Yesterday was truly a day to celebrate! Not only did Logan have his staples removed...but we found out for SURE THAT THE TUMOR IS BENIGN!!!!! Hooray! I cannot beging to tell you what it's like to actually be able to take a deep breath just for that sake of doing so, NOT because you are trying to suppress butterflies!
Dr. Thompson also mentioned that it may not be the rare Pituicytoma (35 known cases in the entire world) but it could be an even RARER tumor called a Schwannoma. They have sent the tumor off to a Dr. Peter Berger at John's Hopkins (the pathologists at Vanderbilt actually trained under him), a renowned pathologist, to see what he thinks it is.
I always knew Logan was "one of a kind"!
He continues to do a little better each day but also continues to tire very easily. This should last another couple weeks most likely. But that's okay, it just means his body is doing what it is supposed to be doing...HEALING.
You know a 17 yr old boy is not feeling well when he can't even play a video game! : )
Logan may return to school at the end of next week or the following week on a half-day basis...I think his body will let him know what it can and cannot tolerate.
That's about it for now, I will update again in a few days!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
They came and did an update this morning. (1/16) It aired at 6 and 9pm. For those who live out of town, you should be able to access the video http://tristatehomepage.com/
Thanks!!!!!! Rhonda
Thanks!!!!!! Rhonda
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Home Again...
We arrived home safely yesterday afternoon. Logan is SO HAPPY to be back in his own bed! (so are mom and dad...I think it's the best I've slept since December 21st!)
Each day gets a little better and we continue to thank God for that. He is really doing quite well. He is still struggling with pain but we have become a great team at keeping it under control. Being an athlete I think has really helped him in interpreting his body's needs. I am just so proud of how he has handled this whole situation. What an accomplishment for a 17 year old!
We will go to our family doctor on Friday to have the 28 staples removed. I'm sure that too will make him feel even better. Then it's just continuing to recover until we head down on Feb 25th for all of the post-op appointments. We expect to hear within the next 7 -10 days the final pathology report. We are comfortable that the outcome will be good but will not breathe normally until then...what a ride this has been! Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers until you see the final update that states it is confirmed benign.
Again we are just so thankful for all of you...you have lifted us up so many times when it would have been just as easy to slide down...we are forever grateful.
Tim, Rhonda, Sidney and LOGAN
Each day gets a little better and we continue to thank God for that. He is really doing quite well. He is still struggling with pain but we have become a great team at keeping it under control. Being an athlete I think has really helped him in interpreting his body's needs. I am just so proud of how he has handled this whole situation. What an accomplishment for a 17 year old!
We will go to our family doctor on Friday to have the 28 staples removed. I'm sure that too will make him feel even better. Then it's just continuing to recover until we head down on Feb 25th for all of the post-op appointments. We expect to hear within the next 7 -10 days the final pathology report. We are comfortable that the outcome will be good but will not breathe normally until then...what a ride this has been! Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers until you see the final update that states it is confirmed benign.
Again we are just so thankful for all of you...you have lifted us up so many times when it would have been just as easy to slide down...we are forever grateful.
Tim, Rhonda, Sidney and LOGAN
Sunday, January 13, 2008
We are OUT!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, today is the 13th, 4 days post surgery...Logan was JUST discharged and we are resting comfortably at the hotel. We plan on staying close by for a day or two. There are some things that Logan had not yet accomplished that makes us just a bit nervous going ahead and leaving but yet we understand that he's better off out of there.
We have gone to Walgreen's and picked up his 50 prescriptions (yes I'm exagerating a bit...but JUST a bit!) and are laying in bed watching the Colts lose (only at this moment tho!)
He is in good spirits and is glad to have a new celing to stare at! : )
When we are 100% confident that we are comfortable with Logan being far away from Vandy and that we can properly administer his meds, will be homeward bound!
That's about it for now...as I'm sure all of you are, we are so just so impressed with his progresss and are anxious to be back home with family and friends!
