Surgery started at about 10:30, and Tyler was still in surgery as of 4 p.m. I guess he should be done around now, and we’ll all visit at some point tonight. My dad said he went in “like a hero.” He started to warn me about how Tyler might look, particularly after tomorrow’s surgery, so obviously they’re all up to speed on that front.
In today’s surgery, I’m told, the surgeons went in through his nose and removed some of the tumor (which was described to me as “large”) that way. Tomorrow they’ll go in through the right side of his skull and get the bulk of it. I think the plate and spinal fusion will be Friday. I guess I’ll take somethign Australian Open-related to read to him.
And as a minor bonus, I guess I’ll soon find out if Tyler told my parents about the tattoo. So far there’s no indication that he did. They’ll find out anyway, but I’m curious about that.
You are hanging in there like a champ. I admire your composure, and feel certain that your brother has gained strength from you and your family. Best wishes!
**Marley23 ** - I just stumbled across this thread; I’ve been so busy at work I haven’t hung out in MPSIMS for a while.
Reading all of this in one go - ohmigosh. My thoughts are with your brother and your family and I am hopeful to hear update posts when it makes sense to offer them. It really sounds like you all are managing this situation as well as you can.
The surgeons say they removed about 80 percent of the tumor through Tyler’s nose yesterday. He was in surgery for almost seven hours.
The visit was good. My dad tried to warn me about how Tyler might look, so they’d heard everything I could have told them there. I was actually more concerned when he said ‘he doesn’t look too bad,’ because it sounded like denial to me. But he really looked reasonably okay. He’s resting in a room with India-themed decor, a sky-colored ceiling and a painting of elephants on the wall.
I forgot to print up some reading material, so I went in there and shot the breeze. I told him about Fernando Gonzalez beating Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open in the morning and the impending Federer-Roddick match, and then in keeping with our whole Arrested Development theme I joked about something from one of the last episodes, where the youngest brother pretends to be in a coma with hilarious results, and I improvised some gags about the different equipment he was attached to and held his hand a few times. And I told him I wished I’d made more of an effort to tell him how much fun I’ve had in our extended hanging-out time in the last week- I was too busy enjoying it to say I was having a good time. But I think he knew that.
He actually woke up after a few minutes, and I’m exceedingly glad I was there for it. I was a bit stunned. They let his sedation get just light enough to test a few of his reflexes - finger-wiggling, toe-pushing and following a light with his eyes. Then they increased the dosage and let him get some rest.
Today’s surgery started around 9:30 and should last until about 4. I’m sure he’ll look like hell, but what can you do. There is also some talk about minor surgery on his last day in the hospital (Super Bowl weekend) to restore some of his voice, although that remains indefinite - my parents apparently haven’t talked to that doctor about it in a few weeks. It all depends on his recovery from this week’s surgeries anyway.
Last night was very comforting, really. Middle brother showed up a while after I did and hung out for a few minutes. I think he had a little more trouble with the setting than I did. We all had dinner afterward, and my dad commented about the large number of people who care about what’s happening - family, friends, church-y groups connected to family and friends, and the Web. I told there was also ‘‘the other site I post on that you guys don’t know about.’’ You Dopers have been great. If last week was the eye of the storm, this is the wall. We’ll see what tonight brings.
Wishing you and your family the best of luck and hope you feel each other’s love and it helps you through this hard time. I thought about you guys all day today.
I’ll go over to the hospital again in a few minutes. Today’s surgery went according to plan, just like yesterday’s. My parents have been back with him for a few minutes. I’m actually told he doesn’t look bad - tubes and everything, of course, and he has a large bandage on his head, but more color in his skin than yesterday. We can’t talk to him today, though.
I’ll second that. I wish I had a big brother like you.
Instead, I’m the oldest. It sucks to always be the oldest, doesn’t it?
{{{{{{Marley Family}}}}}}
I am so glad to hear about the good news. Your brother is lucky to have a big bro like you. I have two younger brothers and I get upset if I even think about something happening to them.
I am thinking good thoughts and I can’t wait to hear more good news!
Quickie update here: the surgery went just as scheduled, and Tyler looks fine, as I was told. No way was he getting up tonight, although we didn’t talk to him anyway. The last major surgery, with the plate and spine stuff, will start around 9:30 tomorrow and last four or five hours, so it’s actually a bit shorter than these others. He could be up and mostly conscious around Tuesday. Once he gets home, he won’t be moving around too much for that first month or so- which will give us many opportunities to do that B-movie festival I’ve planned.
I go to a thing called B-Fest every year. Or I have for the last five years. This year, between a work blackout and Tyler’s ordeal, I’m skipping it. (It starts tomorrow.) Tyler wants to go to that too - he’s too young - so we’ll bring it to him.
Meant to close with an exchange between me and my dad:
Him: He’s a brave little kid. I guess he’s not so little anymore. Me: No, I think after your second brain surgery, you officially aren’t a kid. Him: Right, after two brain surgeries before 16, you’re an adult.
I’m just reading this thread now. You’re a good brother, and Tyler sounds like a real trooper. My best thoughts and prayers to him and your entire family.
You Dopers have been great. If last week was the eye of the storm, this is the wall. We’ll see what tonight brings.