Support Jeni Tinkle’s brain surgery and recovery.
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Earlier this summer I started to experience symptoms of memory loss, weakness in arms and legs, coordination problems, difficulty concentrating, and personality changes, along with an increase in anxiety and depression. After visiting a doctor for some blood tests and an MRI, I discovered first that I was anemic which I began to treat immediately. About 5 days later, on September 17th, I had an MRI and got my results back the same day.
I have a meningioma, which is the most common (and usually benign) brain tumor. I met with a neurosurgeon two days later to go over the MRI and learned that my tumor is quite large, 6cm, which is much larger than typical meningiomas. I scheduled surgery for removal on October 14th but in the meantime, was working on referrals for second and third opinions. On September 27th I had a seizure while at home around 5 pm and luckily was not alone. I was taken to the ER at Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield, OR where they did further testing.
I have been placed in a room on the neurology floor as I await brain surgery this week. Having a seizure when you have a brain tumor means that the tumor needs to come out. I have been placed on medications to prevent any more seizures (and strokes) while Dr. Coon and her team are mapping a plan for the tumor removal. I am scheduled to go in for a pre-operative procedure on Tuesday, October 1stwhere they will be blocking off blood vessels to part of the tumor. Forty-eight hours later on October 3rd, I will be having brain surgery to remove the tumor.
Dr. Coon rates my tumor to be in the “difficult” category because of its size but is confident in being able to remove it safely. Recovery, however, is very unpredictable, as there are many unknown factors about how the brain and surrounding tissue will respond once the tumor has been removed. One thing that is certain is that I will be experiencing an increase in the symptoms I was having before simply due to the swelling of the brain (especially weakness on the left side), which are always present post-surgery, and usually temporary. In the best case scenario, I'm expected to spend 3 days in the ICU, approximately a week in a regular hospital room, and then about 30 days in in-patient physical therapy.
I have a large support network of loving family and friends all around that I am so grateful for.
I have a meningioma, which is the most common (and usually benign) brain tumor. I met with a neurosurgeon two days later to go over the MRI and learned that my tumor is quite large, 6cm, which is much larger than typical meningiomas. I scheduled surgery for removal on October 14th but in the meantime, was working on referrals for second and third opinions. On September 27th I had a seizure while at home around 5 pm and luckily was not alone. I was taken to the ER at Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield, OR where they did further testing.
I have been placed in a room on the neurology floor as I await brain surgery this week. Having a seizure when you have a brain tumor means that the tumor needs to come out. I have been placed on medications to prevent any more seizures (and strokes) while Dr. Coon and her team are mapping a plan for the tumor removal. I am scheduled to go in for a pre-operative procedure on Tuesday, October 1stwhere they will be blocking off blood vessels to part of the tumor. Forty-eight hours later on October 3rd, I will be having brain surgery to remove the tumor.
Dr. Coon rates my tumor to be in the “difficult” category because of its size but is confident in being able to remove it safely. Recovery, however, is very unpredictable, as there are many unknown factors about how the brain and surrounding tissue will respond once the tumor has been removed. One thing that is certain is that I will be experiencing an increase in the symptoms I was having before simply due to the swelling of the brain (especially weakness on the left side), which are always present post-surgery, and usually temporary. In the best case scenario, I'm expected to spend 3 days in the ICU, approximately a week in a regular hospital room, and then about 30 days in in-patient physical therapy.
I have a large support network of loving family and friends all around that I am so grateful for.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brooke Wright
Organizer
Marietta, GA
Jeni Tinkle
Beneficiary