Love to everyone!!!!!! Tim, Rhonda, Sid and LOGAN!
We have gone to Walgreen's and picked up his 50 prescriptions (yes I'm exagerating a bit...but JUST a bit!) and are laying in bed watching the Colts lose (only at this moment tho!)
He is in good spirits and is glad to have a new celing to stare at! : )
When we are 100% confident that we are comfortable with Logan being far away from Vandy and that we can properly administer his meds, will be homeward bound!
That's about it for now...as I'm sure all of you are, we are so just so impressed with his progresss and are anxious to be back home with family and friends!
Love to everyone!!!!!! Tim, Rhonda, Sid and LOGAN!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Jan 12th
Good morning from Vandy...
Logan had a more restful night but is still in quite a lot pain. We are waiting for him to start eating and moving about...this could translate into us maybe being able to get out of here earlier than expected. It is actually safer for him to be out of a germy hospital than in one , however we also don't want to leave here too soon with the distance between the hospital and our home.
The endocrine team feels that they are getting a handle on his diabetes insipidus and hope that he will start recognizing the signs that he needs to use his medicine. It's quite interesting, it is a nasal spray that he will use that will regulate his fluid levels...hmmm
His shiner is starting to subside, it's a beautiful shade of red at the moment! He just had his catheter removed and although he says it was the most painful thing he has every experienced, he is feeling like a new man!
That's about it for now...Logan just got cleaned up, got his morphine and is headed off to la-la land...will update again tomorrow!
Logan had a more restful night but is still in quite a lot pain. We are waiting for him to start eating and moving about...this could translate into us maybe being able to get out of here earlier than expected. It is actually safer for him to be out of a germy hospital than in one , however we also don't want to leave here too soon with the distance between the hospital and our home.
The endocrine team feels that they are getting a handle on his diabetes insipidus and hope that he will start recognizing the signs that he needs to use his medicine. It's quite interesting, it is a nasal spray that he will use that will regulate his fluid levels...hmmm
His shiner is starting to subside, it's a beautiful shade of red at the moment! He just had his catheter removed and although he says it was the most painful thing he has every experienced, he is feeling like a new man!
That's about it for now...Logan just got cleaned up, got his morphine and is headed off to la-la land...will update again tomorrow!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Jan. 11th
Good afternoon...sorry it's taken me longer today to update!
Logan had a rough day and night yesterday. Today is not really any better. He's in quite a lot of pain and has been pretty much on pain meds continuously. They are continuing to monitor his fluid balances. It is very obvious when the medication has worn off as his catheter fills up very quickly!
There really isn't much more to report as it is now more of a waiting game than anything.
Dr. Thompson did say that had he only been a nuero patient, he would be leaving today or tomorrow. However, since there is so much to deal with from the endocrine side, that is what will keep us here longer. There is a CHANCE we could get out of here on Monday. It's all up to Mr. Logan...he has to eat (he has only had sherbert and a protein drink to date) and has to get up and about...he walked one lap this morning and then crashed!
Thank you again to all of you who are anxiously awaiting news and our homecoming!
Tim, Rhonda and LOGAN
Logan had a rough day and night yesterday. Today is not really any better. He's in quite a lot of pain and has been pretty much on pain meds continuously. They are continuing to monitor his fluid balances. It is very obvious when the medication has worn off as his catheter fills up very quickly!
There really isn't much more to report as it is now more of a waiting game than anything.
Dr. Thompson did say that had he only been a nuero patient, he would be leaving today or tomorrow. However, since there is so much to deal with from the endocrine side, that is what will keep us here longer. There is a CHANCE we could get out of here on Monday. It's all up to Mr. Logan...he has to eat (he has only had sherbert and a protein drink to date) and has to get up and about...he walked one lap this morning and then crashed!
Thank you again to all of you who are anxiously awaiting news and our homecoming!
