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We’re back!! The trip was a
GREAT success and I want to share the news with everyone. We began our
appointments on Monday September 27th and reviewed Lisa’s condition
with several departments, neurology, neurosurgery, neuro-oncology and
neuro-ophthalmology with a stop at the pain management clinic.
The specialist offered some
helpful advice in most areas and confirmed Lisa’s treatment and results to date
by CHEO. The area with significant news was in regards to Lisa’s vision.
Mayo clinic can correct the double vision!! It will not be perfect but
the images should align when looking forward and down. This will have a
trickle-down effect for Lisa and her symptoms. Her permanent headache is caused
by her brain trying to constantly align the images so this should disappear as
well. From an overall perspective since Lisa will have fewer issues to deal
with she should be able to control/manage the permanent side effects a little
more.
Surgery is booked for
November 4th. There is a 70% chance that this will work the first
time but it is possible that Lisa will require up to 2 more visits. This is day
surgery requiring 15 minutes per eye (can you believe it). Lisa’s eyes will not
be bandaged after surgery and will require drops for several weeks. We will
have to go back in two months to follow up.
This was the best possible
news we could have hoped for and are very excited!!! Thanks you everyone for
you support and we will keep posting the updates.
September 23 2009
Please read the article on Lisa on the webpage of “Mimi
The Angel”
Written By: Laura Cummings
It started out as the best-case news in a worst-case
scenario, explains Orléans resident Debra Dowding of her 17-year-old daughter
Lisa Cater’s diagnosis with a brain tumour five years ago.
“(They told us) it was the best type to have,” she recounts
of the Type 1 tumour discovered in Lisa’s brain, which is categorized as
slow-growing and not cancerous. “There’s a typical path … and Lisa has not
followed, not once, that typical path.”
Instead, Lisa has been beset by issues throughout her entire battle
with the tumour, Dowding continues, with all but two tiny nodes – too dangerous
to be touched – removed during her initial surgery.
Since then, Lisa has experienced a range of side effects including
double vision, headaches, slurred speech, tremors and balance and walking
issues, she describes, eventually requiring radiation treatment and a shunt to
drain extra fluid from her brain.
Those side effects have had a major impact on Lisa’s day-to-day living,
Dowding continues, with the St. Matthew Catholic High School student taking two
classes last year and planning to attend three this fall.
“Every day is different,” she explains. “As far as a 17-year-old
lifestyle, she absolutely doesn’t have (that). There’s not much she can
participate in. It makes it very difficult for her. She’s definitely been a
fighter through it all.”
Even with excellent care already received by Canadian medical
professionals, no explanation has been discovered for Lisa’s debilitating
symptoms, Dowding adds, prompting the family to seek help south of the border
in the form of the U.S.-based Mayo Clinic, with a trip scheduled for later this
month.
“She’s been battling this for five years,” Dowding says, pointing to
the chronic, constant headaches and vision issues as most frustrating for her
daughter. “We need to get an explanation. (The Mayo Clinic) does feel they can
help her.”
That trip, however, comes with a price tag of $13,000 US for several
days of consultations and testing – not including travel costs and
accommodations – and has inspired friends and family to pitch in and launch a
fundraiser for the Dowdings.
“We’re trying to help,” explains family friend Line Morin-Smith. “You
take one look at Lisa, and she’s such a beautiful girl. It’s the only way we
can help; it’s the only thing we can do.”
Instead of attempting to organize a community event – difficult to do
and sometimes not wholly effective at raising funds – the close-knit group of
friends decided to use their large network of acquaintances and word of mouth
to gather donations for the family, she recounts, with a website launched late
last month to facilitate the initiative.
“We don’t know at this point if they’ll have to go back,” Morin-Smith
says. “We don’t have very much time (before they leave).”
Though Dowding expresses cautious optimism about their upcoming trip to
the States, the family is remaining realistic about what the outcome may be.
“Lisa knows she’s not going to get past every one of her issues,” she
says. “Her biggest hope is to figure out why the double vision is happening and
fix it, and to alleviate the headaches.”
That family and friends stepped in to help ease costs was “a little
overwhelming,” Dowding recounts, with the family now able to divert funds put
aside for the trip towards Lisa’s day-to-day needs.
“We’ll do what we have to do and we’ll get there but family and friends
came forward to say, ‘Let us help you take that stress away,’” she continues,
explaining that any additional funds collected beyond those required for the
trip will be given to the CHEO floor where Lisa’s received her care. “They’ve
really stood by our side over the years to help support Lisa. We’re very, very
fortunate to have such great friends and family.”
Laura Cummings
laura.cummings@transcontinental.ca