May 2016, Michelle was admitted to the hospital due to having a TIA (mini-stroke) at the time she was diagnosed with a Meningioma (brain tumor) in her left parietal lobe. Since then Michelle has been to many different Doctor’s in not only our surrounding areas but also was traveling to the Dallas area to see specialist. Michelle has had many tests ran (EEG, several MRI’s, CT’s). Michelle traveled to Austin to Seton Medical Center Hospital of The University of Texas in hope of finding the answers that she has been desperately needing, the answers, the relief and the solution to fighting these Brain Tumor. She met with neurosurgeon Dr. Zui and it was the answer to her prayers. Dr. Zui jumped in, went over every inch of each record that Michelle has had done in the past, took the time to listen, and explained in full detail what steps need to be taken. Dr. Zui is ordered Michelle to have more tests ran (MRI, CT Angiogram, EEG). Dr. Zui set up a team of Doctors for Michelle’s treatment plan that will work alongside him. Dr Vaillant a Neurologist at the Austin Cancer Center came on board along with Dr Zui. After many tests, lumbar punctures Michelle was diagnosed with a non-curable brain disease called iih ( Idiopathic intracranial hypertension). So in November 2016, Michelle had her first brain surgery to place a VP shunt so they could control the pressure in her brain. Unfortunately, not to long after surgery Michelle’s neurosurgeon in Austin moved out of state, so Michelle had to find another Neurosurgeon for her case. She then started the traveling to Houston, where she saw Dr. Viswanathan at Baylor College of medicine. Michelle had 2nd brain surgery in July 2018, to remove the old VP shunt and place a new one. Even at draining the most CSF fluid Michelle was still in high pressure, so in October 2018 Michelle had an LP Shunt placed in her spine to drain more CSF fluid off her brain and spine. Michelle and her family many trips to Houston for shunt adjustments, trying to find the correct setting on both to take the pressure off Michelle’s brain. Due to the pressure on Michelle’s brain, she was losing her vision because it was causing swelling of her optic nerve. So in May 2019, Michelle was admitted to hospital in Houston and had emergency Optic Nerve Sheath surgery on both eyes. We are very thankful and blessed that the neuro-Ophthalmologists saved Michelle from going blind. For months Michelle just did not feel good and we could not get the shunts at a good setting to take the pressure off her brain. The 9 hour car ride to Houston took a big toll on Michelle and her family so in September of 2019 Michelle was hurting so bad that her family driver her to UT Southwestern in Dallas to their ER. She was immediately admitted, they did a Lumbar puncture and found that Michelle had high pressure. It was then Michelle was assigned to a neurosurgeon at UTSW, Dr. Jonathan White. He took Michelle’s case and built an amazing Neuro team for Michelle. She was admitted to the ICU at UTSW for an iCP monitoring, which is when they monitor your CSF pressure 24/7 so the Neuro team could see how the pressure was running and make a new plan. That surgery Michelle was awake for and also when they shaved most of hair off. February 2020 Michelle’s LP Shunt failed so she had have surgery to remove the shunt from her spine, the doctor decided he did not want to place another shunt in her spine. Then Covid hit and therefore Michelle was left to deal with the brain pressure because of the lockdown. She was in constant, daily contact with her team of doctors in Dallas but they were unable to give relief due to the pandemic. She was admitted to hospital multiple times during these months for many Lumber punctures to give Michelle instant relief, but it was only a temporary solution. December 2020, when surgeries were allowed to start back up again, Michelle had her 4th brain surgery to remove her brain tumor. It was performed by her new neurosurgeon that was also added to her team at UTSW Dr Abdullah. Michelle spent a few days in hospital and went home to recovery. March 2021, Michelle had her 5th brain surgery, to completely remove and replace her VP Shunt, due to the older one not working at all. Since the last surgery Michelle has been fighting high pressure again, so she is still traveling back n forth, frequently to Dallas to see her team of Neuro doctors.
