On April 25, 2017 I had brain aneurysm surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. A brain scan during my two-week stay in the J.W. Goethe University Hospital (Frankfurt, Germany) showed that I had a significant aneurysm. When my internist reviewed the 7 pages of narrative coming from Frankfurt, all in German, she told me that I had better find a neurosurgeon. That was a bit of a shock, but I did meet with a neurosurgeon at Virginia Hospital Center who said that he could insert a coil without invasive surgery or open my head and clip it.
I put something out on Facebook about this (another reason to love FB for me), and Carol DANDY Beckley, a friend from Camp Atahi days, immediately wrote that I should go to Rafael Tamargo at Johns Hopkins, who holds the Walter E. Dandy chair. Walter E. Dandy just happened to be her grandfather, and was known for doing the first direct surgery on brain aneurysms starting in 1939. The next thing I knew I was up at Hopkins seeing Dr. Tamargo, who happens to be a big fan of the Dandy family.
I am still so grateful to Carol because a young surgeon at Hopkins inserted a Pipeline™ Embolization Device after inserting a coil into the aneurysm and I was home the next day. Amazing and painless! Two procedures to check on it over the next year confirmed that the aneurysm had disappeared. It was a miserable two weeks in the Frankfurt hospital, but it probably saved me!
So, why are you telling us all this?
You probably are wondering how that is related to my heart surgery, which previously crossed my mind. My cardiologist told me that I couldn’t do the heart surgery until I had the aneurysm surgery, but not the other way around. So, at my appointment last week I casually mentioned the aneurysm surgery to Dr. Smith, and he asked me to get clearance from Hopkins, which surprised me, but I thought that would be simple since they were doing no further testing. Thus, I was surprised when I contacted Dr. Tamargo’s department today to find that they want me to have an MRA (MR Angiography). My anxiety level went sky high since I leave for NYC in one week.
Luckily, I was able to schedule an appointment for tomorrow morning at 8 at the Johns Hopkins Radiology Department in Bethesda. Another crisis hopefully averted.
Roland Park Medium 
Good crikey. Good thing you called. Lifting abundant prayers. You’ve got a damn good network. And thank you Miss Murray.
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Haha! Love the “thank you Miss Murray”! Never thought of it that way, but now that you mention it…
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Kath, sending you love, light, and the strength needed to breathe through this next obstacle.
Love you, cousin. Hugs to Jane and Peg, too. Please call me when you are up to it.
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Thanks Miss Nancy. That was our Romper Room host! Will call.
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Will try to call tomorrow.
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You poor thing. But it’s nice to know that your doctor is very detail oriented and is taking every step to insure a successful result.
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You are right about that Leslie!
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What a pain!!! But, better safe than sorry!!! 😉💖
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Very true Ann!
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You were a very strong woman before all of this, but these 2 experiences are creating you to be a warrior!! You are incredibly resilient – heartfelt prayers continue- blessings and love. May everything continue to fall into place smoothly- start planning your post-op celebrations 🎉 now 🤩
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Alright Ms. Valerie!! Hope you will come and have a toast with me!💕
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How about Camp Atahi and all the connections you made at that little camp in Albany, NH? Amazing! Your post about the aneurysm is worthy of a magazine article (or chapter in the autobiography you’re going to write post June 5). Thanks Conk for sharing.
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Wow Fran! That is such a nice comment, and there really are many fine connections from that little camp in Albany, NH!! What about the connection from Lower Merion? Small world!
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Constantly thinking about you. Hope all goes very smoothly. I’m glad your surgeon is being so thoughtful and preparing well.
xo, Jane
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Have you gotten the MRA results yet? I am sure you are anxiously awaiting approval to proceed while the days tick off!
Love to you!
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Have you heard the MRA results yet? I imagine you are sitting on the edge of your seat, cocktail in hand, awaiting clearance to proceed…….
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All is good. Release for the heart surgery!
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Kathy, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers and will stay there. You have a great support group around you. Loved all the daisy connections. That “daisy hill” that Nancy mentioned was at my parents’ house. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in finding a photo of the hill to send you. I’ll keep looking. Thank you for writing the blog and sharing it. In the meantime you take care, you are in good hands. Xoxo
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The daisy theme continues! There will be a new sign in my next post. Thanks for your good wishes! Xoxo
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