Here we go again...

Sept 11 of 2006 my wife shared news with me that would change our lives forever. "You have cancer...." While many of you were praying that M would have a seizure as the isotope was expiring, we were actually visiting with M's Epileptologist and Neurosurgeon. The news that we received almost exactly two years ago was somehow a similar song. No, M does not have cancer... However, things are looking more and more to brain surgery as her only option. The major downfall though is that they still do not know where the seizures originate....

Grief and sadness were met as we were looking for a perfect answer to what has been such a long 2.5 years for M. At this time, they have the seizure located on the left hemisphere of the brain. From there, they are not quite sure if it is located in the frontal orbital, left temporal, or maybe even in the left occipital lobe. It is possible that the seizure originates in the frontal lobe and then propogates itself to the rear across the left temporal.

So, the game plan now is to bring M back on Tuesday for more scanning. The main objective and goal is for her to have a seizure while "camping" out in the MEG scan that we did earlier in the week. As you read before, the MEG scan is able to pinpoint the point of origin of the seizure without a seizure occuring. However, it would be best in M's case to have a seizure while in the scan. She had a seizure in the MEG Thursday, but the scan had just been turned off and they did not capture the seizure. So pack your bags and we'll see how long she will need to be in the scan until she has a seizure. Furthermore, they also need to to do an ictal spect and an inter-ictal spect scan.

Rambling...sorry, while visiting with the docs Friday afternoon, M had not had a seizure throughout the entire day. Right...so of all the days we needed her to have a seizure, she could not. As the docs are visiting with us, the isotope expires. So, no scan...but then 15 mins later she has one in the presence of the doc. We rush to get the isotope hoping we can still use it. M is then taken to the the Ictal Spect scan. After the scan she is able to review and look at some of the images from the scan. It would appear that the isotope worked as we were able to see "hot spots" in the frontal lobe and also in the left occipital...hmmmm.

And the rest of the story...We have checked out of the hospital, checked into a hotel over night and will be headed home in a bit. We have felt like our time here may not have led us any closer, but maybe has confirmed that surgery is our only option. Prior to any surgery we still need to do two more scans, one of the docs wants her to start a new med, and then we need to enter into phase 2 and place electrodes on M's brain.

Like always, prayers:
- M will have peace throughout this process and God will continue to lead us.
- Docs will be able to pinpoint the exact location of the seizure.
- Docs will listen carefully to M & her symptoms.
- Mayo appointment will be able to be moved up
- When we come back on Tuesday, our time there will "show us everything."
- God to be glorified in all this!

B