Update from - Thuersday Jan 15th 2009 - copied from facebook

[Guest guest]

There is so much that I want to say. First off I am absolutely elated and petrified to tell you all that I will be having surgery on February 3rd to fix my Chiari Malformation. The surgery is called posterior fossa decompression. *graphic part* They will remove a piece of my skull and the first vertebrae in my neck. Then they will cut open the sac around my brain, called the dura. They take a piece of tissue from under my scalp in a different area and sew it on to the dura to create a larger space for my brain. Then they put on a titanium plate and sew the dura, muscles, and scalp back to it.

I will be in the ICU for a day or two and then in the hospital until I can walk, eat, and use the rest room by myself. The surgery will be done in Aurora, Colorado with Dr Oro. He is a very well known neurosurgeon and his specialty is in Chiari and associated disorders.

I know that this sounds terrifying and it kind of is but it will make me better. All the pain and heartache I have been through for so long will be fixed by this surgery. I was so nervous that Dr Oro would not be able to help me. I have seen over a dozen doctors in Nebraska and 12 doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. I am ready for this to be fixed.

I met with my primary care doctor, Dr Brown, today for my pre-op physical. She said I am good for surgery and she joked around and asked what I would do with all my time once I am not going to doctors all the time anymore. LOL She is awesome.

I am not able to update my caringbridge site. My internet and cell phone are not working because my mother in law ran up the bill and they got shut off. I am not sure when we will pay that off because now we have to raise money for another trip to Denver and, well, brain surgery isn't cheap, lol.

I am excited and so are my kids. I told that by this summer I will be better and we can do fun stuff again. He was so happy to hear that.I will keep you updated via facebook and caringbridge when I can. Prayers are MUCH appreciated.

To send a message to melissa and family goto;

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/melissahall