Then, the EEG team (led by Dr. Laoprasert) on the EMU (electronic monitoring unit) watched Charles for a full week for brain activity, including a 5 hour stimulation mid-week which he ROCKED. Charles had a pretty cool week, as rough as it was (lots of pain, seizures, wound pain, etc.). He had the band, Dearling, perform in his room, and then the cool program Bags of Fun delivered a backpack FULL of fun presents, games, books, kindle fire, etc. It was AMAZING. It's a program designed for children with life threatening illnesses by a mother of a 6 year old who lost her daughter to cancer several years ago. He was pretty darn excited. It came at just the right time when Charles desperately wanted to go home. I stayed the whole week with him at the hospital (he can't be alone on the EMU floor for even a minute).
Charles also had LOTS of cards to read. He received 140 cards! 70 from classmates and 70 from friends and family through the hospital's on-line card delivery service, as well as 3-4 beautiful handmade cards mailed to his house (Thanks Bernadine!). I am grateful for all the love and support and prayers from SO many friends and family (and some complete strangers) on his behalf. Charles is home now from the hospital and is currently enjoying day 4 of no seizures. There is a phenomenon where if you introduce foreign objects into the brain, you can have temporary loss of seizures, which has been a welcomed break.
And, now, we are currently awaiting his surgery for a brain resection where Dr. O'Neil will remove the section of the brain that is causing the seizures. It is scheduled for May 19, but there is a possible opening on April 14, so we will wait and see if they could be ready by then...there is a LOT of preparation that goes into planning these surgeries, as you can imagine.
