How Does One Prepare for Brain Surgery?

My copy of Robyn's book

My friend Robyn was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 43, then eight months later with breast cancer. She wrote a book called Most of Me in which she details her medical meltdown using bawdy humor. She had less than three weeks to prepare for a mastectomy, so I found it quite funny when she asked me, "How does one prepare for DBS?"

Favorite legal tee shirt

Obviously, since I am having brain surgery, I should "put my affairs in order." Years ago, I made my Last Will and Testament (I leave all my blah, blah, blah), Durable Power of Attorney (in the event I can't blah, blah, blah) and Advance Health Directive (I only eat vegetables, I don't want to be one, blah, blah, blah), so I can spend my last days before surgery doing really important things like dinner and a show with friends, ice cream with my Wonderful Husband's car club, going on a photo walk with the Yuma Camera Club and having dinner and tons of laughs with my neighbors. In other words, having fun.

I only have a few days left before my surgery, so I am writing some extra blog stories, in case I don't feel like it while recuperating. I'm also designing a Halloween costume with antennae and thinking up lyrics for a new song "I've got Two Holes in My Head." I'm trying to figure out how to sneak my camera and laptop into surgery so I can take pictures and post updates to Facebook and Twitter during the procedure. Yes, I will be awake. 

I can't decide what to wear to the hospital. No, I am not a diva; I just need to pick something I can get into and out of easily, since I will be off medications that morning and barely able to move. Two people from Medtronic (they make the DBS device) are coming to my surgery to meet me and a researcher doing a study funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation may be coming as well. It's a good thing I don't care what I look like, because I am sure I won't be at my best. I mean, what WOULD look good with a stereotactic frame bolted to my head? Hot pink lipstick? 

stereotactic frame

My Wonderful Husband's birthday is just days after my surgery and I think the best birthday present I could give him is to still be a Happy Parkie afterwards. Wish me luck.

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