Pre-surgery update

Just wanted to do a quick blog note to let you know the current health issues and plan of action.

As I mentioned in my last blog, my recent MRI showed a new “spot” on my brain, in the area of the old tumor. Docs don’t really know what the spot is, so I’m going back into the hospital on January 3 for another surgery. Could be new tumor growth, could be necrotic tissue, could be several other things, but in the past three or four days I’ve developed some neuro symptoms (i.e., I was having trouble speaking, having clear thoughts, couldn’t find words, etc.) so I’m back up on 12 mg of Decadron a day. That blows, after being almost off the steroids entirely, but it’s what I need to do, so that’s what I’m doing.

I will have Kirk and Dani, and probably my siblings hanging with me at the hospital for the surgery and recuperation. I won’t be up for much communicating with the “outside world” for a while but expect my family will update the blog (and with more regularity than I’ve been doing lately).

If my health stays good over the next few days before the scheduled surgery, Kirk and I hope to meet up with Deborah and Whit (and maybe my incredibly sweet nephew, Andrew) and will go see our (if I do say so myself) very talented daughter sing at Monterey First Night (New Years Eve) with her wonderful partner-guitarist, Jesse. And go for dinner to a wonderful tapas restaurant that we discovered a couple of years ago. So that’s something to look forward to in the midst of all of this not so fun stuff happening in my life.

Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll get back on the blog as soon as I feel ready for the physical and mental challenge of it, and in the meanwhile, my family will be keeping information moving.

Love you guys and appreciate all your love and support.
/ab