Through outpatient therapy at Transitions of Long Island Jewish Hospital over the past seven weeks and 2 to 3 hours of exercises each day, I have gotten my strength and most of my coordination and balance back on the left side. I no longer require a cane and can accomplish some work around home when not travelling to appointments. Now, that I have been taking chemo and radiation treatments for the past 4.5 weeks, its cumulative effect has caused me to be quite a bit more fatigued and has slowed up my progress. After these treatments are completed on April 14th, the remainder of the healing process should start so that I can complete my rehabilitaion.
An Incredible Journey
While in Paradise, CA. on 8Jan09, I started to lose feeling on my left side. Having strained my back shoveling heavy snow in Juneau, AK 2 days before, I thought it was a pinched nerve.
I seemed to get more unsteady on my feet the next morning, so I went to a chiropractor to have my back checked. They evaluated me and immediately directed me to Feather River Hospital Emergency Room to get a medical evaluation, and on 9January I was diagnosed with a brain tumor based on a CT scan and MRI. The ER doctor told me to get to a neurosurgeon as soon as possible.
It is uncertain the exact time this journey began, for there were things already moving into place to meet our need. It was at this time, as news spread, that the prayers started to be sent in my behalf and I have felt every one of them. My home branch of the church held a fast for me on 11January and I received a priesthood blessing on 10January. We changed our flights from our planned trip to Tokyo for New York on 12January and our son Samuel got time off from work to help us when we returned. He met us when we flew in to JFK, helping Lynda immensely.
We returned to Amagansett on Tuesday 13January. There was a wheel chair ramp already built to allow the wheel chair into the sunroom; a wheelchair, walker, shower bench and a hospital bed in our living room to meet my needs, all gifts by friends and family. Without that ramp my family would have great difficulty getting me in and out of the house. The orchestrating of the efforts to get me to the right doctor and facilities was in the Lord’s hands!
On Wednesday, 14January, Sam sat down with me early in the morning and we had a very spiritual discussion, for my mind was racing with anticipation. I was excited, for I was gaining greater vision, and knew that the Lord has greater work for me to do here on Long Island and in His vineyard. Sam also started me in resetting my roles, goals and daily milestones for the next 3 months. My mission was intensifying and I was feeling excited. During that one day at home, safety bars were installed in my bathroom so that our home was handicap equipped, thanks to masterful coordination and good friends.
Elan and Peggy researched where I should go and whom I should see, and two different sources brought me to Dr. Michael Sisti. On Thursday, 15January, we stopped at the branch chapel in Riverhead, and with the missionaries, Samuel gave me a 2nd priesthood blessing, then we headed to NY Presbyterian Neurosurgical Unit with 3-5 inches of snow on the ground and a google map that directed us to a Brooklyn address. The cell phone saved us as we found the correct directions and to Dr. Sisti’s office in Manhattan about 30 minutes late. When I was wheeled into his office lobby, he walked past me, not speaking, went to his secretary and asked if I was his patient. When she replied yes, he said: get him a hospital bed. When called into his office we had our first conversation about what he observed in my left arm and leg as I sat in my wheelchair, then looked at the MRI. The good news was the tumor was between the skull and brain, easily accessible. I was admitted immediately.
Dr. Sisti told me “if we don’t do something right away, the wheelchair would become permanent furniture”. He explained to me that he would operate on me Friday, but he had an 8-hour operation on another neurosurgeon coming from outside the country. He scheduled me for Saturday morning.
Friday 16January my son Zachariah flew in from Utah to be with me for the operation and to help us out afterward so that Sam could go back to work and his family. That evening, before the surgery was performed, my special granddaughter, Esra, came to see me with her family, and that brought me great joy, for she is a very special spirit, having been born with spina bifida. Sam and Zack gave me a 3rd priesthood blessing and I was at peace, for I knew that my Savior, Jesus Christ, was right alongside me, leading me through this medical challenge.
At 8:00am Saturday, 17January, the operation started and the tumor, which was on the outside of my brain over the upper right side of my head, was removed. It was a gliomous type tumor that is genetically attached to the tissue it was growing in, and although of a cancerous type, it had not metastasized and was not a melanoma, so would not reoccur in another location.
Laying on the gurney in the recovery room, I shared my experience with 2 nurses who were impressed by my faith in the Savior and look forward to my corresponding with them. For those who believe in the love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, know that we have hope. Along with that faith and hope, we become more focused in our mortal life as we develop charity. I had a great discussion of this with my 2nd roommate at NY Presbyterian Hospital. Even though he didn’t believe in God he had sincere desire to help a close friend who was dying of cancer. By showing his friend Christ-like love, he felt great joy!
On Monday 19January, the follow up MRI showed that there was no trace of the tumor and I was sitting up for the first time reorienting myself in a room overlooking the George Washington Bridge, which crosses the Hudson River. It was a beautiful sight and it was a glorious day.
Wednesday, 21January, I was transported by ambulance to Rusk Institute’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, which is a top facility in the Northeast. We started physical, speech and occupational therapy on Thursday, only 13 days after my diagnosis. Working with these therapists I have seen tremendous advances in the restoration of my motion, strength and feeling as the coordination of my left arm and leg improves. I have been greatly impressed by the association of memory, in all that we do naturally, and as my brain heals from the trauma of the tumor, I become more alert, balanced and energetic.
With these strengthened physical characteristics is a much more visionary spirituality and an unquestionable testimony in the strength and healing power of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It has been through Him, and through the skill and knowledge He has given Dr. Sisti, that I have been healed and can get back to doing His work.
I love the Lord, my family and my friends who have lifted me through prayer during these three weeks of January 2009. I was without pain and my heart was filled by the love that had been expressed in my behalf. I testify to you that He lives, He loves each and every one of us and answers the prayers of the faithful. I exhort you to follow the Savior, keep His commandments, study the scriptures and pray daily for you will get closer to Him and find true peace and happiness in this life and have the promise that you will have greater happiness in eternity.
I say this in His holy name, Jesus Christ, Amen.
