Warning: The Images Are Graphic

There was an excellent segment on the show "The Doctors" that explains the surgery that Josh will be going through in May. While the show was about Tuberous Sclerosis, a type of Epilepsy which Josh does NOT have, most of the procedures on the show are identical to what Josh will be undergoing.

In particular, the show gives a good representation of the strips and grid that will be placed on the surface of Josh's brain. The surgeon featured on the show, Dr. Weiner, is Josh's surgeon, and the hospital and waiting room are at NYU, where Josh will be having the surgery.

The link for the show is on the right side of this blog.

Neurosurgery 101

Here's what's going to happen in the phase 2 surgery in May, in a nutshell. Josh will have strips (about 1/8 x 1 1/2) placed on the surface of the left side of his brain and a grid (about 2x3) on the surface of the right side. The strips and grid will be attached to an EEG, which will monitor the electrical activity in his brain. He will then be observed for several days. The hope is that they can observe Josh having seizures and then pinpoint the focal point from which the seizures originate. The grid is like a map.

If they can locate the focal point and it is does not involve what they call an "eloquent" part of the brain -- a part that Josh needs for normal functions like speech -- then Josh would have a second surgery right away. In that surgery, they would do a resection to remove a portion of his brain. The whole hospital stay would be about 3 weeks.

Yes, there are lots of "ifs," but the prognosis is very promising if they can find where the seizures are located and do the resection. We are all hoping and praying that that is the case.

May 10 surgery date

We just got word that Josh is scheduled for phase 2 brain surgery on May 10. I will update you along the way, as we continue our journey.