Micki Rappe

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. 
Timeline:  March 3 - to SBL ER with suspected stroke, though Mom's symptoms weren't 'sudden onset.' An MRI next day diagnosed CVA in left parietal lobe. Only damage was to her speech. "high functioning aphasia" She could still text and speak, just some words were hard to find. On March 24, a short 3 weeks later, we went to Carle's ED because her symptoms were getting worse. A CT showed a 5cm mass in left frontal lobe. Since she was on aspirin therapy after the stroke diagnosis, surgery had to be delayed 5 days and we watched helplessly as her abilities plummeted (speech gone, right arm movement gone, right leg beginning to go the night before surgery). Being a right-handed 73-year-old, not being able to speak or write continues to make communication a challenge, though she gets her point across better at some times than others! lol 

March 31 - total removal of mass: surgeons and pathology confirm primary brain cancer: grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. That next week was spent in ICU and Advanced Care, and the following 2 in IP Rehab at Covenant, where her abilities again nosedived on Wednesday the 2nd week, 3 weeks after surgery. CT and MRI showed swelling, including a 3 mm shift in the midline of the brain. That Saturday she was discharged to home with us. For the next 10 days her abilities went downhill as we tried to start radiation (15 days) and chemo (21 days). She was readmitted to Carle last Wednesday, 5/3. The rest, and some overlap, is in our postings. Thanks again for prayers and positive energy sent her way!