Re: Brandan TP/ICT

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/7/2003 10:15:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,

pancreatitis writes:

> She also reads many of the posts and wants to know what the

> took out besides the pancreas and if they had any problems. And she wants

> to

> know what its like to eat french fries again and pepperoni pizza.

>

> Did both boys have procedure done at Mass General? Who were the surgeons?

> Thanks. God bless

>

> Patty Hurst

>

Hey there Patty and Sue.. : )

First Brandan did not have his surgery at MGH, I was told this surgery was

too drastic and that it was not done there. I pretty much convinced the

doctors that this is what was needed to bring relief to Brandan. Although just

recently I found out that it is now being done due to the success of Brandans

surgery in MN at MGH. WE still would of chosen the path we did and gone to Dr.

Sutherland in MN.

I know that Joeys surgery was done at Childrens Hospital in Boston and

due to the circumstances in Joeys case it was a matter of life and death.

Suzanne and I had spoken before Joeys surgery and due to circumstances there was

no

choice he needed to have it performed at childrens. Yesterday Brandan was in

the Childrens Pain Management Clinic to assess where he is as far as recovery

and pain medication he is still taking. Dr. Sethna and Dr. Greco (THANK YOU

SUZANNE) who both saw Brandan were amazed at the progress he has made since

his surgery 10 months ago tomorrow. Everyone is different and unfortunately

due to the fact that this surgery has been rarely performed and there isnt

enough data to compare one to another it is as before the surgery, uncharted

territory. The outcome of that 6 hour meeting yesterday, was very good. They

said

for what Brandan has been through and continues to go through he is

progressing very well, the thought of perhaps nerve damage is perhaps something

time

will tell us. The amount of medication Brandan now takes is very small compared

to the enourmous amounts he was taking. Thier feelings and mine in time are

that the pain medication will be a thing of the past. I believe and always

have that Brandan has suffered with this disease since birth. He has always

had abdominal pain which was always explained away as something else. When

Brandan had his surgery he only had 129,000 islets he still continues to be

diabetes free. He is not on any special diet but we do try to watch his sugars.

He has no more PAINCREATITIS ATTACKS which in itself is a blessing. He

continues to grow stronger every day, and although he has this residual pain as

we

have come to call it, he is better than he was a year ago by leaps and boundsl

Due to this disease Brandan has missed out on so very much these last 3 years,

our dream and it looks as if it will come true is that he will be attending

his senior year with his classmates in Sept. Without this site of wonderful,

caring, and compassionate people and all I learned from it this surgery would

not have been possible, without it Brandan would not have gotten his second

chance.

Patty if you or anyone else has questions please feel free to contact me at

my email addy if I don't respond right away to the posts, sometimes it does

take me a bit.

In closing I want to Thank everyone who has sent thier prayers and wishes for

my husband Dirk, He was tested clean for cancer a week ago and although we

are getting use to living with his colostomy it is a small price to pay cons

idering the alternatives.

As always keeping you and yours in our thoughts and prayers....Keep smiling

(cuz sometimes its all one can do!) TTFN.

Peg Bates

Brwnbare9@...

Massachusetts State Chapter Rep.

Pancreatitis Association Intl.