Bob Levinson

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place.  Writing this is his daughter Anita.  So a lot has happened in the last week or so.  The dates and days are blurry.  Let me start by saying that he is on the road to recovery and a full one at that.  Now that your heart has stopped pounding let me fill you in......
late September, Lauren started to notice that Dad's gait was off.  He was shuffling and walking with a forward gait.  After contacting and seeing a doctor on the island, they ended up with a doctor at Swedish and determined that he had a tumor in his brain.  After a weekend of a lot of concern and worry they did find out it was a benign tumor, golf ball size in his brain, which needed to come out.  So on Thursday Sept 30 they removed the tumor.  Luckily, the tumor was in a part of the brain that didn't affect a whole lot and the prognosis was very good.  Unfortunately, within a day or so they noticed that the fluids around his brain were not draining like they should causing a lot of "fogginess" and exhaustion for Dad.  So it was determined that they needed to go back in and perform another surgery, putting a shunt into his brain to drain the fluid.  At this point I flew out to Seattle and was there to hear the doctor explain the surgery to all of us.  It was a routine surgery, with an excellent outcome.  When asked about the risks the doctor replied that the risks were the "normal" risks of surgery along with his age.  However, this was the one surgeon who realized that my dad is like no other 83 year old and was willing to perform the surgery with confidence.  He said the recovery prognosis was good albeit may be a little bit longer because of his age.  The shunt surgery was performed this past Thursday October 6th with great success.  Dad is very tired, still has the fogginess as the shunt takes a few days to kick in fully, although a lot of fluid has been drained.  He is able to move around, although the exhaustion is keeping him in bed, he is able to speak although his throat is sore from the breathing tube and again the exhaustion and fogginess are slowing him down.  If you ask him how he is doing he replies "better then I deserve" which is his pat answer to that question.  He recognizes people and is eating very well.  His color is good and he looks great.  Lauren had the nurses give him a shave and he looks like my healthy dad.  


Noone ( medical professional)   has given us any cause for concern.  His recovery will look something like this........once he is able to leave the hospital, which should be within a few days he will go to a "recovery/rehab facility" where they will fully focus on getting him back up to "Bob-speed".  How long this will take?  We are not positive at this moment.  However, you know my dad, he will be up and at it in no time.  That is why we have set up this page.  To keep you posted on his recovery.  You may leave messages and we will be sure he kows about each and every one of them.


I would like to say on a personal note how impressed I have been with Swedish Hospital.  His doctor is one of the best (yes, he was googled by a family member) and the care of my dad from EVERY single person, medical professional or not, at that hospital could make me cry.


Lauren has been by his side every minute.  And watching those two with each has made me cry.  She has, is and will take such good care of my dad.  



I spent a few days out there and had to get back to Chicago for work.  I only left because I knew my Dad was in the most excellent hands with his doctors and also the rest of the family.  We are so lucky to have an amazing family close by Dad to help with whatever is needed.  I will be back at Thanksgiving along with the rest of my family and Dad will get to meet his great granddaughter Eloise Jean for the first time.  That will be a wonderful moment for us all.


So while I am sorry to have to deliver this scary news about our beloved Bob, let me assure you he is in the best possible care and has the love, support and prayers of so many.
I will keep you up to date, I promise.
Anita


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