Answered Prayers!

News from the MRI returned and her MRI was normal. Her white blood count is down and she will hopefully start to feel great because the took the spinal tap out of her spine. She will continue on the antibiotics and they believe they have found the med's that are working on her system! Thank you for your prayers and phone calls. We will continue to hear more and pass on the news! -michelle

Saturday Morning Update

Dara had a better night last night and was able to sleep. They did the MRI and are awaiting the results. They have her taking lots of different antibiotics to ensure that the infection will be obliterated. If the medicines don't work (which they will and are already working), I wouldn't be surprised if Dara does her own Kung Fu on the Meningitis. Our family can't thank everyone enough for your prayers and thoughts! I will try to update later today.
Julie

Pray, Pray!

We just go word from Art that Dara has taken a little downward turn for now. (I say for now, because I believe in God's healing power). She does have bacterial meningitis and the antibiotics they were giving her haven't been working. Her white blood count went back up and she started getting sick again everytime she moves. They have scheduled another MRI for this evening and hopefully we will know more soon.

We love you Dara! You are the best sister we could ever ask for!! Fight hard and know we are dreaming about the day we can all be together soon. We so wish we were there to hold your hand, but we know you are in the best hands ever with Art.

All our love, Michelle and Julie

Dara is still fighting!

Hello everyone! Michelle here - I just spoke with Art and he wanted me to post another update for Dara - our mighty and strong fighter! She had another really rough night last night. Her doctor looked at her CT from yesterday and said that he was pleased with the results because it looks like 90% of the area is drained and now the area/hole can begin to heal. Her white blood count is not as high and it seems the CSF level is down. The CSF is still being drained through the tube in her spine. But, it still looks like she may have meningitis. She may be going home with a pump inserted in her that will pump antibiotics for 3 weeks. (Hey, maybe she can leave it in and pump margaritas through it??) The cultures on the meningitis are still growing, but we have faith and pray it has stopped in her body. They may still have to insert a shunt in her head with a tube going to her intestines. As of now, she won't be going home until Monday.

Art - thank you for being by her side and for all of the updates!! You are a perfect match for Dara! We appreciate all of your love and energy and attention on Dara!

Much love and hugs and kisses to Cousin Misty and Gramma and Grandpa Freed! Thank you for holding down the Freed Fort and Dara's family is so grateful for your love and kindness towards Dara. We have always appreciated how you have accepted her as a true daughter of your own.

Shane - Art really appreciates all you are doing for his studio. Thank you for keeping the ball rolling while he is away!

Personally, I stand amazed at the wonderful friends she has made on her street! I always hear how yall are taking Maddie to school, having the kids over to play and giving her rides. Julie and I have so much comfort from the love and support yall have shown our sister. We so wish we lived closer so we could help, but we count you as a blessing that you are her neighbor. A big hug and kiss from Texas and Colorado!

Dara, this will all be a distant memory one day with a great story to inspire others. Phil 4:13 says "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" and that even means a FULL RECOVERY! We love you so much! Your family!

Nieces & Nephews praying for you!

IN A GRATITUDE MODE!

Michelle here - Dara's sister! She wanted me to post a new posting to update you on her stay in San Diego. Yes, she is in San Diego and has been admitted to the hospital. She is surfing and eating Mexican food everyday..well, we wish. She had a spinal tap inserted yesterday in her lower spine and will have it in for about 3 days. It is supposed to help drain fluid out of the site of her brain. They extracted fluid from her incision site to test for meningitis. We are still waiting for results! Last night was a really rough night as she was very sick and started to spike a temp close to 104 degrees. Also her white count was up and her body is fighting something! They have ran a CT, culture test and more blood test. I guess it is not too common to have these symptoms - but they are guessing she popped the plug! There is talk of her being in the hospital until maybe Sunday or Monday. She may have to have a shunt put in that will go from the "air head" site, down to her intestines?? Anyway - I loved Dara's story that she loved her night nurse (who was fairly a new nurse) and Dara was telling her the next steps to take. She went into nursing gear for herself - even telling her nurse now was the time to increase the morphine. Love it!! Dara always makes friends with all of the staff. She has also enjoyed seeing both of her surgeons as they have been checking in.
As I look at this situation and how I try to go about my day - Dara is an amazingly strong women who has blessed us all. She just kept saying her and Art are staying in a "gratitude mode" remembering that they have already been past the worst of the surgery! Now she will take one day at a time she said. I personally know God will not give her more than she can handle and I put my trust in him for complete healing. We thank everyone for their continued support and prayers!

