Updates
February 7, 2001 - Hmm, it's been awhile. The last update I made to this site was over a year and a half ago. There's many reasons why I stopped updating. Lack of time and disinterest being at the top of the list. I suppose I just got sick of talking about what happened to me. I wanted to get back to normal. I still want to get back to normal. Unfortunately, I doubt that will ever happen. In the same way I gave up writing on this web site, I more or less gave up on myself for awhile. I was frustrated with the lack of improvement after even more physical therapy, so I stopped that. I quit exercising, and regained a bunch of weight I had managed to lose before my surgery. It's been almost two years now. Many bad things have happened to me, but many good things as well. I don't want to get into details right now though. I simply wanted to say that I'm still here. I wanted to reorganize the content on these pages a tiny bit like I've done. I also want to say thanks to those that have visited and emailed me kind words, or told me of new links. Through those people I have come to find there are a lot of others in similar situations to mine, and I have learned a lot from them. You can find some of those links on the updated links page. Anyway, that's all for now. I'm sure I'll update again sometime at least in the next couple of years ;-) so stop back by sometime.July 29th, 1999 - Ok, I feel really bad about going over a month and a half without adding to the page. But that's a good sign. I've been busy, I've been active, and I've been improving, though it's slowed a bit.
I did return to work on the 14th of June, much to the disappointment of all my co-workers (jk!). I continued in physical therapy three times a week until the end of June. I was much more improved at that point, with a lot more feeling returning and my balance getting much better. The strength in my legs was also much better. I had a visit with my neurosurgeon on the first of July. He was pleased with my progress, and said I could do almost anything I felt able to do, except the few things that might affect the healing of my incision. Well that was a good thing, because the next day I was to fly down to Florida, as I had a vacation planned around the Pepsi 400 in Daytona Beach. I took a friend, and we had a pretty good time. I was walking pretty good, and my endurance was increasing. Unfortunately I didn't park as close as I wanted to the track, so I was forced to walk quite a bit, but I made it.
Then I was taken down a few notches later in the week. I first discovered my balance wasn't all that great in the ocean. Not even in just a foot and a half of water. First time I tried to go out into the water, the waves knocked me off balance and took me down. At one point I had to just let the waves push me ashore because I couldn't stand up. And it wasn't even up to my knees. Talk about embarrassing! I also managed to scrape up my knees by tripping on the pier one time. I just didn't lift my foot high enough to clear a plank of wood. That was also the first time I had actually fallen throughout the whole ordeal. So I tried to take it easy the rest of the time while still having fun.
Now I'm trying to get back to working out regularly, though it's hard not knowing what I can and cannot do yet. The feeling is still not completely back. I kinda have patches of it here and there. I can sometimes walk fairly normal, but when I'm tired I limp. So I am trying to be patient. Time is supposed to be what I need, and they say it'll be six months to a year before I know how much I'm going to heal, though the prognosis is for complete recovery.
So I hope I've brought everyone up to date now. If I left anything out or if anything extraordinary happens, I'll be back to update again. Hope your summer is going great!
June 8th, 1999 - The rumors of my demise are false I tell you! I am still here and doing well. I've just been real lazy and neglectful in updating this page, but I'm here to (sorta) take care of that now.
First of all, I must again say thanks to all the thoughts and prayers that were made on my behalf. I know all the support I received helped me through probably the toughest time in my life. Unfortunately, it's not over. But, every day I see more positive results, and I know that soon I'll be just like my old self (minus some bone and tissue, of course). Since returning home from inpatient rehab at OSU, I've made a lot of progress with my mobility, despite the numb-like feeling that still persists in my lower extremities. I can walk without a cane for the most part now, though I tend to tire sooner than normal still. In fact, I've even driven my car and my dad said he "didn't notice a difference" in my reaction time or driving ability. Of course, then the car started acting up. First it wouldn't start after being parked for a half hour, then when it did start, it lost power on hard acceleration. So now it's in the shop. Just another example of the kind of luck I have.
However, I do seem to get more and more feeling back in my legs each day or so. I can feel differences in temperature, and even my skin is sensitive here and there. The feeling that is taking the longest to come back is around my muscles. So it's still hard to control some muscle groups, though physical therapy is helping with that, and my therapist is real pleased with my progress every day I go. I even hope to go back to work as soon as Monday, with my doctor's permission.
