Frustration! Prayer needed!

From Ian: It is 12.50pm and we are on the war path. The neurosurgeons, OT and physio say that Di should be admitted to a therapy ward for further speech therapy. The doc upstairs does not want to admit her for some reason. I have placed calls to him and even walked the floor looking for him. If they don't want to treat her then get us transfered to another hospital. Still no results of the biopsy and have now been told it may only be Friday. Am very very frustrated and want to get things going. See Andrew's comment to today's previous post for further insight as to how to pray.

Causing quite a stir?

From Ian: Greetings. Now the comment about 1 or 2 spoons in coffee has caused quite a stir. Whenever I have made coffee or tea for Di it has always been 1 (one) spoon. The tumour on the brain must have affected her memory!!! Not too sure where Fiona gets her story. We will see what happens in the future and I wil report.

Di had a good night and managed to ring the call button for the nurse.
She is scared of buttons and has refused to use the call sign resulting in sitters being with her. We still waiting for a decision as to when they will start aggressive therapy.

Andrew, Laura and Rachel are down with us till Friday and we. Will then go back to midland for the night. Rachel is a delight and boosts Di's will to fight this. Sorry not much further news, hopefully more tomorrow.

One Lump or Two? Sugar, that is!

From Ian: Greetings from the city of U of M!!!! I feel I live here. Anyhow Lady Di had a good night, though this morning she is cranky as the room temp is 80F. I have turned it down. Yesterday we had a stream of docs visit her and she went to the gym which she enjoyed. We are still waiting to hear the results of the biopsy, though it doesn't seem good and will take weeks of therapy. She still has problems with corordination and the sugar lands half in the cup, but we battle on.
Di is definitely a fighter and is dertmined to fight this. The kids are coming down and will stay till Friday. Rachel is great therapy and is very good considering she visits a hospital. Funny side: Di has always taken 1 spoon of sugar in her coffee. This morning she wanted 2 spoons and argued with me that she always had 2 spoons!!!
Thanks for all your love and support. As a family we greatly appreciate it Love Ian

Hope! Sunday Night

From Ian: Hi friends. Well it is 8.50pm and I am in bed. Hospital sitting is very exhausting!! We took Di for a walk in a wheel chair round the hospital, but she seemed stressed so took her back and then today into the garden and she enjoyed sitting in the sun and having her family round her. An OT gal came today to asses her. She definitely has problems walking and has to be assisted. Her speech co- ordination needs working on and motor skills. They are concerned about our home as the bedroom is upstairs. We can move a bed downstairs but a prob with showering. We have to get a seat for the shower, and I will have to help her shower.

The therapy will take several weeks. I hope we can have therapy at our local hospital. We should have the reuslts of the biopsy this week but looks like she will need chemotherapy and radiation. We have to have a sitter with her at night as she does not realize she needs to ring the bell for help to go to the loo. Andrew, Laura and myself took turns last night. I need some sleep as I am really really exhUsted. The hospital have found a sitter for the night whilst I sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day as she will see the OT, eye doc plus some other doc to asses her mobility etc. She is very tired and tonight has a temp of 100.5.

Well I think today it hit me and had my children organising my life. For the first time in my life I cannot rely on Di's advice as she has no reality of what is going on. She tries so hard. Financially I went into a wobble as I have no idea what it will cost. Ryan reckons it will be about $300k, however most should be covered by medical insurance. Anyhow we will fight on and not give up, but our lives will not be the same. Anyhow we love u and wanted give u an update.

Good News! Saturday Night

From Fiona: Mom is healing up from the surgery. She was awake and answering a few questions today, she seems to have more feeling on her right side, which was numb prior to surgery. We took her for a ride in a wheelchair around the hospital which she enjoyed as is tired of being in bed. She gets tired very quickly, but had a good nights sleep. She's eager to get up and get walking... somewhat too eager as tries to get out of bed by herself, but is unable to walk and hold herself up. She forgets to call the nurse, doesn't know how to push the button, even though we have showed her. So I spent the night with her to make sure she was safe, we are all taking turns sitting by her bed.

A Miracle!

From Ian:
It is 6.45am and the docs have done their rounds. The op went better than anticipated. I was told her leg would be worse today, but it is not. She has some recogonition but no worse than yesterday. Doc is happy. She will go to a normal room today and start therapy. She will have a further MRI this morning. So better news so the prayers have worked.

Thursday in Ann Arbor

From Ian: Di did not have a good night. Her right side has no feeling. They took another CAT scan this morning and the tumor has grown. She knows who she is but very little else. The doctor will operate this afternoon about 2.30. He does not want to do it as it could leave her paralysed, buy if we let it grow, it will be life threatening. .

From Fiona: Diana was taken into surgery earlier than expected. Andrew, Laura, and Rachel are coming in from South Africa

Wednesday in Ann Arbor

From Ian: Diana has a malignant tumor. A piece of tumor was removed and a stint was placed. Chemo will be started in two weeks.