My rest of the week -- Stella graduation, Mom's b-day, Jaida dance!

(From Stu):  All good this week -- no big set-backs.  I will go in for my second procedure on Thursday at 9:30am.  It's a bit of a bummer bc I'll miss Stella's graduation, Jaida/Stella's dance, and other post-graduation fun -- but unless my wily ways of convincing my doctors to delay me about 4 hours, I'll have to miss these events.  (When I get there, I wait for many hours -- but I know they don't want to wait on me).  Should be back to Los Altos on Saturday night.  (Jaida/Sandi will be visiting me - thank you to the Bakers for loaning your SF Apartment!!!)  It should be a 6 hour procedure, and I think just seeing people back in Los Altos is better -- so no need to visit UCSF.  (If you are in SF, Jaida/Sandi may want to walk to the Park, etc).

The rest of this week:

• Mom's birthday celebration -- quick walk/hike
• Try to check out Jaida/Stella's dance practice (bc I'll miss the performance due to UCSF appointment times)
• Maybe goto Wednesday Giants day-game (give me a text if you want to come along -- I'm waiting until tomorrow to see if prices drop, but hopefully me, Alex, and Ben can sit right behind home plate)
• Cheer on Warriors
• Then, go up to UCSF and be back in Los Altos hopefully by Saturday

The girls look quite beautiful for their last week of school (make-up for Jaida's dancing, Stella's graduation nails, etc).  Exciting week!

stu

Off to a good week!

(From Stu):  Yay!  Start of the new week, and the girls are excited for their last week of school.  Stella graduates from 8th grade on Thursday -- very exciting.

My situation is going way better than I expected.  Sure, I got a little bit of minor bruising, but I'm tapering off of medicines and getting ready for what is coming next this week.  A few things this week -- the formal date for my 2nd surgery (Friday 6/8), test results, and operating plan.  While I have extra time to myself (thanks ESG for a little Rest-and-Relaxation), I'm trying to explore some opinions on a variety of topics:  dietary options, crazy/fun things to do, different perspectives of people around the world, etc.

Thank you again for all the gifts, food, helping out with the girls, etc.  You all mean so much to all of us, and I may write (yes, physically) a note to you.  We're around this week -- if you are in town, want to recall some of our stories together (the Elefant Family tends to exaggerate stories for effect), share some advice/prospective, etc.

Special thanks over the last few days for my buddy Leland (from LA/Australia) and Mike Van Horn (from Portland) for flying into town.

xoxox,
stu
cell:  650-776-6559
(Note:  Starting Friday 6/8, I may not be able to rapidly get back via text).

Open for visitors!!

Hey there,
Stu is at home resting up for the next surgery. Looking forward to calls/texts to Stu's phone if you want to talk with him.  Visiting is ok too, just check in before coming over.

We still don't know anything except the MRI from the last surgery came back that they got most of the tumor out. 

No date for surgery.  No visitors needed at the hospital this next time, as it'll be quick with lots of tests/sleeping and meetings with doctors.

More to come when we know more.... or just call Stu :)

Friends - Stu would prefer no more visitors today with a bunch of tests lined up for him to do before he can come home.  If he ends up having to stay the night, he might be up for a visit.  The goal is to get him home for a few days.
Thanks!!
Sandi

Thanks for hanging out with me last night Dave and John.  So glad you were there to hear all about my bodily functions!  Dr Hervey-Jumper thinks that I can maybe check out this evening.  I'm happy to be going home for awhile to rest up before the next surgery.
I'm now in L832
We will let you know when I get discharged.
Thanks for all the prayers and support everyone!

Stu got a room!!

This just in!  Stu has busted out of ICU!!  His room is L834-2  He is up for guests.  The address is 505 Parnassus San Francisco.

He is feeling strong, awake and is doing very well both physically and emotionally!  He thrives on his friendships and cannot wait to be in your company!


He has an MRI scheduled for today, but we don't know when that will be.

We have no tests back, we have not seen the doctor, we don't have an official date that he is coming home.  He passed his PT and OT tests that will allow him to come home soon though!
Thank you for your continued prayers and positivity and emails you send that have comforted us through all of this!!  The battle isn't over yet, so keep it up!!
:)
Sandi & Stu

Today when I saw my beautiful Stu laying still, strong and surprisingly not swollen I could feel a miracle in front of me.  He did something today that was so beyond anything I can comprehend.
Can you imagine?  Someone opens up your skull and puts sensors on you and tells you to read, listen and repeat and recognize information... I'm sorry, what?  You can't be serious?  Stu didn't flinch at the tests or the procedure. Both arms with iv's, more hair shaved that they really discussed, more blood draws that we thought would happen.  I keep wondering how I would deal with any of it, if I were in his shoes (ok, really I mean brain, but you get the idea)??
But you know what?  You all, with your imagery and your prayers and your mantras and your positivity made sure we had ourselves a bonafide miracle before us.   Today is a gift and I will absorb it into my soul and ride the high of it as long as I can. Stu fought and today he won!! I cannot explain just how I feel our connection to one another, but early this morning I was feeling scared and I texted our East Coast Cousins, our Dutchies, Uncle Bob to start praying... I could feel it!!!  Then around 6:20am I started to feel the West Coast prayers and support as you woke up, as Stu went to Pre Opp.  We are lifted up by you.  Thank you!!

Did I mention how very happy I am that he is out of that surgery?  He looks so amazing you guys!!    He is so beautiful and strong.
He is in ICU surprising the nurses with his "fight".  He plans to take up residence for a few days in a better room as soon as the ICU team deem it realistic. Tonight they will keep watch over him and I will sleep.  Tomorrow I will wake up early, you know to start praying early with the East Coast Crew, Uncle Bob and the Dutchies...

He will need to face many more MRI's and a biopsy in the near future.  We need you to pray, believe, visualization, Expect A Miracle: That the tumor is gone, that Stu continues to recover with a force unlike anything these doctors have ever seen, that the biopsy reveals a cyst that is totally manageable and non cancerous . Spend your breaks, your coffee sips, your bathroom breaks (hey, I'm not picky about this process!), lunch breaks, walks, runs and evenings over dinner imagining that this thing is nothing more than a benign growth and all is well now in his head.  See him healed completely!
Together we can support this great man, together with us... he will Stu!Fight!Win!!

Thank you for today.
Sandi