It's a Long Story

Chapter 12

(A few months later)

"So, Mrs.Centineo, I understand you have been having seizures lately?" The emergency room doctor asks.

"Yes. That's why I am here. I had a seizure in the grocery store." I say bored.

"Okay, well I just want to run a few tests and I am going to order a C.T. for you. A nurse will take you up shortly." He says kindly. I nod, and he walks out. I text Penny and let her know that I am in the E.R. and not to wait up for me. She is very concerned but I just tell her it is nothing. The nurse, as promised, came in and rolls me on over to Radiology. The scan is pretty quick and the nurse is quiet when she takes me to a room. There was a new doctor that comes in to meet me in my new room.

"Hi, I am Dr.Monroe, I am a neurosurgeon." She introduces herself.

"Hi... Why do I need a neurosurgeon?" I ask slowly. She looks very serious.

"Ma'am, your C.T. shows that you have a grade III meningioma. That is what is causing your seizures. We also have the results from your labs when you were admitted. How far along are you?" The doctors says very properly.

"I'm sorry, far along in what?" I ask confused.

"Oh, um your labs show that you are pregnant... Did you not know?" She asks surprised.

"Ha, no. I did not. But I guess that's just how life is going for me right now. I am forty years old, my husband is traveling for work, I have six kids at home. And now, I am pregnant and I have a brain tumor. Great. Just great." I sigh.

"I will get an ultrasound machine and we will see how far along you okay." The doctor says, I probably scared her off with my antics.

She returns promptly and hooks up the machine and squirts the cold blue gel on my abdomen and places the wand in the gel and moves it around, pushing down lightly.

"Well, it looks like you are about fifteen weeks along. I am surprised you aren't showing at all." The doctor sounds very surprised.

"Well I have been pregnant six times, you'd think my body would be showing right away." I say laughing. 

"Tell me about your kids." She says in a friendly tone.

"Well, about eighteen years ago, I got pregnant with my first, she had osteogenesis imperfecta type two, so she passed away. Then about ten years later, I had my son, Wyatt. He is a little monster sometimes, but very well behaved otherwise. Two years later, I had a girl, Madeline, and she is very charismatic. Then a year later, I had my daughter Caroline, she is very shy, and then about two years after that I had twins. Mason and Josie. I also adopted my husband's son, he is thirteen, but uh- he was conceived when I was hospitalized after a bad car accident. But he is a great kid. I just wish he was my son by birth, but it happens." I explain.

"Wow, well now you will be having a new addition to your large family." She says kindly. I get really nervous.

"I am not so sure. Doc, how bad is my tumor?" I ask softly.

"It is operable, however, I would definitely wait until the baby comes out until we operate. The tumor is in a location where it really wouldn't be harmful other than the seizures. But I definitely want to remove it. However, there have been cases where radiation could shrink the tumor, but also not ideal while you are pregnant." She explains my options.

"So what you are saying is, I can't be treated while I am pregnant. What if I terminated?" I ask.

"Well, it is a slow growing tumor. It has been growing for probably ten years now. However, the growth was most likely triggered by the pregnancy. It would not make much of a difference if we operated now, or in a few months from now." She looks at me, with a hint of pity. "It is an impossible decision, and like all surgeries, there are many risks. There is a chance you may not make it off the table, there is also a risk that you could never wake up. Unfortunately, no matter which way you decide to go, there are a lot of risks. I suggest you call your husband and family and make a decision together." She says softly.