Thank you to so many of you who care about her and who have shown us support!
Her surgery is scheduled for 8:00 am Monday morning. Amy, Karen, and I are going to Peoria with Lisa on Sunday night to stay in a hotel and be with her through out the day.
Hello family and friends!
My oldest sister Lisa's surgery will go something like this.....
Next Monday May 17, 2010, Dr. Patrick Tracy Neurosurgeon will perform surgery on Lisa’s left temporal lobe(above the ear) in Peoria. This incision will look like a question mark. Preliminary tests have concluded her left brain is smaller than her right brain. He will put a grid inside her head on the surface of the brain. It is an internal measure to pinpoint the exact location in her brain where the seizures are coming from. After this procedure, they will reduce seizure medication so she will have seizures. When they gather enough data on the seizure activity, they will proceed with the 2nd surgery.
On Thursday (or earlier), depending on the seizure activity, the 2nd Surgery, they will go in and TAKE OUT part of the brain where her seizures are coming from. Each surgery takes 2-3 hours.
Lisa had an external observation a couple of years ago that recorded by video tape and round the clock observation by Doctors and Nurses. Her seizure activity was/is enormous. Each seizure she looses part of her short term memory.
The risks are many: memory loss, stroke, spinal infection, vision loss, paralyzed, death.
The benefits are many: significantly lower amount of seizures and/or the possibility of NO seizures, higher IQ (about 10 points), no more medicine which she tends to forget due to short term memory loss.
The risks are many: memory loss, stroke, spinal infection, vision loss, paralyzed, death.
The benefits are many: significantly lower amount of seizures and/or the possibility of NO seizures, higher IQ (about 10 points), no more medicine which she tends to forget due to short term memory loss.
She will be in the hospital (ICU) for 7 days if all goes well and would be able to go back to work in a week or 2 (amazing)! One of us (dad and 3 sisters) will be with her throughout the procedure. She will be grumpy, tired and ready to get out of the hospital. The doctor said she will have a killer headache. DUH!
Quick History of Lisa: Lisa Taminger is a firstborn child, December 19, 1963. At the age of 8.5 months, Lisa came down with encephalitis. She ran high temp, was in a coma, and was paralyzed for days. She developed epilepsy. The doctors told my parents she would never be able to walk, talk, or hop. At age 6, she was physically recovered, but mentally retarded (the “R” word back then was accepted). Through my mom, dad, family, friends, Gymnastics, and Special Olympics, Lisa has overcome so many obstacles and has become the most treasured Special Olympic athlete of her time. She’s a cover girl “International Gymnast Aug 1979”, she’s appeared on Phil Donahue (Oprah of today). She has been an inspiration to many athletes and friends. Many of the great gymnastic athletes have come out of their way to watch Lisa perform like Bart Connor (my t-shirt w/his autograph finally disintegrated). I remember as a kid many athletes would come up to her to get her autograph when we would go to watch the meets in Chicago. I also remember Eunice Kennedy Shriver visiting her while she was keynote speaker at the Illinois Special Olympics. Lisa drew crowds to watch her perform. I also remember newspaper articles that listed the time Lisa will be performing at Special Olympics. Lisa is quite special, she loves her family, her friends, misses her mom, and treasures every card and every phone call she gets. She has led a very full life, she has worked at Olive Garden for many years wrapping silverware. She is also a very good bowler. Last but not least, Mom and Dad made sure she was confirmed at our church at the age 12. Her walk with God and her Joy for Jesus is truly amazing. Her favorite song is "Jesus loves me this I know..... " With this, we have great comfort of her going into this surgery knowing that God will be with her! She secretly cannot wait to see mom again.
Cards can be sent to....
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