So that's all for now. One change you will notice is the updates from when I was in the hospital have been added to this page, so the whole story can be read here. I will soon add in more details about the hospital trip and rehab, but for now let's just say I'm glad that's all over with. :-)
The following updates (through May 19th) were made while I was in the hospital and rehab. They were made by my family and I, when I was finally able.
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Chris wrote on May 27. 1999, 20:40:
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Well, since no one else has been doing this...
I'm going home on Saturday! I still have to go to physical therapy and regain alot of my feeling, but I can walk with a cane fairly well now, and I'll get even more practice tomorrow.
The therapists say I'm progressing well, and I just have to pay attention to not pushing myself too hard. I'll have outpatient therapy three times a week, and I'll be exercising to keep my joints from tightening up. Soon, I'll get a handicapped parking pass, which should be fun. I can't wait til I can do the driving myself though.
I just know I'll be glad to be home and within reach of my friends and even my work. ;-)
Next week I hope to be noticing more feeling from my legs, and when I do, I'll be sure to let you know. I'll also start updating the main page again, so you don't have to keep going to this link. I'll probably start with the experience of the operation, hospital, and rehab, so it should be fun to see what I can remember. Check back soon!
Chris (toasty) wrote on May 24. 1999, 20:52:- --
Here I am. I'm feeling better today, and want to thank everyone so much for their thoughts and prayers. I know it all helped.
Now I just have to get through recovery, which may take longer that I would like. Imagine being shot full of novocaine from your feet to your abdomem (sp?) and you get the idea of how I feel. The next couple days should tell me how quickly this step will take and I'll be sure to relate that as best as I can.
I still feel sick from time to time, but the pain isn't as bad. I just need to start 'doing' some things on my own and I'll feel much better.
The building I'm in is the Dodds Hall rehab, apparently pretty good, at least according to their literature. I just want to get better enough to leave and come home.
Gotta go for now, Again, thanks for thinking of me. I really couldn't get through this without all your support. :)
Dave & Robin Raters wrote on May 24. 1999, 16:58:- --
Chris was moved to a new room today.
We have been unable to speak to Chris today so someone will update this again later.
Please keep Chris in your thoughts and prayers daily.
We know that the power of prayer can accomplish great things and Chris certainly deserves great things.
Gene Raters wrote on May 23. 1999, 23:06:- --
On Saturday, Chris made it up and started walking with the aid of a walker. However, he did have a lot of pain in his back. He was given some pain medicine which then made him nausea. He was given some medicine for that which pretty much knocked him out for the rest of the day.
Sunday was a down day for Chris. He was in pain and nausea all day. He did nothing much but sleep all day. He did not eat any solid food. His bothers Dave and Doug visited him on Sunday afternoon. But Chris sleep most of the time. Let hope and pray Monday Chris will be back on the right track to recovery.
Gene Raters wrote on May 22. 1999, 09:32:- --
Today is the Big Day for Chris. They will get him up to see how he walks. If he does O.K. he should be coming home in the next few days. He is doing fine. All his leg movements are strong and feeling are staring to return. He is eating well. He still has a little pain now and then in his back.
Gene Raters wrote on May 20. 1999, 23:51:- --
@0 May 99
Chris was moved to a regular room this morning. He is in Rm 1124 in Rhoades Hall at OSU Hospital. He is recovering nicely. He is eating solid foods and moving his legs with strength and control. He has to stay on his bach until Satruday. Then, they will see how he can walk. If he has no trouble, he will probably being coming home Sunday or MOnday.
Dave Raters wrote on May 19. 1999, 21:26:- --
The big day is here..... Fortunately Chris got his wish and was able to see Star Wars early this morning before heading tro the hospital.
Following is a schedule of todays events:
**** Special Note - WE SHOULD HAVE USED VALET PARKING
7:30 a.m. Took Chris to the OR
9:28 a.m. Doctor approaches another person....Chris's surgery not started yet. Where is Chris????
10:10 a.m. Nurse calls - surgery has begun...Let the fun begin!!!
12:00 p.m. Toasty is stable, tumor has been located - starting to remove Toasty's Tumor.
2:10 p.m. Should be done in about 1 hour....The family is playing cards and having a "grand old time"
NOTE: THERE ARE NO TV's IN THE WAITING ROOM - maybe the hospital should come into this century before it is over.
3:15 p.m. Doctor came down to talk - everything went as well as it could have went.
Will be in ICU until sometime Thursday.
