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Hello all! This is our site to help keep you all updated with Lori's information on where we are at with her health. I (Karli) will be doing the majority of the updating as I have the medical background and can understand most of what is going on - haha. Wade and Kurt will also be adding to this as they see fit. I suggested putting this up so we, as a family, are able to notify our friends and family with what is going on. While we love your support, it is sometimes difficult to know who we all need to update and also manage our own schedules with Dr. visits and other important dates.
Below is a history of what conspired prior to seeing Dr. Van Gumple at the Mayo Clinic.
In 2016, the kids noticed Lori walking a little slower and seemed a little unsteady on her feet. Since Karli is an Athletic Trainer, she noticed Lori walking with a significant drop foot (Foot drop is a gait abnormality in which the dropping of the foot happens due to weakness, irritation or damage to the nerves. It is usually a symptom of a greater problem, not a disease in itself) when her parents would visit her at the Gopher Softball stadium in the early spring of 2017. After learning of other symptoms that Lori had and consulting with Wade, Ashley, and Kurt, the family began pushing Lori to see a physician. When Lori saw the physician in early June of 2017, they noticed both legs had arteries that were clotted from her hip to her ankle. Through lots of physician appointments and surgeries, they finally resolved Lori's cold feet and walking problems. However, that was short-lived.
In March of 2018, Karli noticed Lori's balance was worse and her drop foot was not improving. Again, after consulting with Wade and Ashley along with the combination of Kurt injuring himself in April, Lori went in to see her physician. They ordered physical therapy in hopes to see some improvement. While she was walking better, it still wasn't great and her drop foot remained. In June, her physician ordered an MRI of Lori's brain in hopes to find the answers to the question we've all had - what was causing this? Unfortunately, and fortunately, we got our question answered.
The MRI showed a meningioma - a benign brain tumor that is formed from the meninges of the brain (outer casing of the brain). The meningioma was 7 cm and compressing some of the major arteries to her brain and structures that help with swallowing, balance, and memory.
With that news, we were connected to Dr. Chabot at the St. Cloud Hospital. From there, he connected us to Dr. Van Gompel at the Mayo Clinic.
Lori is a fighter and won't give up hope. She is always keeping a positive outlook (yes, we aren't kidding here!) and ready for the next appointment and surgery so she can get back to her normal self. She is hoping to get back to enjoying time at the cabin fishing and wants to be able to spend as much time possible with her new granddaughter, Fiona.
Please pray for steady hands for the surgeons, solid minds for the physicians, and strong hearts for the family. Thank you, Karli Persson
Comments from Lori: Today Kurt and I left Avon at 4:15 this morning for the Mayo. Had blood work and an MRI and then met with the doctor. This is the first MRI I have had since my radiation last fall. The remaining part of the tumor has not grown and is stable. I don't have to have another MRI until next year! Thanks for all your well wishes and prayers.
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