After months of complications, an episode of wordlessness, after which a near-fainting spell, Jessica Haayer of Ventura, California, underwent a CT scan of her head. The radiologist known as an hour later and directed her to the closest emergency room in Ventura, the place an ambulance introduced her to the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Middle.
Following an MRI, Haayer met with Ali Jamshidi, MD, a cranial neurosurgeon, fellowship-trained in cranium base and cerebrovascular surgical procedure. He evaluated her imaging and beneficial an awake surgical process so he may obtain dwell suggestions from Haayer whereas eradicating the grapefruit-sized tumor in her mind.
Awake and engaged
“I wished to check her perform through the resection, so I knew the tissue elimination wouldn’t hurt her,” stated Dr. Jamshidi.
Earlier than the 8-hour surgical procedure, he studied the white matter maps and angiogram of her mind, mapping out the vital blood vessels near the tumor. “I tailor each method to the affected person in order that my angles of assault to the surgical goal are each efficient and environment friendly.
Haayer underwent the prolonged surgical procedure on Could 12, 2023, and remembers the dialog she had within the working room with a neurologist who was actively testing her whereas Dr. Jamshidi eliminated her tumor. “I informed them my entire life story,” she stated. “I talked about touring and what sort of music I like. I adopted instructions: did little actions of my knees, fingers, ankles, round and round,” she stated.
A sport plan for survival
Two weeks post-surgery, Jessica had staples faraway from her scalp. She then began 7 weeks of radiation remedy, Monday by way of Friday, all of the whereas persevering with to work as Santa Clarita Canyon Excessive College’s Division 1 Women’ Basketball coach — teaching and setting an instance for her college students, whom she calls “my children.”
“I can’t simply sit round,” stated Haayer. “I attempt to inform my children we’re approach stronger than you assume.”
Haayer had her surgical procedure at 39 years previous. She has saved match and been busy all through her whole remedy. “Lots of people fall into illness. I need to dwell to be 100 and do all the pieces I can to dwell. I finished ingesting, modified my weight loss plan, went keto, misplaced 40 kilos, after which my medical doctors informed me I wanted to cease,” she recalled.
A bond past medication
Haayer feels particularly bonded with Dr. Jamshidi. “He’s a magician. He’s my man,” she stated. “I belief him greater than anybody. We speak after each MRI.”
Dr. Jamshidi is aware of that every affected person is exclusive. “I can actually comprehend my sufferers’ considerations, permitting us to attach on a person foundation, soul to soul.”
Watch the video of the doctor-patient reunion.
Since April 2023, the cross-functional neurosciences group at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Middle has expanded to take care of sufferers all through the Kaiser Permanente area in Southern California, offering cranial surgical procedure and cutting-edge interventions within the remedy of sufferers with tumors, malformations, and neurological sicknesses.
