TP,
Thanks for your kind words on the pictures! Yes, it has been quite a year...I found out about my big ole tumor in March when I was 26 weeks pregnant. The symptoms that lead me to get an MRI were hearing loss (which suddenly began in my second trimester) and ultimately a 'bulging' eye on the AN side. My tumor was causing significant brainstem compression. Over the course of 2.5 months my symptoms quickly got worse. I couldn't feel the left side of my face or tongue, couldn't move my eye much past midline, couldn't walk without holding on to someone, drooled out of the left side of my mouth, couldn't fully shut my eye....and some I am probably forgetting right now. Needless to say it was getting ugly. So they took Parker via c-section at 35 wks as the docs didn't want to wait any longer. They were worried I would develop hydrocephalus between the tumor and pregnancy related fluid retention. So 2 weeks after my c-section, I had my translab AN surgery.
My surgeons (and personal heroes) were Dr Rick Friedman and Dr Marc Schwartz of the House Ear Institute. Surgery took about 11 hours! Yikes! I feel very lucky with my outcome...it is taking me a long time to feel 'recovered' (but I have come so far from pre-op!) The first 3 days post-op I could barely open my eyes and all my eyes would do was 'flit' back and forth...I couldn't see! Slowly they are recovering with time and vestibular exercises. I do have nystagmus that has prolonged driving and my return to work. As you can see from the pic my eyes are back to being the same size now! I would say my turning point for having more good days than not so good was at about 12-13 wks. I feel so lucky to be alive with a healthy baby!
I am incredibly blessed to have had tons of help from my husband, mother and all of our friends and family...it took a village to help raise Parker the first couple of months
!!! Here's to hoping for a calmer back half of the year
