Rachel's Recovery from Surgery

This blog is for Rachel's fan club to check on her status as she recovers from brain surgery. Messages of support will help her as she embarks on the long road to recovery. Please leave some love!

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Wednesday before surgery


Rachel had her pre-surgery MRI today. The technicians mapped the left side of her brain, adding round, washer-shaped points of reference to her scalp. Throughout it all, Rachel has remained her humorous and ever-entertaining self. This girl is finding amazing strength to remain calm and positive prior to the surgery.

Please keep Rachel in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow.

Colleen

Monday, May 29, 2006

Rachel's weird migraine

Dear friends & family,

Where to begin? About a month ago, Rachel had a series of strange symptoms, ultimately leading to a supposedly 'routine' migraine. While at school, she experienced some numbness in her right arm, her voice slurred, and her vision wavered. Suddenly, she was hit by a splitting headache and lost her lunch. The health center at Boston University diagnosed her with a migraine, but also referred her to a neurologist.

The neurologist ordered a series of tests, which Rachel flew through with flying colors. For insurance reasons, she waited until returning to Minnesota for the MRI. During the MRI, technicians discovered a tumor (5 cm) on the left side of her brain. Although the neurosurgeon believes that the tumor is benign, it still must be removed as it is interfering with her life now. Rachel's brain surgery is scheduled for June 1st, 2006.

I've created this blog so that you all can check in on Rachel's progress post-surgery. Family members will post on the blog until Rachel is well enough take over herself. While she appreciates all of your calls, she may not be up for phone conversations during the initial recovery period. Messages of support, however, will speed her way to recovery. Please leave her some love, which we will communicate to her in the hospital.

Colleen