On another note - if you haven't heard - we are planning a 40th bday celebration for Dara in San Antonio the weekend of November 15th. Several of us are running the San Antonio 1/2 or full marathon in honor of Dara and Acoustic Neuroma Awareness! You too are invited to enjoy us. We have been in conversation with the Executive Director at the Acoustic Neuroma Association and asking how we can raise funds for AWARENESS! Please join our campaign in hopes we can spread information/awareness for other families. If you are up for some spring/summer goals - how about a little fitness at the San Antonio Rock-n-Roll Marathon. It will be our first annual "Free Willy" run for AN awareness!!

Art, thanks for being the husband Dara has always dreamed of! I am so glad you are with her now.

We are anxiously awaiting all of her test results. If it is Meningitis - she will continue to fight. We will keep you posted! All of our love - Dara's family!

AIR HEAD springs a leak!

Hi everyone it has been a little bit of a roller coaster these past two weeks.  First of all we had a girlfriend of mine of 10 years Tracie came in from Colorado and she was very helpful around the house, with the kids and great company.  I got her hooked on some reality TV and we laughed a lot.  I have good days and some others loaded with headaches and fatigue.  If a bad day occurs, I know a better one is around the corner.  On this past Friday (always a the start of the weekend when we can not reach the Mds as readily)  I developed a throbbing headache, nausea and swelling at the temporal site. David Arbaugh and Joe Griffen from the crazy high school days were going to make a visit from San Diego and I was not feeling so hot.  It was great reminiscing about old times and laughing my booty by phone.   I put a message into the Mds and he said go to your Hospital in LA.  I knew something was not feeling right and these symptoms were different.  We just got our Sequoia back from the shop and I told Art I could drive myself.  He said absolutely NOT.  Driving oneself and the ER have no business being in the same sentence.  So, I grabbed by neighbor Barbara and she drove me to the hospital about 45 minutes away.  She was brave to take me in Friday afternoon traffic and we pretended that her mini van was a two seater Portia.  Art met me in the ER and off we go see Air Heads newest Head shots (CT scan).  I asked the CT tech if he could see my hole.  He said yes, very impressive.  I knew he would dig it and I got a little more special treatment after he saw the scans. The nice ER doc came in, Yep I have sprung a Cerebrel Spinal Fluid CSF Leak.  OUCH!  The good news is that the old bleeding site has stopped and my brain is starting to shift into the space where Willy once resided. Yea! They reached one of my surgeons in SD and he took a look at the CT.  He said to wrap the noggin really tight.  I mean really tight and to send me home for a few days to see if this resolves the leak.  I was happy to not get admitted because I have a better chance of keeping the hospital infections away.  I took my not so happy scrunched head home.  I was not to sick to pop a couple of pain pills and  we went for Mexican food on the way home.  Got some great stares, I guess I got my a taste of stardom, but I was hoping for a free dessert.  Once again Art and I looked at each other and decided the hard part was over removing Willy.  We will just cope with everything one day at a time and count our blessings.  It is Sunday and I have been pretty useless.  Lots of pain, bedrest and I am back to sleeping on the recliner.  Art is playing Mr. Mom and Hero once again.  We are suppose to call SD surgeons on Mon. AM and find out how long they want to leave the bandage on and when I need to come in and see them.  We have an exciting week coming up and Art's father is having surgery on Thur for the icing on the cupcake.  We were suppose to take a three night trip to the mountains with just the four of us to get away.  I glad we didn't go.  I bet my head would of exploded.  I will be great and will be sure to keep ya posted. New Pics of new head gear to follow.

Jule's Visit!

Jule's taking me out for frozen yogurt.

