Thomas continues... (by Lillian)

I'm going to try to catch you up with what's going on with Thomas, but not sure of all the details, so will highlight what I know.

Before Thomas was released from the hospital, doctor told him a stint might drain fluid from his brain and reduce the pressure/swelling. He told them he didn't want to spend what time he had left recovering from the surgery and decided not to do it. He would go home with hospice assistance.

If you know Thomas, you know he wants to know EVERYTHING about any subject that he is involved in and this stint was no different. After he got home, he decided he wanted Stacie to take all his scans to neurosurgeon in Knoxville to find out his options before he signed up with hospice.

When someone is signed up with hospice, all ties must be severed with all doctors and treatments are no longer an option. All medical needs must be done thru hospice. Families cannot even call 911.  Thomas did not want to take this final step without at least checking into the stint to satisfy his own mind that he had made the right decision about refusing the surgery.

Well... the neurosurgeon told Thomas he did not recommend the stint. If they did the stint and later the tumor started causing problems again, they would have to do more surgery to remove the tumor. Yes, remove the tumor. This doctor says the tumor at the base of his brain is operable. Thomas had been told by other doctors that surgery was not an option. This surgeon, after seeing the scans, says he can remove it.

Now, the plan is for Thomas to return in one week for another MRI in order to see what is happening with the tumor... see how Thomas is feeling, etc. If nothing is changing much, then they will wait another week or two and see what happens. IF... Thomas starts having problems like what put him in the hospital... headaches, not being able to keep down food... then surgery can be done to remove the tumor.

As far as I know, Thomas continues to feel good and not having a lot of pain. We suspect the tumor is blocking pain from lower body. I haven't heard much since I saw him on Monday.

We never count Thomas down...