crazyron update

Friends and family- All of your offers of help are very appreciated. Dana will definitely take advantage of them when the time is right for her. Thank you again for the abundance of love, support and offers to help during such a difficult time.

Al Goldstein's speech from the Atlanta memorial service:

My friend Ron

When I first moved back to Atlanta, I was introduced to Ron. We had a brief conversation, and I thought nothing more about it. A couple of days later I received a phone call from Ron asking me if I would like to come out on his boat. I thought “wow” he must think I’m a pretty cool guy if he just met me, and invited me out on his boat. Needless to say, I was wrong. Ron was like this with everyone. He always gave people a chance.

I would like to share some of my stories about Ron with all of you. As a lot of you may or may not know, Ron was one of the world’s slowest eaters. He would order a plate of nachos at the beginning of a football game, and not finish them until at least halftime. One time a group of us went bowling, and Ron ordered a small plate of french fries. It literally took him to almost the 4th game to finish those fries, and I know to this day he did this just to tick me off.

As a lot of you are aware, Ron loved a good bargain. He would call me up and say Al, I got a great deal on a shirt, and you have to go to such and such store. And, he would always call me excited when he had a buy one get one coupon for lunch. Ron would say Al, let’s meet for lunch...I’ve got a buy one get one!

Ron and I shared the love of bad horror movies and loud music. I always knew if I did not know a character in a movie or the name of a song Ron would be able to give me the answer. Ron had a great mind for stats and trivia.

I remember when Ron and Dana got engaged. He called me up, and said Hi, Al what are you up to? I said nothing, what are you doing? He said Dana and I just got back from a weekend at a bed and breakfast. I said how was it? Ron said it was great! We had a nice room; we went to dinner, got engaged, went for a walk, went to breakfast and went shopping. I said what! Take a step back....what did you say? Ron said...We had a nice dinner. I said....no after that? Ron said we got engaged.

I remember when Dana was pregnant along with my wife Lisa. We all registered at Babies R Us. They convinced me to go on a baby tour. After a while, I was ready to run out the door of the store. Ron told me it’s going to be ok, walked me over to a rocking chair, and told me to sit down. We sat there for about an hour, and just rocked and talked.

A lot of times when guys get together we talk about our spouses – for a lack of a better term we sometimes make fun of them – but not Ron. Dana...he always said you were perfect. He thought you were the perfect wife, mother and companion.

Dana, he loved you and the boys so much. Ron would glow when he talked about you. In my opinion, most people in this world can be replaced. Ron is not one of them...he is one of the special ones. Ron, I love you, and I am going to miss you.

Poem read by Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz at the Atlanta memorial service:

When I die give what’s left of me away

to children and old men that wait to die.

And if you need to cry, cry for your brother

walking the street beside you.

And when you need me, put your arms around anyone

and give them what you need to give me.

I want to leave you something,

something better than words or sounds.

Look for me in the people I've known or loved,

and if you cannot give me away,

at least let me live in your eyes and not in your mind.

You can love me best by letting hands touch hands,

and by letting go of children that need to be free.

Love doesn't die, people do.

So when all that's left of me is love,

give me away.

Ken Schneiderman's speech from the Funeral and the Atlanta memorial service:

Ron was the best brother I could ever ask for.

I will always be grateful that I had the chance to share my life with him.

So many of his friends considered Ron to be their best friend. That’s a wonderful gift. He always made a special effort to spend time with each of them. He was kind, loyal, silly, and fun.

He had a special love for family, a compassion for people from all walks of life, and a unique kindness to pets.

Ron found the love of his life in Dana. I think the happiest years of Ron's life began when he met her.

What a great match they made.

The marriage had the added blessing of bringing two families together that have shared many simchas and will bring comfort as we mourn the loss of my brother.

He was an amazing father to his two sons Zachary and Evan. Growing up, Ron wasn't always known for having a lot of patience and I once teased him that I was surprised that he turned out to be such a wonderful father. His response was “Thanks a lot”! The truth is that he was a fantastic father who had endless patience and got great joy out of being a father.

I am so proud to have had him as my brother.

We will miss his smile, his laugh, his love for life.

I will think of him often and love him forever.

Scott Felcher's speech from the Funeral and the Atlanta memorial service:

Dear Ron,

First and foremost, I want to thank you for being such a wonderful friend. You were always easy to get along with and with me, that was no easy task, you loved to have a good time and most importantly, a friend that I could confide and trust in. When I first exchanged numbers with you at singles event back in 96, I never thought that you would turn out to be my best friend. Of course you had to get past the possibility of me being gay because my voice was high and I had to think past the possibility of you being boring because you were Jewish. Our first get together at Music Midtown was a blast as was the next twelve years.