                      Julie and Madeline, Mason MIA

                                  

                                                           Cousin Chad (single) and Julie

                                            Julie and Dara

    Arty and Dara

                                                                                       FAMILY-COUSINS DINNER

Cousin Shane (single), Cousin Chad (single), Julie, Madeline, Mason, One of Art's Best Friends whom I adore Matt Matt, Arty, Me, Cousin Misty (not single) and her boyfriend Zach 

Jules was here Tuesday-Saturday afternoon and the visit flew by.  As you can see I hit her up the first day for yogurt and we all enjoyed it immensely.  We also had a wonderful home cooked meal by our awesome neighbors and friends, the Good's.  It was a wonderful pasta dish with a salad, garlic bread and apple pie-thank you.  We decided it would be the perfect meal to have a glass of red wine and it was delicious.  I was up all day with no  nap.  The next day we took it a little bit easier with me napping and Jules playing with the kids, taking them to the park and her keeping up with the dreaded laundry---Thank you Jules.  On Thursday she went to the grocery store, so I could keep on munching and made a couple more meals to freeze.  On Friday we went to take the kids to the new Dr. Seuss movie, I took a napper when we got home and we went to BJ's for a cousins dinner on Jule's last night. We had the best dinner and it was great to have us all together.  I had the dietetic Chicken Fried steak with mash potatoes.  My cousins actually live here in Los Angeles, so it is awesome to have them close.  It was so perfect to have Julie here.  She was so helpful with the kids and the house.  She will be so missed and My sisters and I are planning a trip July 18th to go home and all be together with mom, dad and Diana.  I think mom got the raw end of the visits where I took the most care. Good ol Mommy, I will be more fun this summer!

I have been having really vivid dreams of all of my high school friends.  I think it has been due to all the emails, blog remarks and cards that have been sent.  If you sent something then you can bet you have debut in my dreams.  I am having a great time with them and cant wait to see who visits me tonight.   My energy has been slowly progressing and I am anxious to get back on the courts.   Wendy and Stephanie will you hit with me one on one or should I say to me when I am a little more stable?  Tracie a dear sweet friend is coming tomorrow for a couple of days with Carole to possibly follow.  I love everyone for your support and will never take you, my life or my smile for granted.  I am anxious to have more go go, so I can give back to the community.  I am going to try driving without the kids next week (exciting-beware), so I can see if I am ready to partake in carpooling to school (thanks for covering Sherron-your a gem).  I am going to start updating on the first of each month, so you can follow my progress.  You must be getting a little tired of me, but all said and done this blog has been a lot fun connecting me with new and old friends and a great support tool. Thanks for putting up with my bad grammar and spelling.  Oh yea-my boy cousins are both single  Chad is 35 and Shane is 25.  Wouldn't it be super cool if my blog made a love connection for them.  Love to all and April is a few days away!

Opps THERE IT'S NOT!!

Howdy folks!  Ok this is from March 25, 2008, our follow-up visit in San Diego.  Mom Judi came and watched the Kids in the morning until Jules shows up at 2pm.   I got a little car sick, atypical for me, on the ride into San D.  Art's car is a little smaller than mine and I seemed to have felt every bump in the road.  So,  I mainly spent the ride down with my eyes closed, typical for me on long car rides.  I felt very confident shuffling into the MD's (my hero's) office.  In the office I met the chica that had her surgery for AN removal on the same day that morning.  She was really funny.  I do not think her recovery was going as well.  She encountered facial paralysis when she got home.   They put her on a steroid that is decreasing the swelling around that nerve and she has full function now.  The fatigue is kicking her butt too.  She stated that she told the doctor's that if she didn't go first that she would freak out waiting and walk out  of the hospital.  I was glad to be of assistance and go second.  I forgot to ask her how big "hers" was.  (I love to ask that question and freak everyone out when I blurt how big Willy was.  I like to do everything BIG.  Always have.)  I would of also liked to ask her how  they found hers.  She looked to be about 45.  Anyways, I had a kinddrid spirit towards her and wished her good luck as she went first (again) bravely to have her staples removed.  I listened for yelling and the coast was clear.  We wished each other continued good luck as she left to go home.  

