I’m bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won’t fall
I AM TITANIUM!
– David Guetta “Titanium”
Rachel is in ICU this morning, on the road to recovery. She is much improved from last night, although the muscles in her right temple hurt a lot. This was expected to be the worst pain area — chewing won’t be a lot of fun for the next week. She’s getting the pain meds she needs, and right now is sleeping.
I wanted to add some details about how the surgery went. After removing a cookie-sized piece of her skull, they put electrodes directly on her brain surface. This allows them to measure the electrical activity MUCH more precisely than EEG electrodes on the skull. Apparently it is very easy to identify seizure-causing areas from the pattern of brain waves, even when she is not actually having a seizure. Seizure areas have regular spikes. The results of this test made her neurologist Dr. Porter VERY happy — it gave her confidence that the surgery they were about to do was the right one.
The next step was removing the tumor. This was Dr. Cheshier’s turn to get happy. He told us that as he removed the tissue, it was REALLY obvious which tissue was tumor and which tissue was normal. Sometimes the distinction is subtle, but not in Rachel’s case (what an obedient little girl, to have a clearly-delineated tumor). This is what made him describe the surgery as “routine” and “perfect”. He had no trouble seeing exactly what to remove, and he is sure that he got it all.
The last step of the surgery was closing her back up. They put the piece of skull back in place, just like the top of a jack-o-lantern. Except in this case, they sealed it in place with titanium plates. The titanium is not magnetic, so MRIs and airport security will not be a problem.
And now Rachel REALLY IS Titanium!!!
Rachel is Titanium and brave. The bravest girl I know! Rachel, do you like pumpkin pie? It is soft and pumpkin is a vegetable. Do you like tapioca pudding? Tapioca comes from a root and therefore is also a vegetable. Eat your vegetables, Rachel. They will help you recover. And drink lots of smoothies.
Rachel is so awesome! I can’t believe anyone could look that gorgeous in an ICU unit the day after 6-hour brain surgery. We love you, Rachel! (Aunt Anne, speaking for the whole Boris family, all of whom have kept you in their prayers)
Rachel, Karin and Bruce,
You are ALL an inspiration to us as you have bravely shared your nightmare year…and have helped us all learn how to trust each step of the way, even when it seems there is another dark corner with no way forward. My prayer for you is always that you have the best people in front of you to guide you through the next step, taking your hand, and the light of Christ shining within to illuminate paths of uncertainty. God loves you; God will bring you health and wholeness, body, mind and spirit!!
Now I have tears of joy.
Rachel, you are beautiful.
I also have tears of joy! This is the best possible outcome!! God is good! Rachel is the bravest girl I know, and Bruce and Karin have shown their courage throughout. We love you all!
That’s my cousin!!! We always knew she was of a special rare earth mineral 🙂