However, there are still a few things that rattle my cage. First, your pool skills are ridiculous. What gives you the right to make every shot? Still to this day, I have never won a game against you. Secondly, the nickname you gave me of "Dos Ropas" which means two ropes in Spanish still upsets me. You felt your boat needed to be tied to the dock with three ropes and I argued for two. This was the point in our friendship that I knew you could deal with me. You didn't give in and you stood your ground.

So after 12 years of friendship we have shared some of the most genuine, thought-provoking and sincere conversations. This is just one of the many reasons I wanted so much of your time. What God gave me was a friend with a huge heart and too many smarts. And that brings me to my next point. Trivia with you was always the same. You had all the answers while I just waited for the free pitcher of beer. It was also my opportunity to spend time with you while we ate our favorite foods....wings, nachos and chicken tenders. Over the years you encouraged me to be a better man, you shared your life questions with me and I'm fairly certain we answered them all. You also "got it" and that’s why we made the effort to get to know one another on a very personal level.

So after many years Dana enters your life. I knew after two weeks something changed in you that was remarkable. You had that look in your eye and I knew that you had found love. You made me believe that there was life after being single. Dana was a blessing right from God. Since that time you have become an even warmer, kind-hearted, caring husband and father. Having a family gave you a greater appreciating for life.

Ron, you are a man whose heart grew a little bit bigger each day.
Ron, you are the man who made this world a brighter place.
Ron, you are my best friend who I am not afraid to say that I truly loved.
Ron, may you always be at the right hand of God and may his peace always be with you.

David Meline's speech from the Atlanta memorial service:

A Tribute to Ron
delivered by David Meline at the Memorial Service
Sunday, March 15, 2009

Introduction:

We have heard from Ron’s brother Ken and two of his best friends, Scott and Al. I am Dana’s brother David and I will now attempt to provide a small flavor of the Meline family perspective about Ron, Dana, and the boys . . . all in the spirit of celebrating Ron’s life.

My comments are contained in four vignettes.

The Story of Ron:

My version of The Story of Ron has about a 10-year preamble. It started back in late 1991, about 6 months after Dana moved back home to Hollywood after graduating from college. My wife and I recruited and convinced my sister, the “Original Dana Meline”, to move to Atlanta because it was a vibrant city full of young people.

For those of you who don’t know, I married a Dana, but I will skip all the funny stories about life with two Dana Melines living in the same city . . . and even in the same apartment complex.

Anyway, it just so happened that Ron had moved to Atlanta a few months later so the stage was set for their destiny . . . it just took a while! In the meantime, with all due respect to the guys that Dana dated, none of them were worthy of my little sister . . . until Ron showed up . . . like manna from heaven . . . a true mensch with a great disposition, strong family values, and a huge caring heart!

Obviously Dana knew from the beginning how special Ron was because she uncharacteristically made the first move to reel him in. What a catch! It has been said that Dana completed Ron . . . well, I can tell you that they definitely completed each other and became a fantastic couple and ultimately wonderful parents.

The Legend of Uncle Ron:

When Ron arrived on the scene, the immediate family and the entire extended family were thrilled, including all the Atlanta family from Dana Joy’s side. My parents could not have asked for a better son-in-law and we could not have asked for a better brother-in-law. But perhaps Ron’s biggest fans were his 7 nieces and nephews.

They started getting to know him on the big family Disney cruise for Savta’s 65th birthday a few months before Aunt Dana and Uncle Ron got engaged . . . . and they were all junior bridesmaids and groomsmen in the wedding.

I asked each of the 7 nieces and nephews to share with me a special memory or favorite characteristic of Uncle Ron that I would like to share with all of you now:

REBECCA (10 years old): I remember being the flower girl at Aunt Dana and Uncle Ron’s wedding and crying all the way down the isle until my cousin Meital rescued me. I also remember that Uncle Ron had a favorite big plastic glow-in-the-dark Halloween cup that he always used . . . and one time when everyone was over at Aunt Dana and Uncle Ron’s house, Saba happened to grab Uncle Ron’s favorite cup out of the cabinet and started using it . . . and Aunt Dana freaked out!

JARED (13 years old): I was proud to be the first person to ever call Ron “Uncle Ron”. I was 7 years old and we were at the JCC for Alex’s all-star baseball game. Aunt Dana and Ron came to the game and told us they were going to get married, so I said: “I guess I can call you Uncle Ron”. He told me I was the first person to ever call him that and that he thought it was so cool and special . . . and he thanked me.

