Dale Legal

For those that have been around my dad this fall, you may have noticed that he hasn't quite been himself.  He had increasingly been having difficultly with flexability and movement, as well as finding his words at times.   Last week (2/3), he was diagnosed with a tumor growing in his brain. On 2/7, we met with a neurosurgeon at JHH. This doctor thinks that Dad most likely has a a slow growing tumor or glioma, which has possibly been there for years. Even though there has been a significant increase in symptoms this fall, he thinks it's likely slow growing.   We are in process of having a biopsy scheduled, we hope Tuesday, Wed at latest.  He has to be off of his Plavix for a week.  The biopsy will involve an overnight stay at JHH; the outcome will confirm the tumor, hopefully tell us the type of glioma and drive the treatment Dad receives (most likely radiation and/or chemo). I think we are all nervous about the biopsy, especially considering the strokes that Dad experienced following his 2 previous surgeries over the last 10 years. But I think there is a relief in knowing that something is causing Dads symptoms... he's not just turning into a lazy grumpy old man for Mom to nag that he needs get off his rear and do something.  We hope that the tumor can be treated, his neurological functioning will improve/return, and he will be back to overdoing things in his typical fashion.