Quick Update on The Maven

I am about to leave for the hospital, but wanted to write a quick update on The Maven's post-surgery progress.

She was moved to a regular room 24 hours after surgery. She looks, sounds and ambulates quite well considering the short time it's been since her surgery.  She is still quite tired and sleeps a lot, but the nurses and Physical Therapists have her sitting in a chair for meals, walking to and from the bathroom and twice daily walks up and down the hallway.  She has graduated from a walker to walking with someone at her side supporting her arm.  

She is still wearing a large bandage around her head which I understand they will remove today.  She has some weakness in her facial muscles as a result of the pressure in her head from the surgery.  The docs say that will go away soon.  The Maven is very dizzy and that is expected right after this kind of surgery.  Her balance nerve on her right side was removed because of the damage done by the tumor.  Her brain will adjust and compensate to the one remaining balance nerve and will now not have the constant distraction of the damaged one that was removed.  Each day her dizziness is expected to diminish.

The Maven is in good spirits and they may release her on Sunday. That's a bit of an overwhelming thought, but it will be good to have her back home. 

In the weeks to come she and I will be walking for increasing amounts of time each day.  The goal, of course, is for her to gain her strength but almost more importantly to increase her stamina in preparation for returning to life on her own and work.  I'd say we have our work cut out for us!  But she can do it!

Thank you so much for all your kind words, prayers and positive thoughts.  It are these things that have made all the difference to me, her mother, waiting and watching as she goes through this enormous challenge.  

And I read her each and every comment, email, FB post, etc. and she is very grateful for each and every one of them.