Tim, Rhonda and LOGAN
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Thursday Jan. 10th
Good morning!
Logan is laying beside me resting comfortably. They (the nurses) are doing a wonderful job keeping his pain under control.
First of all I have to report that at about 11:30 this morning, Logan turned on the TV and started to cry when he realized he could see the score ticker at the bottom of the screen! He couldn't even see the big E at the top of the eye chart!!!!!!!!! What a blessing!
He had an MRI at 2:30 this morning. I assume this was to establish a baseline for future MRIs. Not sure why they had to wake him up in the middle of the night but they didn't ask for my opinion!
Logan has definitely developed diabetes insipidus. This is from the involovement of the pituitary gland. It is crucial that they stay on top of this. They are constantly monitoring things and drawing labs.
They are giving him steroids to help wih the swelling...
We have not yet seen a doctor today, not sure when but we should be meeting with the nuerossurgeon and the endocrinologist. Anxious! Will be sure to update everyone.
Rhonda
Logan is laying beside me resting comfortably. They (the nurses) are doing a wonderful job keeping his pain under control.
First of all I have to report that at about 11:30 this morning, Logan turned on the TV and started to cry when he realized he could see the score ticker at the bottom of the screen! He couldn't even see the big E at the top of the eye chart!!!!!!!!! What a blessing!
He had an MRI at 2:30 this morning. I assume this was to establish a baseline for future MRIs. Not sure why they had to wake him up in the middle of the night but they didn't ask for my opinion!
Logan has definitely developed diabetes insipidus. This is from the involovement of the pituitary gland. It is crucial that they stay on top of this. They are constantly monitoring things and drawing labs.
They are giving him steroids to help wih the swelling...
We have not yet seen a doctor today, not sure when but we should be meeting with the nuerossurgeon and the endocrinologist. Anxious! Will be sure to update everyone.
Rhonda
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Great News from Vanderbilt
Updated 1/9/08 4pm
Logan's surgery is over and he is in ICU. The tumor was completely removed and believed to be benign. Further lab results will verify. To the surprise of the surgeons, the tumor was not a Craniopharynginoma. Rather, it was a rare tumor only documented 35 times in the world. It was not intertwined with the brain stalk and was easily removed without damage to the area. Obviously, these results are far better than anticipated.
Logan is visiting with family and friends, alert and talking. It appears that the vision in his right eye is intact at this time. Tests will provide more information in the upcoming days.
Watch for more updates.
Logan's surgery is over and he is in ICU. The tumor was completely removed and believed to be benign. Further lab results will verify. To the surprise of the surgeons, the tumor was not a Craniopharynginoma. Rather, it was a rare tumor only documented 35 times in the world. It was not intertwined with the brain stalk and was easily removed without damage to the area. Obviously, these results are far better than anticipated.
Logan is visiting with family and friends, alert and talking. It appears that the vision in his right eye is intact at this time. Tests will provide more information in the upcoming days.
Watch for more updates.
Surgery Update
Updated 1/9/081:45pm:
We just received word that the tumor is out! We do not know anymore at this point but the nurse said she was smiling!!!!! We are waiting to talk to the doctor when everything is finished...will post another update soon!
We just received word that the tumor is out! We do not know anymore at this point but the nurse said she was smiling!!!!! We are waiting to talk to the doctor when everything is finished...will post another update soon!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Thoughts from the Dame Family
Updated 1/7/08 9:30am
I'm not quite sure how to write what I'm feeling when in all actuality I am speechless.
At first what I thought was going to be a "journey" for the Dame family has turned into a "journey" for our entire community. I can honestly say that we are honored to have each and everyone one of you who has prayed, volunteered your time, donated items and/or money and most importantly gave us your hearts, travel down this road with us.
