Hi Ho Cindy Away

Some people are cursed by families that just have no idea what it means to be family. Not me, my family really knows what it means to stick together and to go out of your way to help one another. This picture is from March 2006, when my sister Cindy came to town to help me recover from my second brain surgery of the year. Like the Lone Ranger relying on Silver, my sister has been a constant source of support and humor.

Here's where here legendary tale begins. On January 6th of this year, Cindy and I found out that I needed an emergency brain surgery the following day. She flew all the way from Florida to Idaho and was there by the time I got out of surgery on the 7th. My brother John also made the journey in the same time frame but from Chicago.

Cindy stayed with me for about two weeks and got me out and about, mostly shopping but there was very little else I was able to do. She kept me happy and took over the responsibilities of giving me my medicine and cleaning up after my horrible streak of vomiting. By the time Cindy left, I seemed well on my way to healing. She gave way to my Aunt Monie and Uncle Roy, who also flew up from Florida. They were great company and really understood how to be friends at a time when I really needed that help.

However, within a few weeks, I found out that another brain surgery was needed, this time on March 14th. Cindy, John, and my parents all made it out here this time. The above photo was taken on a trip from Boise to Lowman to Banks, and back to Boise that my brother, sister, and I took the day before my second surgery.

Again, I healed quickly and was even out riding my bike a little bit by the end of March. It seemed like I had beaten the tumors. Feeling awesome, I even went on a trip to Yellowstone with my friends for some bike riding through the park when the roads were closed to traffic. Everything went well on my ride right up to the time that I pulled into the parking lot of my hotel. At that moment, I wiped out. Immediately after that, my feeling good went to feeling bad.

In late April an infection developed in my head, making it swell in quite a grotesque manner. Again, my sister Cindy was here in Boise the very next day. This infection led to two hospitalizations to treat it. Cindy was here again for another two weeks. As a result of the infection, a portion of my skull was removed and I was forced to wear a custom helmet at all times to protect my head.

To make matters worse, an MRI revealed that the schwannoma was growing back at an alarming rate. This meant that doctors would have to start radiation on my head, leading to a longer time before putting in some fake skull to replace the portion they took out. I'd have to wait until radiation ended to replace that portion of skull.

In mid-August Cindy once again flew out to help me through the surgery in which Dr. Little reconstructed my head. All went well this time, and within a couple of weeks, Cindy and I were able to have a bit of fun, seeing some bands, etc.

To my surprise an MRI that I took in October revealed my pesky schwannoma was once again growing back at an alarming rate. Dr. Little let me know that we'd have to remove it. Since my third cranial nerve wasn't healing, he'll have to take out the entire nerve. Since this is the source of the tumor, Dr. Little believes it shouldn't grow back once the nerve is removed.

Once again my sister was right on the ball and is coming out here to help out. She even booked a flight which she had to change when the surgery was postponed. Knowing that Cindy is coming makes me realize that I'm in good hands. I cannot possibly thank her enough for everything she's done and will do for me.

God bless you Cindy. I appreciate you more than you'll ever know and am proud that you're my older, oh I mean younger sister!