Full Body Scan

Thankfully UCSF was able to schedule my dad for the body scan at UCSF Mount Zion. He completes the scan by mid morning and awaits the results. By mid afternoon we hear from the nurse that the preliminary reads of the scan show no tumors BUT a radiologist still needs to see a full report to be completely sure. Feel some sense of relief. By evening we have a confirmation of a clean scan. Thank you God! Begin scheduling for brain surgery.

UCSF Consultation

After waiting for what seems like forever my Dad finally met with a neurosurgeon at UCSF. Dr. Theodosopoulos's evaluation of the scan is that it is a malignant brain tumor. He wants to remove the tumor next Wednesday provided his full body pet scan shows no additional tumors. If the scan is clean he will schedule him for an awake crainiotomy next Wednesday morning followed by radiation and oral chemotherapy.

Dads pet scan is scheduled for this afternoon at 1:30 at St. Helena Hospital. At noon they are told the machine broke and can't do the scan.  Now furiously trying to find another place to get the scan done.

Books appointment at UCSF

My Dad called UCSF this morning and then got a call back a few hours later. They gave him an appointment for next Tuesday at 9:30 am. Tuesday seems so far away but so thankful to have an actual appointment.

Talk to UCSF

Call UCSF and was able to get him registered. Told that his scans have been given to the doctors assistant but we will have to wait until he is able to look at them. She tells us we will hear by Friday and not to call. Friday feels like an eternity.

Waiting

Waited all day to hear from UCSF. Called, left messages, nothing. Now we have to wait all weekend.

Overnight Scan to UCSF

So upon hearing about my dads diagnosis my parents began gathering information. He was told that he needed to see a neurosurgeon immediately and the best place to go is UCSF.  Finally got connected to someone there and was told that to start the process someone would need to see his MRI results. So they send them overnight to San Francisco hopeful that they will hear from someone tomorrow.

MRI results show brain tumor

Dad called saying his MRI results came back and he didn't have a stroke but he has a brain tumor. We are all in complete shock.

Brain scan diagnosis is stroke

Church, Breakfast, than another bout of confusion. This time saying the wrong words. Olive tree instead of olive oil, paper bags instead of paper work.

Mom takes him to St. Helena hospital. They scan his head. Tell him he had an actual stroke and scan shows some damaged areas in his brain.

Told to change his lifestyle.

Back to work

Dad goes back to work. Has an easy day. Leaves a little early because he is tired. Otherwise all good.

Arteries

Scan done at St. Helena hospital shows that his arteries are completely clean. EKG at cardiologist is also good. Cardiologist says it is not amnesia, more likely a TIA and puts him on a heart monitor for 11 days. Also schedules echo cardiogram for when heart monitor comes off.