Waiting in Uncertainty

February 12, 2024

Information is more public now so I feel comfortable sharing here.

My parents, brothers, and I are in California. My mom has been having strokes since 2015 and had another one in November which led to a rare diagnosis that’s causing the strokes.

While there is no cure, there is a procedure involving arterial bypass surgery in the brain that can help. Very few doctors perform this surgery and only one in the world performs this surgery regularly. And this doctor is at Stanford University Medical Center.

After a week of testing, we anticipated the surgery would happen today, although we were still waiting on one final test result about her blood platelet levels for surgery clearance. She was given a surgical time yesterday, but then we received a call shortly after that stating the test came back elevated and the surgery had to be postponed.

So medication therapy is in place to try and support her body in moving toward a significantly lower platelet count. After this medication is fully in her system, surgery may happen next week if her body responds. If it does not respond, we may be returning to New York so she can try another intervention and then hopefully return again to California in a few weeks for the surgery.

You can imagine all the feelings. First, the anticipation for the surgery. Then the anticipation that it might not happen. And now the anticipation about intervention and timing and planning and housing. So much unknown.

But here is what we do know:

~ We know we are loved.

~ We know she has a capable and caring medical team making decisions in her best interest.

~ We know her safety has been and continues to be a priority.

~ We know we are rooted in gratitude as we continue to ride the waves of uncertainty together.