12/08/07 - almost six months after losing Miguel! How much you have contributed to the healing in this indescribale process. As promised earlier, I am sharing Mike's final report, quoting directly from the autopsy. "This 65-year-old male presented with a sudden rapid deterioration and altered mental status in March 2007. Work-up did not demonstrate any stroke, vasculitis, or viral encephalitis. Magnetic resonance imaging, lumbar puncture, and cerebral arteriogram were within normal limits. A brain biopsy was performed and the specimen was sent to the Cleveland Clinic. No morphologic or immunohistochemical evidence for prion disease was found. A separate consultation at the MD Anderson Cancer Center did not identify any pathologic process that would explain his clinical course. He sustained an abscess and infection at the biopsy site. He never recovered and expired June 23, 2007. . . . " Final and bottom line "The pathologic changes in this case do not reveal any firm evidence for a known and diagnosable neurodegenerative disease." We have had this report for a month now. After consulting with a neurologist and pathologist here in Tulsa (who agreed that nothing would be gained from further autopsy studies) and knowing that Mike's neuropathologist at the OU Lab is highly respected, I have decided to let go of needing to know why Mike died. At least our children know what he did not die of. After two years of not, I have been traveling again - California, Moloka'i, relatives and friends in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri. Will go to Sanibel Island for Christmas, Feb. Medical trip to Guatemala, Providenciales in April - avoiding the special days in a home with an empty chair at the head of the table. I miss Mike more than I would ever have imagined. Working at Hallett, Tulsa University, and Tulsa Public Schools, reading helpful books, participating in support groups, receiving your love and attention help me to be in gratitude for each moment. Thanks for seeing me through my tears.
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