Author Topic: One year anniversary!  (Read 5967 times)

NL

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One year anniversary!
« on: August 06, 2009, 09:24:52 pm »
It's seems hard to believe that one year ago today, I began my life as a postie. On one hand, it's gone incredibly fast, but it also seems that the friendships I've made along the way have existed for years.  ;D

I think I underestimated the impact this day would have, it really does feel like a milestone. And I so appreciate being able to share this with people who understand.  :)

Speaking of appreciation...I owe a very belated thank you to Steve for his wonderful craftsmanship! (And yes, the promised pic, too.)

So here's my one-year-to-the-day post-op pic...with hat - courtesy of Steve!



All the best,

Nancy

 
1.6 cm left AN diagnosed Oct. '07
1.9 cm on 2nd MRI, May '08
Retrosigmoid surgery at House Clinic/St. Vincent's on 8/6/08
(no post-op dizziness, nausea, facial or balance issues)
Thankful for a fantastic team of doctors - Dr. Rick Friedman, Dr. Marc Schwartz, & Dr. Michael Stefan

Kate B

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2009, 09:27:13 pm »
Awesome picture...awesome hat!!!
Kate
Middle Fossa Surgery
@ House Ear Institute with
Dr. Brackmann, Dr. Hitselberger
November 2001
1.5 right sided AN

Please visit http://anworld.com/

Brendalu

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2009, 04:58:29 am »
Congratulations, Nancy!!

One year under your belt and many more to come.  I hope you do something very special today to mark this ANniversary!
Brenda
Brenda Oberholtzer
AN surgery 7/28/05
Peyman Pakzaban, NS
Chester Strunk, ENT

ppearl214

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2009, 06:05:58 am »
Nancy, I can't believe it's been a year! CONGRATS and hugglez to you on your anniversary... and "well done" to Steve for the hat!  great job! :)

Phyl
"Gentlemen, I wash my hands of this weirdness", Capt Jack Sparrow - Davy Jones Locker, "Pirates of the Carribbean - At World's End"

Joe B

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2009, 08:27:46 am »
Congrats Nancy !!!!!    Happy one year, and that's a great smile!!

Joe B
2.9 cm AN left side
MRI 5/13/09
Translab 6/04/09 Tampa General Hospital
SSD

Jim Scott

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2009, 08:35:36 am »
Nancy ~

Happy 1-year anniversary!  You look great (and so does the hat ).   :)

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

Mickey

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2009, 09:27:27 am »
One picture can tell so many words. Happy Aniversary! best wishes, Mickey

GRACE1

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2009, 11:03:31 am »
Happy anniversary!!  Beautiful picture.

Grace
Diagnosed 7/06: AN - right side: 1.3cm in transverse dimension, 6mm in AP dimension, and 6mm in cephalocaudal dimension.
GK 12/06- Wake Forest Univ Baptist Med Ctr
MRI 5/07- Some necrosis;  Now SSD
MRI 12/08- AN size has reduced 50%
MRI 12/11- AN stable (unchanged from 12/08)
Next MRI: 12/16

Kaybo

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2009, 11:25:50 am »
Happy Anniversary and a HUGE Thank You for all that you do as part of the LA Welcoming Team!!  Great pic!!  ;D

K
Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

cindyj

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2009, 11:40:35 am »
What a success story you are, Nancy!  And, you were SUCH a big part of my success because of it!  Good to "see" you again!

Hugs to you in LA,

Cindy
rt side 1.5 cm - Translab on 11/07/08 Dr. Friedman & Dr. Schwartz of House Ear Institute,
feeling great!

"Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing well those you do hold."  Josh Billings

sgerrard

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2009, 07:31:49 pm »
Well it's about time!

Nancy, great to see an update. I think saving the hat picture for your one year anniversary was a great idea.  :D

Steve
8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.

Lilan

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2009, 07:41:36 am »
Nancy, congratulations!!

You are both a great example of recovery and an inspiration for "paying it forward" with all the help you give us traveling patients!

As I saw with my own eyes, you are a ball of energy living a very full life! I'm sure it feels good to pass the one-year mark. While some of the effects linger, at that point you can really feel like the treatment phase is in the past -- at least, I hope that's how you feel!
Facial nerve hemangioma. Probable dx 7/2008 confirmed 4/2009. Combo middle fossa and translab to remove the blood vessel malformation and snip ruined hearing and balance nerves by Drs. House and Brackmann @ House 6/2009. Doing great!

Adrienne

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2009, 09:57:05 am »
You look great!  Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary!
3.0 x 3.0 x 2.5 cm AN, left side.  Diagnosed Feb. 19th,2009
Retro Sig surgery with Dr. Akagami and Dr. Westerberg on May 26/09 at Vancouver General Hospital
SUCCESS! Completely removed tumor, preserved facial nerve, and retained a lot of hearing. Colour me HAPPY!

4cm in Pacific Northwest

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2009, 11:44:29 am »
Congrats! Nice hat!

DHM
4cm Left, 08/22/07 R/S 11+ hr surgery Stanford U, Dr. Robert Jackler, Dr. Griffith Harsh, Canadian fellow Assist. Dr. Sumit Agrawal. SSD, 3/6 on HB facial scale, stick-on-eyeweight worked, 95% eye function@ 6 months. In neuromuscular facial retraining. Balance regained! Recent MRI -tumor receded!

alicia

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Re: One year anniversary!
« Reply #14 on: August 13, 2009, 05:29:06 pm »
Hi Nancy!
1 year 7 days...it is amazing how the time passes so quickly after brain surgery!  You are an inspiration!  Thank you for the time you give all of us that make the trip to CA.  Your smile and reassurance helped more than you can imagine!  Keep on smiling :)  Alicia
02/16/18 III to IV post GK Facial Paralysis
12/13/17 Gamma Knife
05/19/09 Translab Larger than expected - Drs used the word "tangerine"   House - Friedman and Schwartz
04/02/09 Diagnosed Left AN 3.2cm x 2.6cm x 2.7cm