I am weak, HE is strong!

Let me just say that I am so glad that today is behind me. It has been a very exhausting day!

We made the trip from our hotel to Cedar Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills this morning. It took about two hours to get there, due to traffic. I have learned that 280 traffic, in Birmingham, is a breeze compared to LA traffic.

Once we arrived at Dr. Shahinian’s we met his wonderful staff and had a meeting with the man himself. I cannot say enough great things about Dr. Shahinian! He has such a warming personality. He made sure every one of my questions were answered thoroughly and reassured me that everything was going to be just fine.

Dr. Shahinian also explained the pineal gland cystic brain tumor, at length. It was very interesting. I have put a picture at the end of the blog that shows the MRI which reveals the tumor. Look at the bright white line in the middle of my brain and you will see the circle right below it. It has grown large enough to press on the quadrigeminal plane of the brain causing me to be sick. It it wasn’t removed it could destroy the pineal gland and even cause seizures and other life threatening issues.

After our meeting at the Skull Base Institute, we traveled back to Thousand Oaks Thankfully it only took an hour to get back because traffic was better in the afternoon hours. We made our way to Los Robles Hospital for pre-operative testing and ironing out all of the surgery details. The hospital is beautiful! Everyone at the hospital are so kind and helpful.

Needless to say, today has been extremely hard and exhausting not only for myself but for my parents as well. I have been very sick today with nausea, visual disturbances, and a headache. I was unable to eat until 5:00 and food seems to have helped me feel stronger.

Tomorrow we have to be at the hospital at 5:15 A.M. and surgery will start promptly at 7:30 A.M., which will be 9:30 Alabama time. Every single prayer will mean so much at this time! I will be sent to recovery for a short amount of time after surgery then will spend the night in ICU.

Although I am nervous, I am ready. I am weak, but He is strong.

Much love,
Anna

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
-2 Corinthians 12:9

P.S. Please remember Taylor Morton in your prayers as well tomorrow. He was diagnosed with colon cancer a few weeks ago and is having a colon resection to remove the tumor in the morning. We are praying for complete and total healing.

 

 

Below is the picture of the cystic brain tumor. If you look closely, it is the large circle between the upper and lower brain.