tonight, and then she'll move to a private room. She'll be in St. Vincent's Hospital here in LA until Sunday or Monday. We then have to stay in the city for another five days. If all's well, we can then go home.

They had to completely remove her left "balance" nerve to which the tumor was attached and from which it grew. This means that the next two days will be a hell of nausea and vertigo for her as her brain learns to listen to just the right-side nerve (amazing that it can do that).

They also had to shave the left side of her head above her ear. Too bad she's not a skater. She had her hair cut into a little bob before we came out. It should mostly cover the giant Frankenstein scar pretty well. The scar starts in front of her ear (in the "sideburns" area) and goes up, back over the ear and curves around almost to her hairline. It looks exactly like a giant question mark, which is a little curious looking. Her hair should totally cover it when it grows in, except for a little in front of the ear.

(Details you may want to skip if you don't like surgery details: Using that incision, they remove a square of skull, cut through the Dura membrane that surrounds the brain, move the brain up and out of the way a bit, remove a section of bone to expose the nerves, remove the tumor, take a golf-ball-sized piece of fat from the stomach below the bikini line, seal the dura with the fat, fix the skull square back in place with titanium plates and screws. Then they staple the incision closed. Sounds like fun.)

Anyway, everything's as okay as it can be, I guess. Thanks for all the well-wishing. I look forward to putting this thing behind so you'll all stop being so nice and we can have more fun around here. Until then.

Later. Love.

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Comments {24}

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from: karindira
date: Jul. 14th, 2005 04:03 pm (UTC)
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Holy mackerel. Damn. Love that lady up, Scott. Jeez. Lord have mercy. Whoa.

So she's like enhanced now, like a cyborg? Does she have any special powers?

caveat exile - In Which We Learn About the Surgery