ALEX (15 years old): We had so many great times together, but I especially enjoyed going to sporting events with Uncle Ron, whether we would take him to a Braves game or he would take us to see the Falcons or the Georgia Force . . . and we would discuss his favorite stuff to eat at a ball game or the best mustard to put on a hot dog (even though he hated mustard), which of course is Stadium Mustard, which he would proudly say “has been served at Cleveland Stadium for over 50 years”. Aunt Dana is the one who likes mustard so Uncle Ron would get a great deal ordering it by the case . . . now the whole family always has some in their pantries!

MEITAL (14 years old): Uncle Ron was known for always being able to relate to his nieces and nephews. He preferred to sit at the kids table, went to teenage band concerts like Weezer, made CDs of all the hip rock stars, and had fun with collectibles.

YANIV (16 years old): Not only did I always have fun hanging out with Uncle Ron, but I also loved his pearls of wisdom. I remember one time he was talking to me about business and he taught me something that I can use in all aspects of life: he said “always under-commit and over-provide to keep people happy.”

SETH (15 years old): One of my special memories was going to the Rolling Stones concert with Uncle Ron after my bar mitzvah and spending that time with him. [That occasion is even referenced in the following poem that Seth very recently wrote for school.]

EULOGY POEM
by Seth Meline

My right hand man, showing me the ropes.
Rocking out, scream and shout, we had all the best time.

Two beautiful lives, created from such a wonderful guy.
My uncle, my right hand man, doesn’t deserve to pass now.

A good life was lived, short and to the point.
Living for the things he loved, and how I loved him.

My uncle, my right hand man, will always be at my side.
JAIME (17 years old): I love how Uncle Ron genuinely carried out a conversation. He always was so engaged in what the other people were saying and you could see it in his smile that he cared about you and what you thought. He was always asking questions and making you smile. There was no such thing as a generation gap. It didn’t matter who he was conversing with, he was their new best friend in five minutes.


The Village is Strong:

Dana is truly blessed with a very supportive extended family and a network of devoted friends. This tragedy has already brought a very close family even closer . . . a close group of friends even closer . . . and a close knit community even closer. This is all because of the genuine goodness of both Ron and my amazing sister!

In the near term, it will certainly take a village to help Dana and the boys adjust to this sad new reality . . . but I am here to tell you that the village is strong . . . and we will help light a path to a brighter future that will always honor Ron. And Zachary and Evan will also play an important role. These two precious little boys – whose smiles, laughter, and enthusiasm light up a room – will fill Dana’s home with optimism for the future.


The Torch will Burn Brightly:

When Dana and Ron asked Uncle Ken to be Zachary’s god father and later when they asked me to be Evan’s god father, we were both very honored. Now, we will honor Ron and take great pride in the mitzvah of being role models for Zachary and Evan as they mature and grow to know what a wonderful father they had.

Ron is, and will always be, an inspiration to us. And with Dana’s strength and wisdom, the torch of Ron’s good name . . . of his wonderfully huge heart . . . and of his lasting soul . . . will burn brightly and be caringly passed to two more mensches just like their beloved father.

Ron – we love you; we miss you dearly; . . . . and we will honor you forever.


Ron's Obituary:

Ronald Alan Schneiderman, 44, passed away on March 4, 2009 in Roswell, Georgia.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Ron graduated from Firestone High School in 1983, then earned a BA in Business from the University of Akron. He obtained his MBA from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1991, then made Atlanta his home. For the past 7 years he has been a highly valued Account Manager at Paetec Communications, where he was frequently recognized for his outstanding contributions to the company. Ron was a devoted son to Stan and Harriet Schneiderman, a caring brother to Ken and sister-in-law Norma, a loving husband to Dana, and a dedicated father to his sons Zachary and Evan. Ron was also beloved by his in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

Along with his family, Ron was a member of Congregation Or Hadash in Atlanta. Ron found the greatest joy in the simplest of pleasures: he had a passion for collectibles, had a zest for history and trivia, loved movies, listening to music, and most of all, spending time with his family and friends. Ron lived by the words of the Talmudic sage, Shammai, who taught that we should “greet every person we meet with a warm and cheerful countenance,” and Ron learned from his parents to treat every human being with dignity.

Funeral and Memorial Service Details:

Atlanta Memorial Service Details
The Atlanta Shiva will be held on Tuesday, March 10th, Wednesday, March 11th and Thursday, March 12th from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Services will begin promptly at 7:00 pm.

Shiva Location:
David and Dana Meline
1153 Whitehall Pointe
Dunwoody, GA 30338
This is the Whitehall Community on the southwest corner of Roberts Drive and Spalding.

