Complications from the Skull Replacement Plate

About a month later, because I was unable to see the top of my head in the mirror, I asked my daughter Sally, who is a nurse (on one of her many visits home to be of help to me) to please look at the incision and see why it continued to itch. She took a long look at my scalp....... and then told me she could see the plate.

She scrutinized the incision further and saw that it was oozing.

It hadn't healed. Evidently, some stitches had popped loose making it possible for Sally to see the underlying plate. So, back to the hospital again to restitch my scalp. But due to the scarred tissue left from the removal of the first brain tumors the scarred tissue left from the removal of the second brain tumor and scarred tissue from the plate just put in, it was terribly hard to pull the two sides of the incision back together. The surgeons had not been able to catch but one of the layers of skin.... which leaves a hole in my scalp.

Skull Replacement Plate=Slightly Less Paralysis

Dr. Paysinger seemed bewildered as to why I was showing signs of improvement in my right arm after the plate was put in. Instead of it just hanging limply by my side, I could now lift it slightly. I told him I was sure I knew why... Because, before the plate was put in, my scalp lay flat on my brain due to the large amount of diseased skull bone that had to be sawed out (making me look like a cone head) and was, evidently, putting a little pressure on my brain. But after the plate was put in, the plate lifted my scalp off my brain and the pressure was relieved.

Helpers Were So Appreciated

We were extremely thankful for three excellent therapists and we realized how fortunate we were to have adequate insurance to help pay them. I had a wonderful husband, four precious children, and a maid, Myrtle, who all helped me with anything I couldn't do myself. They were dedicated to helping me recover, and were making it possible for me to devote all my time and energy to getting well and back to normal.

We had a lovely new home that backed up to a pond which afforded me a great place to walk and recuperate and friends who encouraged and cared about me. I had every advantage! And I felt truly sorry for those that didn't.

Several months after my surgery, I developed a real bad cough that hung on week after week. It scared me because it hurt my head to cough and I was afraid, with so much coughing, I might be popping something loose in my head. I had no protection for my brain... no skull bone...no plate...nothing between my scalp and my brain on the left side of my head. Without protection, I was terrified of maybe stumbling and falling or of being in an automobile wreck.

On my recuperative walks around the pond I had to be so very careful. I was unsure of my footing because of the uneven ground, so I had to watch my feet as I walked to guard against falling. No looking up at the gorgeous pink clouds as the sun was setting in the western sky. No looking ahead to the pond with the little yellow blossoms on the many lily pads. My eyes had to be glued on my feet.

It was not known at this time but it would be as much as a year after the removal of the brain tumor until the protective plate would be inserted, that would substitute for the bone that had been removed for my surgery.