Hard Week

This last week has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. My mom has been having headaches for the last few months and they have progressively gotten worse and worse. She was here in Nampa visiting the week before memorial day and Andrew and I finally convinced her to go to the doctor. We took her to an instacare and she was diagnosed with a tension headache. The doctor gave her a bunch of medicines but none of them relieved the headaches at all. She went to her family doctor when she got home and recieved an MRI and was diagnosed with a brain tumor last Wednesday. We were all shocked and terrified.
My dad took her to the U of U Medical Center on Friday and she has been there ever since. The tumor was quite large, 2 inches by 2 inches, and all of the doctors were amazed that she hasn't had more symptoms like ceasures, blurred vision, etc. They didn't want to do surgery over the weekend because not many of the doctors are in town so they have given her steroids to help the swelling go down and some anti-ceasure medication. The medicine has helped tremendously with the pain, which we are all very grateful for. Yesterday she had an angiogram which is a procedure where they put a catheder through one of the main blood vessels in her groin and work it all the way up to the tumor just above her left ear. They inject it with dye and medicine to try to kill off some of the blood vessels, so the surgery isn't so bloody. She goes in for surgery tomorrow morning to have the tumor removed. The doctors are very optimistic that the tumor is not cancerous and that they will be able to take care of it with the surgery. I am comforted knowing that she is in good hands. The neurosurgeons at the U of U are some of the best in the country.
My mom is an amazing woman. She has had the best attitude through all of it. She knows that whatever the outcome, it is for a reason. Her biggest concern was getting her head shaved! She was relieved to find out that they would only have to shave a section of hair where they would be operating! I admire her so much for her strength and her faith. She really is the most incredible woman I know and I love her so much. I am sooo grateful for everyone who has fasted and prayed for her and for our whole family. It is amazing to be a member of a church that truly cares for and takes care of it's members. I was in Salt Lake from Friday to Sunday and when I got home on Sunday the members of my ward had already arranged for people to watch my boys on Wed. Thurs. and Friday so that I could go back to Salt Lake and Andrew wouldn't have to miss so much work. I have been overwhelmed with the goodness and generosity of so many people. Thank you, thank you. My love to you all.