How Does One Prepare for Brain Surgery?
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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?"
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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?
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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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