Surgery and the Road to Recovery (January 24, 2026)

On Wednesday I went to Johns Hopkins Hospital to have brain surgery to remove my tumor.

I've tried a few new looks during my hospital stay (see photos). My first stop was to get a brain wand MRI and place white markers on my head for neuronavigation in preparation for surgery. After that I had a few hours before surgery check-in. 

 

Trying a new look with fiducial markers for neuronavigation

 

Cool 3D model of my brain, with tumor shown in red

Returning to the hospital was emotionally difficult for both my sister and me, because the last time we were there was Scott's final days in the hospital. So I relived some memories as I walked down the hallways, and I took the indoor route that I remembered to go visit Big Jesus, located under the Johns Hopkins dome. 

Return to Big Jesus 

I had stepped before Big Jesus first as a visitor when my sister was going there for medical school, then as a caregiver, and now as a patient. I looked up at him and prayed for a successful surgery. I had done the research, felt good about the surgery plan, and made all the arrangements I could. Now all I could do was trust in Him, and in the skill of the neurosurgery team. Afterward my sister and I talked about it and agreed that while it was hard to go back to Johns Hopkins Hospital, having such a positive experience this time was extremely helpful.

When I first got diagnosed with the meningioma, I knew that surgery would be necessary but was afraid of the potential side effects, and if I would still be "me" and be able to do the same things as before. Shortly after the diagnosis, I remember playing piano and being grateful for something that I had previously taken for granted, hoping that I would still be able to do so before too long after the surgery. I had never had surgery or even stitches before, so the idea of someone opening up a part of my skull to remove a tumor by my brain stem felt daunting.

I checked in and got ready for surgery, thanked the team for taking care of me, and fell asleep. When I woke up some hours later, I immediately did an internal inventory and checked that I could move my fingers and toes, swallow and shrug my shoulders, and answer coherently (which I did mostly, except for thinking the date was February 2028). I don't know who did it, but someone in the operating room had put my hair in pigtails to keep it out of the way of the incision, which was a midline down the back of my head, resulting in a bit of a futuristic punk look. I have not been brave enough to look at a picture of my incision yet. I might do so at some point, but I'm not going to rush that.

My pain level was surprisingly low and has been well managed throughout my recovery. After general anesthesia, the only painkiller I've needed has been Tylenol. That was for the best, because I was experiencing a lot of nausea from the general anesthesia that lessened over the course of that night. The first day after surgery, I was able to start eating and drinking a little, and I slowly started to get up and take short walks - first a half lap around the floor, then a full lap later on, and then 2 laps by that evening. The day after that, I was steadier on my feet and able to take longer and more frequent walks. I received incredible care from the nurses, my sister, my uncle, and my boyfriend who took shifts watching over me, and they made a huge difference in my recovery.

 

Taking a walk on the floor with post-surgery pigtails

 

Passed out in post-surgery pigtails

 

I was discharged less than 48 hours after surgery and felt ready to go home. I can hardly believe that now, 3 days after surgery, I'm sitting at my kitchen table writing about this. My neurosurgeon (Dr. Jon Weingart) was able to remove all of the tumor by unwrapping it from around the vertebral artery, which was more than we had hoped for. I don't seem to have sustained any nerve damage, and I feel mostly normal, apart from some fatigue, soreness in the right shoulder, and tightness around the head incision. I feel like I had a neurosurgery miracle and told my doctor that he was a neurosurgery wizard (to which he modestly replied, "Not at all"). 

Shortly after I returned home, I sat down and started playing piano. I played haltingly, but I was so grateful that I could play so soon after surgery. Right now my predominant feelings are relief that the surgery went well, and gratitude for all the loving care and prayers that I've received from all of you since this journey started. Now my focus will be to rest and recover - it's been an adjustment letting other people do things for me and I've been told more than once to slow down, so I will do my best to take it easy. Thank you all for wrapping me in so much love and prayer to get me through this - I will never forget it and am so very grateful.

 

Back home and playing piano in post-surgery pigtails