What a week!
On the 26th of September, while chatting with Mom, she mentioned to be in prayer for Cherie, she had been diagnosed with Shingles and was not feeling well. BTW, Cherie had the vaccination for shingles. The docs explained that you can still get shingles, even when vaccinated you just wont have as bad of a case. Cherie, took her Valtrex and whatever else they told her to do. She became nauseated and dehydrated. Off to the Dr. again. She was given fluids and went off Valtrex.
By Friday the 28th, Cherie was having hourly headaches that lasted bout 2 minutes each time. The headaches became so horrendous that by Sunday, she asked Julie to take her to the ER after church. So off they went to St. Vincent Hospital. Four hours later, Cherie was seen by Dr. John Crawford. He wanted to run some test, thinking that the headaches had little or nothing to do with shingles. Cherie sent Julie home, to get herself and family ready for the week, then Julie would come back and take Cherie home. A CAT scan was taken, Dr. Crawford came back in Cherie's little ER area and asked where her niece had gone and proceeded to explain that his hunch was correct, the CAT scan shows a brain tumor! Dr. Crawford said he was contacting Dr. Thomas (Cherie's internist) and Dr. Wilson (neurosurgeon) and after an MRI we would know more!
Cherie preceded to ask the doctor if he could just give her morphine and let her die. She is not afraid of death, but pain and suffering is a whole different story. Dr. Crawford explained,
that this was not a death sentence.
Then something fabulous happened Dr. Crawford asked Cherie if he could pray with her.
It was the sweetest, most heartfelt prayer.
It was the sweetest, most heartfelt prayer.
Cherie felt the power of God working in her life right then and there.
We all felt terrible that our "sweet Cherie" received this frightening news while she was by herself. I now know, that this was God's timing, not ours.
Dr. Crawford might not have felt led to pray with Cherie had Julie been there and his prayer set the "tone of Peace" for the rest of the week!
Sunday night late, Julie came back to the ER, to hear the "shocking" news and spend the night with Cherie. While Cherie and Julie waited to be moved to a room. My awesome Family began to rally.
On Monday, Dad drove Mom to Alex City, (after Toliver's Dr's appt.) Lysa drove Mom and Aunt Judy to Birmingham. Mom stayed with Cherie in her hospital room. Lysa and Aunt Judy went back to Alex City Monday evening. By Monday, most of Aunt Cherie's family and friends had been notified. The ministers at Cherie's church were incredibly faithful to come by, pray and send food for the family.
Dr. Tommy Wilson, talked with Cherie, he felt certain that we were dealing with a Meningioma. Cherie's internist Dr. Catherine Thomas studied Cherie's case and let her know that she felt good about the plan and who God had sent as her surgeon. Dr. Roxanne Travelute (who Cherie used to work for) came by and put Cherie at ease.
Cherie was assured repeatedly, that if one must have a brain tumor, this is the one you want!
Bad news: Cherie was told she had a brain tumor.
We all felt terrible that our "sweet Cherie" received this frightening news while she was by herself. I now know, that this was God's timing, not ours.
Dr. Crawford might not have felt led to pray with Cherie had Julie been there and his prayer set the "tone of Peace" for the rest of the week!
Sunday night late, Julie came back to the ER, to hear the "shocking" news and spend the night with Cherie. While Cherie and Julie waited to be moved to a room. My awesome Family began to rally.
On Monday, Dad drove Mom to Alex City, (after Toliver's Dr's appt.) Lysa drove Mom and Aunt Judy to Birmingham. Mom stayed with Cherie in her hospital room. Lysa and Aunt Judy went back to Alex City Monday evening. By Monday, most of Aunt Cherie's family and friends had been notified. The ministers at Cherie's church were incredibly faithful to come by, pray and send food for the family.
Dr. Tommy Wilson, talked with Cherie, he felt certain that we were dealing with a Meningioma. Cherie's internist Dr. Catherine Thomas studied Cherie's case and let her know that she felt good about the plan and who God had sent as her surgeon. Dr. Roxanne Travelute (who Cherie used to work for) came by and put Cherie at ease.
Cherie was assured repeatedly, that if one must have a brain tumor, this is the one you want!
Bad news: Cherie was told she had a brain tumor.
Good News: We felt fairly certain that it was a Meningioma. 90% of these tumors are benign.
Treatment: MRI on Tuesday
Brain Surgery to remove tumor on Thursday, October 4, 2012
I'm not even sure what all Cherie was going thru at this point, but for any of you with some hospital experience, she was poked, prodded, drugged, monitored and trying to absorb enormous amounts of information. I do know that they were giving her huge amounts of steroids to reduce inflammation, in hopes of minimizing the painful headaches!
As wonderful as steroids are, they have major side effects.
At this point, let me say, "the 6th Floor at St. Vincent's" may never be the same. The staff was super wonderful to put up with all of us. They were so kind to Cherie and several went out of their way to get to know and pray with my "AUNT SCARY". Thanks be to God, for the staff on the 6th floor of St. Vincent's. Dr. Wilson's P.A., Ron Philly was awesome and had to put up with some of Cherie's steroidal hyperness. At some point in time, Cherie told Ron, "this tumor has shown me so much love that I think I want to take it home with me" and "I've named my tumor JOY"!
