This post was written about: December 18, 2015
MRI machines—you’d think with all the advancements we have, I wouldn’t have to climb into a machine the size of a room and listen to that banging for an hour and a half just to get a picture of my brain and part of my spine. I had the MRIs on Monday, and today is Friday. I haven’t heard the results yet, so I call to check with them. I wait in anticipation. We are hoping for no new spots.
The nurse calls me back first. She tells me there are no new spots on my spine, which is great news. “However," she continues, "it looks like there are two new spots in your brain. One of them is glowing.”
Silence.
“Hmmm…I’m not really sure,” she says. “It doesn’t really make sense. The radiologist’s report is pretty short. I’ll have the doctor call you back today.”
When we hang up, I’m not really sure what I think.
Two new spots.
One is glowing.
Just pray… .
The doctor calls back, and I listen to his encouragement on the other end of the line. He is always upbeat: “Well, I remember you had a lot of spots to begin with. That’s not necessarily bad—it’s just you. We may look at these MRIs when you come in and think two new spots is actually pretty good….”
I have an appointment on the 4th of January, and we won’t know until then how to really evaluate the results. The radiology report is fairly insufficient, and he’ll need to look at both films side by side to look at the progress.
Before he hangs up, I ask him, “But tell me the truth. Most people on this medicine…they don’t generally get any new spots, correct?”
“That is correct,” he tells me. “But don’t let it ruin your holiday. We just don’t know….” He starts talking about the other medication—the one I did not want to use.
When I hang up, I make my phone calls, send my text messages. We just don’t know yet, I say.
But in my heart, I’m disappointed. I know Brian is too. New spots is not good, any way you cut it.
I look for a silver lining: the spot on my spine is shrinking significantly, and I feel that! My hands are incredible lately. They are still present at times, but they are SO normal most of the time. I praise God for this, and I thank all of the dear people praying for this miracle!