Things look real good. Not sure how the recovery will be, depends on the healing process.
The doctor said " This is truly a rare type of operation. There have been only 2 tumors of this type in the last 15 years. The last one was operated on only a month ago":
WOW!! Leave it to Chris to be one of a kind.
More updates will follow as received from home base.
Keep up your thoughts and prayers Toasty still has alot to go through.
Michael Raters wrote on May 19. 1999, 19:27:- --
Well, Chris has made it through surgery just fine and everything went as planned. The doctor expects a full recovery. I got that information off of my answering machine so I don't have much detail.I'll update further progress tommorrow.
May 17th - As you can see, I've made a few changes to the main page. I've moved the Updates to the top and put them in reverse chronological order, and I've added a link to the "Live" Update page. When I go under the knife at 7:30am Wednesday, I want to be able to keep you up to date as to my condition. So I'm getting my family to update that page for me while I'm in the hospital (and won't have computer access). You'll want to check out that page beginning Wednesday and throughout the rest of the week.
I do have some rather good news (for me). Thanks to my friend, Tim, and my brothers, Dave and Doug, I'll be able to see Star Wars: The Phantom Menace at the 12:30am showing on May 19th, just 5 1/2 hours before I have to be in Columbus (an hour away) at the hospital.
May 10th - Well, obviously not much has happened recently, but I thought I should make some comments on what has happened and what will happen. First I want to say Thanks! to everyone that has wished me well over the past few weeks, some of whom I don't even know personally. I really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers and I know with all that going for me, I'll get through this difficult situation in no time.
The most recent thing to happen was I had a physical and blood screen, standard pre-surgery stuff. Good news is that I'm probably in the best shape I've been in over 5 years, due to my diligence in exercising and changing my eating habits since the beginning of the year. That should help me recover quicker, I hope. I haven't heard anything at all about my last MRI, so I'm assuming no news is good news in that case. My spirits are still in fairly good shape, though I get a spot of nervousness here and there. I'm trying to think more about the things I need and want to do after surgery and recovery, and not about the act itself. That seems to help.
One thing that I'll have going next week is a page that will feature 'almost-live' updates from my family about my condition during and after surgery. I will post the link to that page by Monday so everyone can be as informed as possible about how I'm doing. Only my those I've given access to the posting page will be able to update it, so you can be assured that information will be as accurate as possible. That's about it for now, only 8 1/2 days to go...
April 27th - I had my third overall MRI exam today. This one was for a more detailed scan on my cervical spine (my neck) to determine if I had any problems there. I did get to see the images afterwards this time as well. Unfortunately, I have no images for you, as they are being sent directly to my doctor at Ohio State. I didn't see anything like what you can see in the tumor images, but there was something long and thin in the cord that didn't look like it belonged there. It could be the syrinx that the doctor mentioned previously (which is just a fluid filled tube-like thing, that likely will go away when the tumor comes out), but I can't really judge that myself so I'll wait until I hear from my doctor about it. I'll let you know.
April 21st - My surgery is scheduled for May 19th in Columbus at Ohio State's University Hospital. So right now I'm just trying to prepare. I have another MRI scheduled this week for a more detailed scan of my neck. This is to make sure I don't have another tumor there. Let's hope I get some good luck with that result.
I have some pre-operative exams scheduled as well, physical, blood type, etc. I'm also trying to get in the best shape I can physically. I figure the better shape I'm in when I go in, the better I'll be able to recover (and quicker). I'm also moving a few things up in my work schedule. And I'm trying to get some post-body shop problems fixed on my car. (Y'know, that's a whole other story to tell. Maybe when I'm recovering I'll tell that one.) People have asked if I'm scared. Honestly I have to say that I'm not. I mean, I don't really have any control over the operation, and I don't have much of a choice to have it or not, if I want a chance of getting better. So why be scared. Of course I wonder and worry about the outcome, but I don't let it bother me too much. Every time I take a step, or use a flight of stairs, I'm reminded of how serious this can get, and how hard it is already to do those things that I used to take for granted.
Of course, you'll note that my surgery date corresponds to the opening date of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Now I won't be able to see the movie for at least a few weeks after my surgery, so nobody e-mail or tell me anything about it. Feel free to use my countdown timer to plan your prequel schedule though. :) More to come soon, I'll keep this updated as the situation changes. Feel free to do a little research on spinal cord tumors yourself, and if you find anything interesting, let me know!
