But, first, many thanks to my roommate, Greg, for his updating my webpage during my hospitalization (plus his general assistance and good-guy-ness all around). 

Alright, so where’d I last leave you?  Oh, yeah, last Monday AM (4/6), awaiting a pathetically-delayed phone call from UWMC which would schedule a consult with my neurosurgeon.  Long story slightly shorter, I eventually got my Oncology Nurse good & mad about things (you do NOT want an experienced, savvy nurse mad at you), and I had an appt. for Wed. by that afternoon.

Given the overall casualness of all concerned up to this point, my vision was that I’d have the doctors poke at my head, say “We can take care of this right here,” then they’d drain some swelling, and send me on my way with a Band-Aid.  In actuality, within minutes of peeking at the weird swelling on my head, both my neurosurgeon & his associate said, “That’s infected.  We’ll need to admit you.  Now.” 

Very odd, wandering out to the waiting room to tell your ride, “Umm, go ahead and take off.  I’ll just stick around here for a few days or so…”. 

Maybe 30min later, I was parked in a hospital bed, getting needles jabbed here and forms shoved there, with the occasional doctor coming by giving me brief glimpses of why I was actually sticking around.  The picture that came together (from my initial consult, and subsequent flybys) was that: (a) an infection had formed in/around the area of my tumor surgery last year, (b) it might be really widespread, and probably is under the skull bone, and (c) the infection, skull piece, and other infected tissue need to come out ASAP.  (Keep in mind, two hours earlier, my biggest worry was whether to have the Thai food or BLT for lunch)

Bing, Bang, Boom, I was wheeled into that all-too-familiar Pre-Op room (with my parents waiting back in my room), hearing various forecastings of the coming hours/days from both Infectious Disease and Neurosurgery doctors.  When I awoke about 4 hours later, my head was securely wrapped in thick bandages bearing an ominous “NO BONE” mark right up on top (I”ll pass along a picture sometime).  The remainder of Thursday was spent sleeping and feeling gross.

Friday, I’ll get back to next time, but it was a non-stop frenzy of specialists & doctors hell-bent on getting me out the door by that evening, whether I felt like it or not (“Of course, you as a patient have rights to refuse discharge, but, seriously, try not to let the door hit you on the way out.”). 

Now, I’m resting at my parents’ home, trying to figure out these new accomodations (a plastic helmet I need to wear all the time, plus a portable penicillin-dispensing machine that does a funny whirring-sound every 10 seconds).  I’ll be in touch more this week, but wanted to get some details to you all, as I know you’ve been asking about me and praying for me.  Those are appreciated more than I can adequately express right now, and I thank you so much for tossing aside your plentiful life concerns to help me with these unexpected struggles. 

At this time, I’m asking for…
**prayers of thanks for how this whole thing didn’t go in the directions it easily could have (God provided some great docs and fortuitous timing on several scheduled activities that weren’t impeded by this)

**prayers of healing & continued recovery

**prayers for logistics reshuffling (work, school, finances), as I factor in new limitations

**prayers for my own patience & attitude: this has all been a bit frustrating & overwhelming, and I’m trying to keep God at the center of my thoughts about it.

**a little patience with communication: I’m not at home yet, so my email/phone capacities are pretty limited.  I want to talk with all of you, and really love getting your calls & notes, but can’t really get back to you too quickly all the time.

**practical assistance down the road: in the coming weeks/months, I’ll have quite a few areas that my new hinderances will get in the way of (transportation, food, low-key socialization, misc.).  I’ll set up some kind of formalized “ask” system pretty soon, but just wanted to let you know that I will most definitely be relying on many of you through this time (maybe moreso than last time).

Thanks again; I’ll be in touch!
- Phil