I went in and saw my Hero!  I proudly showed him how the facial swelling had gone down.  I showed him my awesome scar and how good it looked.  I told him I still had right facial numbness and tingling, a mettalic taste, slurred speech and a mean shuffle, but they were all improving.  He said I may not get all the taste back on my entire tongue.  I said thats ok, I will just use the other portion to get my taste.  I have gained about 7 lbs since surgery, I needed that.  I think I am eating Arty out of house and home in search of finding a variety of food that tastes really good. I asked if Willy had anything to do with my poor memory.  He assured me no, which was disappointing, that I just have a sucky memory.  He said I could do memory exercises (like that's really gonna happen with a 3 and 5 year old.)  I am also having poor fine motor skill, like handwriting, which he states will get better with practice.  We took the staples out with Art bravely assisting the MD.  It did not hurt and they came out smoothly in about 2 minutes.  I don't have to go back to see him for another year when I go in for another CT.  We shuffled out of there walker free and happy!  I said where do you want to eat to celebrate again, maybe Mexican and off we go in search of the perfect meal.  (One of our Hobbies pre and post Willy)  We went downtown and had the best Mexican food that we have had in a long time.  We headed home to see sis Jules who made it safely in from Texas and is staying for 5 days.  Lucky me what a great trip with a great treat seeing Jules at home.  Thank you Melissa for the plane ticket, Chris for making it happen and EJ for watching Bella and Lila while she takes off time from being a Mommy and babysits me.  I almost forgot that I got cleared to drink an occasional glass of wine, which I am also gonna save for Julie.

New Beginnings- Easter, March 23, 2008!

Easter was a lot of fun and it was great that Mom was still with us.  She leaves us tomorrow and Julie arrives while I am in San Diego getting the staples removed.  Mom and I played Easter bunny while and Art and his family took the kiddos to a museum.  We stuffed the eggs while placing one candy in the egg and one in our mouths.  The kids didn't wake up until 8am, unlike Michelle, Julie and I 4 am awakenings.  They had a ball hunting the eggs and tearing into the baskets.  Then, Mom and Maddie went to church and counted all our blessings.  I did not think I could make it through the entire service and it was outside.  When they got home we headed to Mai and Pauly's  house to see the family.  They put on an egg-xelent Easter lunch with ham, potatoes, green beans, mac n cheese, salas, cole  slaw, rolls, and an ice cream sundae bar.  My taste is getting a little bit better, I loved the green beaners.  We then had a second egg hunt.  It was a perfect day and we all gave thanks for all our blessings once again.  I was so happy to just be there.  By the end of the day we were egg-hausted.   (Easter Humor, instead on tumor humor bc he is atsa lavista Baby  sp.)  I really hope everyone else had an awesome day of thanks and new beginnings.  Mom will be missed and thank you again everyone who made it happen.  We had a brain fart and forgot to take pictures through the entire day, imagine that.

A trip to the ER last night.

I have been watching this facial edema since Monday.  I called my surgeon on Tuesday and he felt the swelling was normal and to keep him posted.  Last evening around 6:30pm I realized that my right side of my face was puffier and I was having to take a few more pain pills through out the day.  I got scared and had pop Syl. drive me to the ER and Art meet me there from work.  I had read on the internet about brain swelling and fluid on the brain.  I know if there is fluid on the brain that I have to go back in for surgery.   I think I was more scared going back to the ER then even preparing for surgery.  They completed a CT of the head and did find out I have a small bleed at the tumor site.  The doctors had to do a lot of communication between the neurosurgeons at Woodland Hills and San Diego.  We were relieved when the surgeon on call in San Diego did get to see the scan for himself and said it is not normal, but somewhat expected with as vascular and big the tumor was to have some residual bleeding.  I am not throwing up, no extreme head pain, no visual differences, so he felt good with sending me home.  I am now awaiting to hear from my surgeon to see what he makes of the CT and how he wants to monitor things.   The doctor assured me it was nothing that I did nor I did not do-It just happens.  I have been following the docs orders to the T and wanted to make sure I did not mess up.  I have left two messages and have not heard back.  I will keep you posted.  I am sure he is not overly concerned or I would of heard from him by now.   A scary night-the swelling is better today as well.  Art you were strong and great!!! and thanks pop Syl for the lift.

**I heard back form the surgeon and everything is good!  I leave Tuesday 25th for a followup visit and staple removal.  The facial swelling is still going down.