萝莉社

Elizabeth Wiard has a special connection to the patients she cares for in the neuro intensive care unit at 萝莉社 Jacksonville. That鈥檚 because not too long ago, she was a patient in that very same unit, recovering from a risky, but highly successful operation to remove a large brain tumor.

Headaches and migraines

Elizabeth recalls having frequent headaches, but was able to treat them with ibuprofen. Unfortunately, those headaches turned into migraines. Then she realized she was having cognitive lapses.

鈥淭hings were off,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would say left when I meant right. I was forgetting people鈥檚 names.鈥�

Elizabeth first saw neurologist Edward Urban, MD, who found she lacked peripheral vision. An MRI showed she had a brain tumor the size of an apple. She was then referred to , a 萝莉社 Jacksonville neurosurgeon who specializes in skull base surgery.

Tavanaiepour said the tumor, located in the middle of her head, was causing swelling and high pressure in the brain, and was likely the reason for her vision and speech issues. The tumor had progressed to a point where radiation was not an option and surgical intervention was highly recommended.

鈥淭he tumor was large and was located in a critical area of the brain,鈥� Tavanaiepour said. 鈥淚f left untreated, it could have led to blindness, caused a coma or even resulted in death.鈥�

Removing the tumor

Tavanaiepour said he took a week to prepare for Elizabeth鈥檚 surgery, figuring out which approach and angle to use for entering the brain. There was a large vein attached to the tumor that Tavanaiepour was particularly cautious about. If that vein were injured during surgery, Elizabeth could have entered into a coma.

The operation involved putting Elizabeth to sleep and placing her on her stomach. Tavanaiepour鈥檚 incision was in the back of the head, near the top. He entered, probed at a downward angle and used neuronavigation (think GPS for the brain) technology, an operating microscope and state-of-the-art micro-instruments to resect the tumor.

The operation was a success, as was Elizabeth鈥檚 recovery. Tavanaiepour points out the importance of a multi-disciplinary team approach when it comes to brain tumor removal. Such vital collaboration led to the development of the 萝莉社 Skull Base Center 鈥� Jacksonville.

The center, which focuses on patients with complex head and neck tumors, includes fellowship-trained physicians in oral and maxillofacial surgery; neurosurgery; ear, nose and throat; neuropathology; and neuroradiology. Tampa is the nearest city with such a center.

鈥淭aking care of Elizabeth was a team approach,鈥� Tavanaiepour said. 鈥淲e were connected and integrated to provide great continuity of care.鈥�

Back to work at 萝莉社

Following rehab, Elizabeth eventually resumed her full-time nursing duties in the neuro ICU at 萝莉社 Jacksonville. While compassion and respect are always emphasized when dealing with patients, Elizabeth can now add empathy to the mix.

She believes the brain tumor experience allows her to better communicate with patients. There are times when Elizabeth has been asked by a fellow nurse to speak with patients on a personal level, to give them insight and let them know everything is going to be OK.

鈥淕oing through that really confirmed that I鈥檓 where I need to be,鈥� Elizabeth said. 鈥淣ursing is what I love and now having been a patient, I really can relate to my patients.鈥