The NEURO-PSYCH RESULTS ARE IN:
Well, it's officially been a month since my last official post-op test. And before anything else, I have to repeat myself one more time and just say thank you. The amount of support through this entire process is still overwhelming. I am so thankful for every text, call...even like on Facebook. These last couple years were a time I really needed some support, and to keep on getting such positive thoughts and love is simply incredible. I can only hope that this blog (or myself in person) has brought some kind of smile to your face because I am so grateful- and words don't always cut it. To my friends that I haven't seen in a while, I'm always around sooooo you can text me 😉 To my friends in Miami, I miss you guys dearly, and if you want Busch Gardens tours, I am up for hire!
It's just crazy to think this is coming to a close. My graduation from Brain Surgery Academy at VCU is over, and my finals were done last month (the medical world takes a while to grade your tests...so you freshman in college who were surprised you never saw your exam scores until the end of May...be glad. It took a full year for my neurological exam to be completely graded.
It's just crazy to think this is coming to a close. My graduation from Brain Surgery Academy at VCU is over, and my finals were done last month (the medical world takes a while to grade your tests...so you freshman in college who were surprised you never saw your exam scores until the end of May...be glad. It took a full year for my neurological exam to be completely graded.
My neuro-psych evaluation was conducted both before and after the surgery, to compare my brain function after getting my head cut open. I mean, just based on that literal description of the medical procedure, it doesn't really sound super promising...huh...think positive I guess?
Well, after a grueling 1.5 hour drive to Richmond, and I mean FAR Richmond, not the winery side (my mom and I could have used some after our commutes), we found the office. Sadly, even though it had only been 1 month, I somehow forgot where exactly I was supposed to go. Sigh. All of those puzzles I do must not be increasing my brain function...
HOWEVER...I made it. And I am so grateful for the office. Their paperwork was still so relevant to my life. After such a large surgery, and after learning so much, it still was so calming to know that Ryan Gosling is apparently in another movie. And even better that I got the FIRST LOOK!! I mean seriously, I feel so lucky. I wrote down the details in my Notebook.
In another stroke of luck, I only had to wait like 7.34 seconds to be called back. Dr. Ana Mills is the biggest sweetheart, she reminds me of some character from film or TV that I, unfortunately, can't remember. So if you can think of her celebrity doppelganger, please tell me (we did see superior results in vocabulary skills on this test😎)
She sat us down, asked how I've been doing, and shared...
THE RESULTS!!!
HOWEVER, even as leftie-strong as I am, my right-handed dexterity increased from the 8th to 63rd percentage!! Somehow, cutting a bit of my right temporal lobe from my brain made my right hand work that much better!
2. Auditory Memory: This one wasn't so much a surprise. I retain song lyrics Like a G6. I mean, my brain might have had some Bad Blood, but now there's Nothing Holdin' Me Back...ok I'll stop now. My auditory acquisition was also in the superior range, especially in the delayed retention. So, basically, if you tell me a list of words a bunch of times, I can remember all of the words. It's really not a surprise to me since I can remember like 75% of the song lyrics I hear. Easy as 1, 2, 3...crazily enough, this portion of the test saw an increase from the 55th to 91st percentile. Now here are the top tracks so you can learn the lyrics, too.
The downside: There was a decrease in my immediate auditory attention, or ability to listen to people. So...yeah...I'm basically like everyone else my age, and possibly developing ADD. Or I just get bored pretty easily. Either way, this was not determined to be due to the surgery, just a lack of atten-SHINY THINGS!!
3. Language Function: As an Italian, and one that talks a LOT, losing my language function with that pesky brain blob would have been a HUGE issue. However, my language skills remain (luckily) intact! So yeah, that WATA test where they horse tranquilized my brain to make sure I could still talk afterward definitely was right...even though I forgot the difference between a protractor and a compass during a naming test...(I haven't taken math in a while, OK??)...I can definitely still pronounce words and use the English language real good, yo. Irregardless of a surgery. Yes, I know this is not a real werd.
4. Visual Skills: This is where things started to go slightly downhill. My visual retention (aka memory) is not quite as good as last year. Apparently, this is pretty low...BUT, my doctor told me that I should have no issues with my daily function! So even though I may not remember what "Complex Figure A" looks like after 5 mins, I probably can safely navigate my own room by now.
5. Wine Appreciation: I have recently conducted research at the New Kent Winery, my couch, and the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. The sharp increase in my tolerance and taste for wine must have something to do with the fact that I had brain surgery. I mean, clearly, the hippocampus must have SOME kind of grape stimulus factor embedded, because something after surgery struck a nerve. Not only has my consumption of raisins and grapes VASTLY increased, my appreciation for a good glass of wine has also become prevalent. Yes folks, Jessi DiPette, owner of onesies and hater of socks, has found a somewhat classy side. I went to a wine tasting. Wut? I enjoyed it. Wut Wuut?? Welcome to adulthood. And feminism? I guess? Who cares... Cheers, fellow winos.
5. Wine Appreciation: I have recently conducted research at the New Kent Winery, my couch, and the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. The sharp increase in my tolerance and taste for wine must have something to do with the fact that I had brain surgery. I mean, clearly, the hippocampus must have SOME kind of grape stimulus factor embedded, because something after surgery struck a nerve. Not only has my consumption of raisins and grapes VASTLY increased, my appreciation for a good glass of wine has also become prevalent. Yes folks, Jessi DiPette, owner of onesies and hater of socks, has found a somewhat classy side. I went to a wine tasting. Wut? I enjoyed it. Wut Wuut?? Welcome to adulthood. And feminism? I guess? Who cares... Cheers, fellow winos.
6. One Last Thing....Finally, I can't help this part. Prepare for Hallmark paragraph ahead. I have to add this because I really can't get this group out of my mind. I have bad days, and I think about them, and I miss them, and I wish I, could be back to Summer 2011. Back at Radford with my fellow Governor's School Theatre Program loves. AYYYYYYYYYYYY!!
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| Beach Week 2013 |
Nostalgic moment over :)