Ron's Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, March 15th at 4:00 pm. The service will be held at the Or Hadash Sanctuary at The Weber School. Location: 6751 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA 30328. (close to the intersection of Abernathy Road and Roswell Road)

If you wish to honor Ron's memory, contributions may be made to benefit Zachary and Evan’s education. Please make checks payable to: “Contribution Account for Zachary & Evan.” Mail to:

Private Mail Box #135
5588 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338

Dana would be most appreciative of your kindness and generosity.

Akron Funeral Details
Ron’s funeral will take place on Monday, March 9th at 10 a.m. at Gordon-Flury Funeral Home, 1260 Collier Road, Akron, OH 44320. Interment to follow the funeral service at Rose Hill Cemetery at 3653 West Market Street in Akron. Shiva period will be Monday through Thursday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Schneiderman home.

It is Dana’s request that in lieu of flowers or plants, contributions to honor Ron’s memory may be made to benefit Zachary and Evan’s education. Please make checks payable to: “Contribution Account for Zachary & Evan.” Mail to:

Private Mail Box #135
5588 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA 30338

Wednesday, March 4 - 10:38 pm
Ron is at peace now. He passed away this evening shortly after 8:00 with Dana by his side. Details regarding funeral & memorial services will be posted later.

Monday, March 2 - 10:54 pm
No update this evening.

Sunday, March 1 - 10:27 pm
Again, no update tonight.

Saturday, February 28 - 9:54 pm
We have no update this evening.

Friday, February 27 - 8:49 pm
A quick apology to those who left (or tried to leave) comments these past two days. I had a little technical glitch, which I think is corrected now. The couple of duplicate posts are due to this glitch. Ron had a peaceful day, and Dana is giving him lots of love from everyone.

Thursday, February 26 - 10:22 pm
Tonight’s blog entry wasn’t easy to write, and it won’t be easy to read.

Many of you have been praying for the miracle of Ron’s full and complete recovery, and we are thankful for all the prayers being said all over the world. In reality, Ron would need 4 miracles. Even if he were to get two (recovery from the coma, and very little or no brain damage), it would be cruel to have to explain the situation to him and ask him to recover enough strength to deal with chemo and radiation in hopes for two more miracles (beating both types of brain cancer). We ask that everyone pray instead for peace and comfort for Ron and his family.

As mentioned earlier on this blog, Ron has two different kinds of brain tumors, and he has been in a coma since January 30, the day of his surgery. The final pathology report does not contain grades for either of Ron’s tumors, but they are both malignant, and will worsen in time. Without treatment for the tumors, Ron would be expected to live 10 to 11 months. With treatment, Ron would be expected to live only 14 to 15 months. His current condition is stable, but he needs constant care in the ICU to keep him that way. His blood is tested many times during the day so that they can closely monitor his sugar levels, sodium levels, etc. It is a delicate balancing act to keep these levels balanced with medication. He is also on other various medications for heart rate, brain swelling, antibiotics, etc. Ron’s neurosurgeon believes Ron could not tolerate chemotherapy and/or radiation – rather, it would likely result in his death.

Because there has been no neurological progress since the day of the surgery, Ron is not expected to recover from the coma. Even if he were to come out of the coma, the extent of brain damage, resulting from the strokes and the tumors, is not known. If he were somehow able to come out of the coma, he would probably need a month or two to gain enough strength to undergo treatment for the tumors.

Dana met with her and Ron’s immediate families and her rabbi in preparation for her Monday meeting with Ron’s neurosurgeon (which her parents and one of her brothers, a gastroenterologist, also attended), and then had subsequent meetings with the families and rabbi to discuss the information that she received. Ron does have a living will, which specifies that he wants life-sustaining treatment to be discontinued in the event that there is no reasonable hope for a meaningful recovery. Dana, both sides of the immediate family and Ron’s doctors are in full agreement regarding the decision with respect to next steps. The doctors are going to discontinue life-sustaining medication, and begin hospice care but continue with fluids and anti-seizure medication. If Ron survives more than 24 hours, he will be moved to a different floor where they will keep him as pain-free and comfortable as possible. There really are no other options, because Ron cannot remain in ICU for much longer, and he requires much more care (and special equipment) than can be provided outside of the ICU. Also, considering the prognosis, there is no reason to continue to put Ron through the discomfort (Ron does show some reaction to pain) of getting blood drawn frequently and having his trach tube suctioned, etc.

For those who wonder whether Ron has been given enough of a chance, you must understand that this past month has been his chance. Had Dana not come home from work just in time to call 911 before his seizure, it is very likely that he would not have survived the day. She saved his life that day, which gave him the chance for surgery and recovery. Dana also wants to mention that Ron has been given more chances than anyone who would be in his situation, thanks to his neurosurgeon, who knows how to weave science and compassion, and who exudes the epitome of human kindness.

