That first day in the hospital, this second trip to the hospital, we got the news that Ed had a mass on his brain. Dr. Cuff, a neurosurgeon, told Ed, and then told us later, that more than likely this was a cancer. He told us that it would have to come out. He was referring Ed to his partner, Dr. Kimberly Walpert. He insisted that Dr. Walpert was an expert in her field. Call me prejudice, biased, or whatever, but I wasn't too sure about having a woman operate on Ed's brain.
Ed spent Thanksgiving in the hospital. He had hospital style turkey and
dressing, and sweet potato souffle and chocolate pie. He said it wasn't that
bad. I took him some of my food later that evening. I ended up eating the chocolate pie he didn't eat. It was very good. He said my sweet potato souffle was better than theirs.
Mama spent several nights with Ed in the hospital, sleeping on the pull out chair. She said it was very uncomfortable. Us kids - me, my two brothers, my sister-in-law, my younger brother's girlfriend - we all spent time at the hospital visiting and trying to show support.
On the other page, we had to break the news to my uncle Larry, who was still in the hospital himself, recovering from open heart surgery; that Ed had been taken to the hospital with seizures again. Larry cried so hard that we could not understand his words on the phone. He was already in pain from his surgery, and now his body was racked with pain from the emotional hurt. We felt like Larry had saved Ed's life from the first seizure. Larry, like us, thought Ed was in the clear. We hated to tell him this news while he himself was ill, but knew he would be more upset if we kept it from him.
After we learned about the brain tumor, we decided it was best not to tell Larry that part of the ordeal. We told Ed if he spoke to Larry on the phone, not to mention the tumor. But Ed was on medication and the first time he spoke to Larry on the phone that was the first thing he said, 'They found something on my brain'. It couldn't be helped.
On Friday, November 28th, both Ed and Larry were released from their hospitals. Ed from Athens Regional, Larry from Gainesville. Both were happy to be going home.
Ed, who had never taken much medication other than high blood pressure and the occasion pill for vertigo, was now taking 6 or 7 different medications; high blood pressure pills - two different kinds, cholesterol meds, anti-seizure medication, steroids (to reduce swelling in the brain), and two different inhalers for his emphysema.
An appointment was set for Tuesday, December 2nd, for follow-up. The strange roller-coaster ride of the unknown was about to begin for Ed and all of us. The flood gates of hospital visits and doctor appointments and information overloads were about to open.
Ed spent Thanksgiving in the hospital. He had hospital style turkey and
dressing, and sweet potato souffle and chocolate pie. He said it wasn't that
bad. I took him some of my food later that evening. I ended up eating the chocolate pie he didn't eat. It was very good. He said my sweet potato souffle was better than theirs.
Mama spent several nights with Ed in the hospital, sleeping on the pull out chair. She said it was very uncomfortable. Us kids - me, my two brothers, my sister-in-law, my younger brother's girlfriend - we all spent time at the hospital visiting and trying to show support.
On the other page, we had to break the news to my uncle Larry, who was still in the hospital himself, recovering from open heart surgery; that Ed had been taken to the hospital with seizures again. Larry cried so hard that we could not understand his words on the phone. He was already in pain from his surgery, and now his body was racked with pain from the emotional hurt. We felt like Larry had saved Ed's life from the first seizure. Larry, like us, thought Ed was in the clear. We hated to tell him this news while he himself was ill, but knew he would be more upset if we kept it from him.
After we learned about the brain tumor, we decided it was best not to tell Larry that part of the ordeal. We told Ed if he spoke to Larry on the phone, not to mention the tumor. But Ed was on medication and the first time he spoke to Larry on the phone that was the first thing he said, 'They found something on my brain'. It couldn't be helped.
On Friday, November 28th, both Ed and Larry were released from their hospitals. Ed from Athens Regional, Larry from Gainesville. Both were happy to be going home.
Ed, who had never taken much medication other than high blood pressure and the occasion pill for vertigo, was now taking 6 or 7 different medications; high blood pressure pills - two different kinds, cholesterol meds, anti-seizure medication, steroids (to reduce swelling in the brain), and two different inhalers for his emphysema.
An appointment was set for Tuesday, December 2nd, for follow-up. The strange roller-coaster ride of the unknown was about to begin for Ed and all of us. The flood gates of hospital visits and doctor appointments and information overloads were about to open.
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