Getting Ready

So, nine days until the big day. We are busy preparing and getting ready for surgery. Mike and I decided to order t-shirts for our family for surgery day. We thought it would be a cool way to show support for Dominic. The shirts came in Friday and Mike and I thought it would be fun to put "Dad", "Mom" and "Big Bro" on our shirts and I made a onesie that says "I'm Dominic" for the main man. We are heading to Saline today to stay with Mike's folks for the night. Tomorrow morning we are getting family photos taken of the four of us in downtown Ann Arbor. The entire Dunlap clan was supposed to get photos August 8th, but we sort of messed that up with Dominic's surgery (sorry!).  So the photographer was kind enough to get just the four of us done prior to surgery. I thought they would turn out better if Dominic didn't have a huge incision and a shaved head. We are excited to get some good pics of the four of us, we've never gotten professional pictures of all of us.

Mike, Dominic and I will be heading to Detroit in the afternoon to meet with Dr. Sood at 2:40. We are anxious to get all of our questions answered prior to surgery. We will then meet with Dr. Chugani at 4:00.

We know this has come so fast and seems so sudden when we tell people. But we have known for months that it might come down to surgery for Dominic. The last 8 months have been hell. From the original IS diagnosis, to the ACTH therapy, to the long seizure in Feb, to the kidney stones, to the hematoma, to the "stroke" in March, to several hospital visits, to the numerous meds and continued complex partial seizures - we are ready for this. Some days Dominic has 1-2 seizures. other days he has 15 or more. There are no options left for him.  I have talked with several parents of kids who have not only had this surgery, but have had Dr. Sood perform their child's surgery. I have been in contact with the Executive Director of the Hemispherecotmy Foundation (both Dr. Chugani and Dr. Sood are members of the advisory board) and have heard nothing but amazing things about the entire team. According to him, "Dr. Chugani is an outstanding neurologist, and arguably the best Pediatric Epilepsy imaging specialist in the world. He is very active with the Hemispherectomy community and children, and with Dr. Sood. There are families who have traveled across the USA to use this team in Michigan." We feel confident and ready for this surgery. We know there are risks, but it is our last hope of giving Dominic a chance at life.