Caroline’s Story - December 2002
By Berniece Oviatt
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep… 
June 6, 2002 Caroline arrived home after her evening shift at Prince George Regional Hospital (PGRH). She had a headache and medication helped ease the pain, somewhat. The headaches had been occurring for several months. As she reflects on it now, they were getting progressively worse. She had been very busy, working and attending school; determined to finish her Nursing Degree. Stress related ‘migraine’ she surmised.
If I should die before I wake…God Bless Ivan and Amanda
Ivan and Caroline met when they were both employed at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, he a Security Guard and she a nurse. Ivan and Caroline have a daughter, Amanda.
June 7 Ivan arose early and was preparing coffee when he heard a strange noise coming from the bedroom. He opened the door and saw Caroline lying in bed, having a seizure. He quickly called 911 and within five minutes the paramedics arrived and rushed Caroline to the hospital. There she drifted in and out of consciousness…only aware of where she was. She had a CT scan, and from that scan the initial diagnosis was quick. Caroline had a benign meningioma (brain tumor) behind her left sinus.
She needed surgery to have the tumor removed and was immediately airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH). Once in Vancouver, the neurosurgeon would not operate without an MRI. It was too important to be sure there was nothing else involved. He was on call and available to perform the surgery; however the MRI in Vancouver did not operate on weekends. She had to wait for the scan and was admitted to the hospital. As the tumor was putting pressure on her brain, Caroline was given medication and steroids to prevent further seizures.
June 11 Caroline had the MRI scan in Vancouver. The next day the results were in, with a definitive diagnosis. She did indeed have a meningioma. Because of the operating room schedule at VGH, her physician was unable to book her surgery until June 18. Caroline was released from the hospital and stayed with friends in Vancouver until the day of her surgery.
If the MRI had been in Prince George, Caroline would have been sent to Vancouver with the results on June 7 and the operation could have been completed immediately. As it was, the surgery was delayed for nine days to wait for the MRI results and scheduling.
June 18 Caroline’s surgery took 7 ½ hours. She spent six days in hospital recovering then flew back to Prince George to regain her strength.
September Caroline required another MRI, to have a post-surgery baseline. She waited two months before she could get an appointment with the portable MRI that comes to Prince George once a month for a six-day period. September’s MRI showed everything was OK.
Now Caroline needs an MRI every year for the rest of her life. The chance of reoccurrence of the tumor is 20%. Her attitude on life is good and she feels very blessed that everything has turned out well for her. She is continuing with her dream of getting her Nursing Degree…one more course. She is back at work at PGRH with a greater understanding of the word ‘empathy’ and the need for a permanent MRI here in Prince George.
God Bless…Ivan, Amanda and those who were there in our time of need.