I'm not even sure what all Cherie was going thru at this point, but for any of you with some hospital experience, she was poked, prodded, drugged, monitored and trying to absorb enormous amounts of information. I do know that they were giving her huge amounts of steroids to reduce inflammation, in hopes of minimizing the painful headaches!
As wonderful as steroids are, they have major side effects.
At this point, let me say, "the 6th Floor at St. Vincent's" may never be the same. The staff was super wonderful to put up with all of us. They were so kind to Cherie and several went out of their way to get to know and pray with my "AUNT SCARY". Thanks be to God, for the staff on the 6th floor of St. Vincent's. Dr. Wilson's P.A., Ron Philly was awesome and had to put up with some of Cherie's steroidal hyperness. At some point in time, Cherie told Ron, "this tumor has shown me so much love that I think I want to take it home with me" and "I've named my tumor JOY"!
Cherie insisted on being sedated for the MRI, I don't blame her. I totally get the whole phobia thing! Poor Cherie, the MRI ordeal took quite awhile. And recovery was lengthy as well. If you visit Cherie, remind her to tell you of "the Magic Carpet Ride" she took during her MRI. But results revealed nothing new other than location of incision was going to be a little further back than originally thought. Praise God for this Meningioma!!!
Wednesday was errand day for me and a fairly busy afternoon visiting with sweet friends and family. I even got to see and reconnect with Cherie's long time friend Gail Holt. She is adorable! Mom and I got a bite to eat at the Bistro in the hospital. Shortly there after, I left for Cherie's house, because Thurs. was the BIG day! Oh, Colby and Doug sent Cherie a video, wishing her lots of love and a speedy recovery so we can all be together Thanksgiving!
Wednesday was errand day for me and a fairly busy afternoon visiting with sweet friends and family. I even got to see and reconnect with Cherie's long time friend Gail Holt. She is adorable! Mom and I got a bite to eat at the Bistro in the hospital. Shortly there after, I left for Cherie's house, because Thurs. was the BIG day! Oh, Colby and Doug sent Cherie a video, wishing her lots of love and a speedy recovery so we can all be together Thanksgiving!
On Thursday morning they took Cherie for surgery at 9 ish. What an unexpected blessing, although I didn't get to see her prior to surgery. She really didn't have alot of time to think about having this done!
Aunt Judy, Lysa and Kathy came from Alex City. Ralph drove from Chattanooga. Julie took part of the day off. Johnny Gordon even called Cherie on Wednesday night and said he would be praying for her. Cherie, ask Johnny if you had to get a brain tumor to get him to call you? LOL
We expected surgery to last about 3 hours. By 10:45 we had word that surgery had begun. By 11:30, Dr. Tommy Wilson was ready to meet with us and surgery went "Beautifully". By 1:00, we saw Cherie move from recovery to ICU. She was doing great. UNREAL!!! Lysa stayed at Cherie's house Thursday night, because Cherie was in ICU. Then on Friday, Cherie was moved back to the 6th floor of St. Vincent's. Where by the way, our care was excellent! By Friday, I was home, Mom was home, Julie was home, Aunt Judy and Ralph were home, Lysa stayed for the weekend in Cherie's hospital room. Cherie recovered so well that on Sunday the 7th of October 2012, Cherie went home from the hospital, one week after having been diagnosed with a brain tumor!
We have a few milestones to go:
Waiting for lab results to confirm "benign" tumor
Stitches to be removed on Tuesday the 16th
Then we will find out what restrictions and for how long she must heal before she can return to her normal routines.
A few noteworthy God things:
Dr. Crawfords' prayer
Cherie's family
Cherie's awesome friends
Cherie's church family
Prayer warriors galore
Community Bible Study leader's daughter is friends with Dr. Tommy Wilson's wife,
so both CBS groups were praying for Cherie and Dr. Wilson during surgery.
Gwen ran into the nurse antithesis at the AU game
Travel safety for all
Let the healing begin!!!
I look forward to Cherie writing her testimony of how God worked in her life thru
"JOY" the Brain Tumor!!! Praising God!
We have a few milestones to go:
Waiting for lab results to confirm "benign" tumor
Stitches to be removed on Tuesday the 16th
Then we will find out what restrictions and for how long she must heal before she can return to her normal routines.
A few noteworthy God things:
Dr. Crawfords' prayer
Cherie's family
Cherie's awesome friends
Cherie's church family
Prayer warriors galore
Community Bible Study leader's daughter is friends with Dr. Tommy Wilson's wife,
so both CBS groups were praying for Cherie and Dr. Wilson during surgery.
Gwen ran into the nurse antithesis at the AU game
Travel safety for all
I look forward to Cherie writing her testimony of how God worked in her life thru
"JOY" the Brain Tumor!!! Praising God!
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