Thoughts Before The BIG “Procedure”

Random thoughts during this busy week before “Deep Brain Stimulaton”.

UPDATE, 10/22/2022: Laura has now safely gone through “the procedure”.

• The first question everyone has is “When?”
• I go in tomorrow (Tues, 10/18) to get a detailed MRI of my brain -this will be the roadmap for the surgery.
• Surgery #1 (electrodes into brain) is this Friday, October 21.
• Surgery #2 (controller into chest) is a week later: Friday, October 28 .

– I have deliberatedly used the word “surgery” just as a little tweak at the hospital. They have obviously done a fair amount of training with employees that instead of using “surgery” or “operation”, they use “procedure” instead. …….less scary sounding……..

• – My wonderful husband has been a prince all week : driving me to appts.,making my meal, washing the dishes, well, you get the idea.

• – More wonderfulness: When we learned we had a 6an call, Paul booked a roon at the Hotel Sorrento, a historic romantic hotel just a block from the hospital.

• – My wonderful friends also have been sooooo supportive. My walking group went so far as to throw a great party for me! I had asked folks to explore Goodwill and the back of their closet for beanies, caps, and the like so I could cover my bare head untl the hear grows out. I got stylish watch caps among other head coverings. One friend went
• (ahem) “high hat” and got me a fabulous red hat suitable for weddings, funerals, and Baptist Sunday services. So I’m set.

-I had a big wad of questions that were listed in the last blog post, but I didn't take very good notes when I talked with the chief neurosurgeon and a member of his surgical team. I could see they were calm and confident in their skills. And he had me with his response to my question : “What’s the one word I don’t want to hear from your team?”

-” Ooops” \