Off with the Steriods!

Rita is spending her days on the coast of South Carolina as she comes off the steriods...it is safe out there to do stuff like that.
She is surrounded by plenty of water, so she is probably in the water RIGHT NOW considering the heat.
Rita will be going back down to see the Neuro-surgeon, Dr. Weaver, at Vanderbilt on August 16th. Dr. Weaver will have her go through another brain MRI to check the spots in her head post-steriods. After reading the results, he will decide whether or not to do the brain biopsy.
Until then, we will keep our fingers crossed and our spirits up!

Many smiles to all!

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Good News! The biopsy has been cancelled!!

Dr. Weaver read Rita's MRI (with contrast dye) from yesterday and it now appears that her tumors are only clouds! He cannot do a biopsy on clouds because his targets are not obvious. They want to know if the steroids (Decodron) had anything to do with this. The doctors are going to take her off of steroids over the course of the next four days. She will come back in three weeks (August 16th) and they will run another MRI and look at it again. Dr. Weaver did say that there is a strong chance that something could come back in the absence of the steroids. They will just wait and see what the next MRI shows. In the meantime, water aerobics for everybody!

Sometimes prayers are answered! We'll keep our fingers crossed and please keep your positive thoughts coming Rita's way!!

p.s. - The doctors in Bowling Green would have had her in a third week of radiation! We're sooo glad she's with the specialists at Vanderbilt!

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What is in her head?

My mom is in Nashville today having the pre-op tests for her brain biopsy. She's doing those tests RIGHT NOW!
She will be home in "the Grove" Monday night, Tuesday and most of Wednesday.

Wednesday night, Thursday, and Friday she returns to Vanderbilt for her brain biopsy. This should tell us what we are dealing with...ahhh, an acute diagnosis.

My mom will arrive back at her house in Smiths Grove to recover following her brain biopsy on Saturday.

Thanks for your support, encouraging words and humor.
It has my mom smiling.

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Dr Weaver, the Neuro-Surgeon

We met with Dr. Kyle Weaver today at Vanderbilt. After reviewing my mom's brain MRI, he would like to go ahead with a brain biopsy. He has also suggested that my mom receive a functional MRI, which will test where in her brain her speech and thoughts come from...I bet it is an interesting place:)

We are really trying to squeeze in the functional MRI before Thursday when she will have her brain biopsy. If we are unable to get the functional MRI test before Thursday, my mom will remain awake during her brain biopsy.

Remaining awake, my mom will be asked to talk and answer questions during the biopsy.
This is all to keep that creative brain of her's in check throughout the surgery.

Keep those positive thoughts coming and the VIBRANT Rita will keep glowing!

LOVE to you all!

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Brain Biopsy

All of the tests for cancer in her body came back clear...we are thankful.
Rita will undergo a brain biopsy in the next few days. We will keep you posted. Thanks to all of you for your support!!
We had a good chat with mom about the brain biopsy and she is ready to do it. She is anxious to know what is in her head.

Rita has also instructed the doctors not to fix the "wires in her head," as the likes the way she processes life.
We think the doctors finally understand, she is unique and goes HER OWN WAY.

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Think of Rita

Rita Rudloff, my mom, needs your prayers and positive thoughts. She is going through several tests at Vanderbilt to aquire an acute diagnosis.

We have also been told that they will look for other infections and causes, but the current diagnosis is brain cancer.

We are inspired by the will of many cancer survivors. The current commercial on television, showing Lance Armstrong during his 1995 press conference when he announced he had cancer gives my mom chills, and hope. Lance was never told he had cancer in his lungs and brain. He was able to keep his spirits up and trust the treatment the doctors offered him.

THINK POSITIVE AND LIVE STRONG...do that for Rita Rudloff today!

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The Beginning

Always giving, Rita found herself unable to speak a couple of times one day about a month ago. Thinking it was probably due to a busy schedule, the hot weather, or irregular eating, she was not initially alarmed. It was when it happened again while talking to my sister Leslie on the phone that really started the investigation into what was going on.

My mom found herself going in for a few tests.

Several general tests were done, but it was in an MRI that spots were seen on her brain, and it looked like cancer. We decided to make appointments with some specialists and learn more about what was going on.

Since then, she has been very willing to tackle any tests and trusting of the specialists we have found for her at Vanderbilt. We are gathering information. The doctors are currently reading the results of each and every test to decide what the best treatment is for my mom.

My mom, Rita...the enthusiastic water aerobics instructor....the historic home designer and renovator...the fun, spontaneous, and always unpredictable woman about town...however it is that you know her, my mom is a unique person that inspires and entertains us ALWAYS.
Think positive thoughts and live STrONg for Rita today!

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