It started off with Kevin going to the eye doctor for his annual appointment. No big deal, the kids and I had started to clean the house, this was my goal for the weekend as we had let things get a little out of sorts with our busy summer schedules (sarcasm, we aren't busy, we are just lazy). We had not made a lot of progress and I had only had one cup of coffee. It was 9:26, Kevin texted me and asked if I would take him to see a retina specialist in Kansas City. I called him and asked him what was wrong and why they wanted to see him so quickly. He told me that his optic nerves were both swollen and that he had blood behind his right eye. The retina specialist would be hanging around waiting for us to arrive. So we took the kids to my parents and drove straight to Shawnee, KS.
The retina specialist took a look at Kevin's eyes and said that he would need to have an MRI immediately. He called the Topeka ER doctor and explained everything that needed to be done from what he saw. He would not give us a diagnosis, and not even what he "thought" because he said an MRI was absolutely necessary.
So we drove to Topeka. Because of Covid I was left in the parking lot for the next 5-6 hours. When Kevin arrived the ER doctor questioned his request for an MRI, he said that there was nothing wrong with Kevin and that he didn't think this was necessary. Kevin argued back that the retina specialist was pretty determined that this needed to happen. So, begrudgingly, he had an MRI. The ER Doctor came back and told him that the good news was he didn't need a spinal tap, but the bad news was that he had a brain tumor. As soon as Kevin's covid test came back negative, they made special arrangements for me to be able to come into the ER to be with him.
We had a chance to visit with the ER doc, the tumor is about 6CM by 7CM. Looking at the scans it takes up a good portion of his frontal lobe. Kevin spent the night in ICU, he was by far the chattiest patient they had, laughing, joking and visiting with the nursing staff.
If you saw Kevin right now, you wouldn't know anything was wrong. He is not in pain, he has not been sick, he appears to be normal. Everyone has come in to visit with him and is astonished that he has not had a seizure with the size of the tumor, and that there have not been more symptoms.
This is a lot to process, we are learning more each and every day. We will continue to update you all as much as we can. We appreciate all of the thoughts, prayers, texts, phone calls, etc.
I know everyone is disappointed but from a nurse's standpoint, Kevin needs to stay in the hospital. You and the kids do not need to be responsible for him or his little friend if he should have a seizure. You have enough on your plate...you don't need the added stress of worrying if you did enough, quick enough if things got complicated at home. Kennedy shaving Daddy's head is a great idea. Gives her ownership in the situation, makes her feel included and giving care to her buddy. We pray for you and the family every day. We love you bunches!
ReplyDelete