We are so very thankful to EVERYONE that showed up yesterday at the Rock-A-Thon to support Logan. What started out as a way to get Logan and some of the kids together before we left for Nashville turned into something so much more and we will be FOREVER grateful. There has not been an hour that goes by since the start of the Rock-A-Thon to right now as I'm typing, that I don't find myself going back to yesterday and feeling, once again, the pride that filled my heart as I watched family, friends and strangers embrace our son. Whether you realize it or not, you're all going to Nashville with us....thank you for that.
The Dame Family
Tim, Rhonda, Sidney and LOGAN
I'm not quite sure how to write what I'm feeling when in all actuality I am speechless.
At first what I thought was going to be a "journey" for the Dame family has turned into a "journey" for our entire community. I can honestly say that we are honored to have each and everyone one of you who has prayed, volunteered your time, donated items and/or money and most importantly gave us your hearts, travel down this road with us.
We are so very thankful to EVERYONE that showed up yesterday at the Rock-A-Thon to support Logan. What started out as a way to get Logan and some of the kids together before we left for Nashville turned into something so much more and we will be FOREVER grateful. There has not been an hour that goes by since the start of the Rock-A-Thon to right now as I'm typing, that I don't find myself going back to yesterday and feeling, once again, the pride that filled my heart as I watched family, friends and strangers embrace our son. Whether you realize it or not, you're all going to Nashville with us....thank you for that.
The Dame Family
Tim, Rhonda, Sidney and LOGAN
Updated 1/7/08 8:30am
Thanks to everyone who attended or helped with the Rock-A-Thon. It was a wonderful event and a special day in Logan's life, never to be forgotton.
Thanks to everyone who attended or helped with the Rock-A-Thon. It was a wonderful event and a special day in Logan's life, never to be forgotton.
Read today's article in the Courier and Press. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jan/07/crowd-rocks-to-raise-funds/
View the 14WFIE video from the Rock-A-Thon.
http://www.14wfie.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?
View the pictures from the Rock-A-Thon at RockAThon Pictures
For those still wanting a tee shirt, they will be sold at the Castle Junior High School on Tuesday, at lunchtime and at the basketball game at CHS on Tuesday night.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Updated 1/4/08 4:40pm
The support for Logan from friends, classmates, and the community has been overwhelming. T-shirts and bracelets will be sold at the Castle basketball games at CHS on Saturday and Tuesday nights. Join us at the Rock-A-Thon, Sunday, from 12-6 at the CHS cafeteria. There will be entertainment - the Boom Squad, a magician, and the band - Deaf Meagan along with food and drinks. Come support Logan and his family.
Attached is a link from Thursday night's newscast from WTVW Evansville, http://tristatehomepage.com/media_player.php?media_id=5397 and Friday's newscast from 14WFIE, go to 14 News Top Video (right side of the page0 and scroll over to Cancer Benefit: Residents prepare to rock. http://www.wfie.com/Global/category.asp?C=3490&nav=menu54_1_6
To read the Evansville Courier and Press article about Logan, dated Friday, Jan. 4th use the following link. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jan/04/brain-surgery-in-his-future/
The support for Logan from friends, classmates, and the community has been overwhelming. T-shirts and bracelets will be sold at the Castle basketball games at CHS on Saturday and Tuesday nights. Join us at the Rock-A-Thon, Sunday, from 12-6 at the CHS cafeteria. There will be entertainment - the Boom Squad, a magician, and the band - Deaf Meagan along with food and drinks. Come support Logan and his family.
Attached is a link from Thursday night's newscast from WTVW Evansville, http://tristatehomepage.com/media_player.php?media_id=5397 and Friday's newscast from 14WFIE, go to 14 News Top Video (right side of the page0 and scroll over to Cancer Benefit: Residents prepare to rock. http://www.wfie.com/Global/category.asp?C=3490&nav=menu54_1_6
To read the Evansville Courier and Press article about Logan, dated Friday, Jan. 4th use the following link. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jan/04/brain-surgery-in-his-future/
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