Greetings MM Family!

Several weeks back I asked if anybody had been mis-diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis as my wife Jamie has been battling MS for the last six years and now diagnosed with MM.

I wanted to let everybody know that Jamie had her first STA/MCA bypass last Thursday performed by Dr. James Rose @ Methodist Hospital in Houston Texas.  It was a huge success!  She immediately feels stronger on her right side and that painful throbbing she's been dealing with on the top of her head is mysteriously gone. (fingers crossed) This is looking VERY good! She's doing so good that she was able to walk by herself from NICU to her recovery room in the Neurology wing (ok.. somebody did hold her arm.. but she did all the work!).  God is not looking down on our family.. he has carried us in his hand! I'm just a poor graphics designer, but today..  I feel like the richest man in the world, we very well may get to experience a "normal" life.

I would like to mention the level of heath care my wife has received from Dr. Rose and the Methodist hospital is by far the best she has ever had. She spends weeks in hospitals every year and it's weird that it's taken this long just to realize what good health care is. If anybody with MM is near Houston seeking help, I would highly suggest you consider contacting Dr. Rose or the Methodist Hospital, in my eyes he is a miracle worker with hands of gold. They told me the surgery would be 4-6 hours and when Dr. Rose took her back he shook my hand, smiled and said, "I'll see you in 3 1/2 hours".  Indeed, he met with the family 3 1/2 hours later.

Jamie is recovering nicely although very nauseous from all the heavy medications.  We hope to have her back home by this Thursday so she can rest up for the next bypass surgery on the left side in about six weeks. She has not had a beta interferon injection for Multiple Sclerosis for over 2 months now, nor has she digressed a bit.  Thank you all so much for your support and willingness to share your personal experiences here at Moyamoya.com - it has helped us so much. Soon I will provide a link with Jamie's story and the pre/post opp photos I have taken.

Thanks again,
Casey

Hi Casey ...such a nice post from you...and know it always feels GREAT when a loved one has some great improvement. ;;D

While I didn't have MM..but other things ...and each hospital  stay due to operation I felt nausea...and realized I can't really take pain medication - codine..etc...so each time I was taken off it....I was TONS much better once it was out of my system...and prefer the pain to sick stomach...plus Tynedol is so much better now that it takes care of it.

Continue to enjoy the gradual improvements over time...and will keep Jamie in my prayers ...for the second surgery.

Warm Hugs,  CarasMOM

Casey,

That is wonderful news!    ;;D  I am so glad to hear that your wife is doing so well.  Thanks for the update!

Jenny

Casey,

REJOICE!  It's always great news to hear that a fellow MM sister/brother is doing well.  I know I couldn't walk (even if someone was holding my hand) in the NICU!  As a matter of fact, I had a physical therapist work with me (and my walker) to help me regain my strength to walk again.  

You too, Casey, are a special blessing to Jamie for providing her such wonderful support.  I know that I wouldn't have done as well without the support and patience of my husband as well...

You and Jamie will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers! Keep us posted on her progess..

Take care,
SFH

Casey -

It was such a joy to read your post!  I'm so glad that things went so well with Jamie!  Please let her know that we are thinking of her (and you too!) and that we continue to send prayers for a speedy recovery!  Way to go!

-Shari

Yipee Jamie & Casey!  So happy to hear that all went well and that Jamie is feeling better already!

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers for the next surgery.  I'm also very anxious to find out if Jamie never had MS to begin with and that the MM was the problem all along.  

Keep us posted.
Lisa

Congradulations and it will only get better. I'm very happy all went well and now take it easy and slow.

Hugs and kisses to the famiily and Jamie!

itsme

Awesome news, Casey!  What a relief to be through Jamie's surgery day.  I know how very good that feels.  We'll add you both to our prayers as she goes through the recovery process.  Please keep us posted as you can!

Hugs from California,
Jill

Thank you all so so much! My vocabulary is simply too shallow to truly express how much we appreciate your support and prayers.  Jamie wanted me to thank you all - but just thanks seems fairly bland considering how we feel in our hearts.

More Good News!
Jamie was released yesterday!!! Her recovery and the new changes are simply amazing! For several years now she could output 5 minutes of energy and then have to sleep 6 hours or so to recover. She has so much energy now and doesn't require the sleep. She's hobbled around at best when she didn't have to use a cane or walker - now she's walking with a stride and no gait!  Good bye cane!

She wanted me to share her experience with the MM family and as I've mentioned before.. I will document her journey and later publish the full story on the web. Until then, please feel free to view some of the photos we have taken thus far. I'm so proud of her, she's my hero and little sunshine wrapped into one.

http://www.3dfix.com/MM_Surgery/index.htm

Casey

Casey,

This is great news!  It's so great to hear good reports like that!  Please give her a hug and tell her that we all are thinking about her and praying for her and the family.  Tell her to keep her chin up!

Michelle

Casey,

I, too, am a very happy husband. My wife, Dee, had the
STA/MCA Bypass surgery on July 5th. Dr. Eric Nussbaum
of MN Neurovascular Institute did it upon referral from
the University of MN's Director of Neurology, Dr. John
Tulloch. I thank the Lord daily for both of them. Without
their expertise, Dee would not have regained use of her
left-arm and left-leg. She could not lift them off the bed
while in ICU in early May. She is now walking up stairs
foot-over-foot, at home. She progresses daily.

So, there is hope and there is progress. We can both
be thankful for recovering spouses.

By the way, Dee is Asian and 53 years old.

Tom

Friz wrote on Jul 25^th, 2005 at 3:07pm:

Greetings MM Family! Several weeks back I asked if anybody had been mis-diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis as my wife Jamie has been battling MS for the last six years and now diagnosed with MM. I wanted to let everybody know that Jamie had her first STA/MCA bypass last Thursday performed by Dr. James Rose @ Methodist Hospital in Houston Texas.  It was a huge success!  She immediately feels stronger on her right side and that painful throbbing she's been dealing with on the top of her head is mysteriously gone. (fingers crossed) This is looking VERY good! She's doing so good that she was able to walk by herself from NICU to her recovery room in the Neurology wing (ok.. somebody did hold her arm.. but she did all the work!).  God is not looking down on our family.. he has carried us in his hand! I'm just a poor graphics designer, but today..  I feel like the richest man in the world, we very well may get to experience a "normal" life.

That is fantastic news, Casey!  Fantastic!   [smiley=headbanger.gif]
It is awesome to hear good news about the people from MM.com...   ;;D
May things continue to improve for you and your wife and keep that Faith in high "G".  :-)   [smiley=sayyes.gif]

-= Dewski =-