It goes without saying that this has been an unbelievable nightmare for all who care for and love Ron. Please bear with Ron’s family as we deal with this terrible situation as best as we can. We know that many of you just want to pick up the phone and call the family, but we ask you to please realize that phone calls are too exhausting. We know that many of you would like to visit Ron, but we ask that you please remember Ron as you last knew him. The last day that Ron was truly (consciously) with us was on his 44th birthday on January 28th. He had a great day with his family, and dined on his favorite – pizza! He had cupcakes with his adorable sons and enjoyed birthday cards and messages from friends and family.

Please keep in mind that all important updates, arrangements, and specific details will continue to be posted to this blog. It will be used as the primary source of all communication for any information that needs to be shared.

Wednesday, February 25 - 10:34 pm
Again no changes to report today.

Tuesday, February 24 - 8:15 pm
No update this evening.

Monday, February 23 - 11:44 pm
Dana did meet with Ron's neurologist, but the oncologist was not available. She needs a little time to process the information. No change to Ron's condition.

Sunday, February 22 - 10:28 pm
Dana has a meeting scheduled with Ron's doctors tomorrow evening to discuss the pathology report and Ron's prognosis. Ron's condition is status quo - he is still resting comfortably.

Saturday, February 21 - 10:17 pm
Still no changes to report.

Friday, February 20 - 10:51 pm
There is no news to report today.

Thursday, February 19 - 9:56 pm
There is no news to report today.

Wednesday, February 18 - 9:41 pm
Ron’s pathology report is back. It took much longer than expected, because the Mayo Clinic had a very difficult time diagnosing Ron's tumor. They had to call in Dr. Burger of John Hopkins University, who is one of the world's leading authorities on the classification and diagnosis of tumors of the central nervous system, and put together a panel of experts to complete the diagnosis. The pathology report indicates that Ron has two separate and distinct tumors - what the doctor called "a collision of tumors."

One tumor is an astrocytoma (the most common type of primary brain tumor) with necrosis (the presence of dead cells in the middle of the tumor) and atypical cells. These characteristics indicate malignancy; however, high grade tumors usually have a high population of cells, and Ron’s tumor does not. Because of the conflicting characteristics, the doctors could not give a definitive grade on this very unusual tumor. The other tumor is a B cell lymphoma, which means it's coming from the central nervous system. This is very uncommon in a young person. The doctors need to see if they can run more tests to try to find out more information on this tumor. The Oncologist has a few more items of discussion regarding this B cell lymphoma.

Ron is clearly not ready for treatment at this time. Dana has not yet had a meeting with the team of doctors to discuss the pathology report or the prognosis. Ron is still breathing on his own and resting comfortably.

Tuesday, February 17 - 8:56 pm
Today they took Ron off of the ventilator, and he is breathing 100% on his own with a trach collar in place. Should they need to, they can simply hook the ventilator back up to the trach tube at any time. There were no neurological changes. Ron had a very quiet day.

Monday, February 16 - 10:27 pm
No changes to report today.

Sunday, February 15 - 7:14 pm
Today's news is that Ron's spinal fluid is draining well enough internally that they were able to remove his catheter (which was draining the fluid externally from his brain). This morning's CAT scan showed some reduced swelling. No additional changes to report.

Saturday, February 14 - 10:32 pm
Ron had a quiet day today - there are no changes to report.

Friday, February 13 - 8:21 pm
Ron's CAT scan this morning showed no changes. His next CAT scan will be Sunday. He is resting comfortably and had no other changes.


Thursday, February 12 - 6:45 pm
Status quo. Ron will have another CAT scan tomorrow. We are still waiting to receive the pathology report.

Wednesday, February 11 - 9:40 pm
No changes to report today.

Tuesday, February 10 - 9:30 pm
Ron rested comfortably today. They began feeding him earlier than originally planned (last night), and he is handling the new feeding tube well. This morning's CAT scan showed no changes.

Monday, February 9 - 8:35 pm
Correction - Ron did not have a CAT scan this morning, in anticipation of the PEG procedure, but will have one tomorrow morning. The hospital staff is taking excellent care of Ron. They will start feeding him again tomorrow afternoon.

Monday, February 9 - 3:30 pm
Ron had a CAT scan in the morning, which we haven't discussed yet with the doctors. In the early afternoon, he had a PEG tube inserted. A PEG tube is used to provide nourishment directly to Ron's stomach. He was sedated for this short procedure, which was done in his ICU room, and it went well. Ron's feeding tube had been removed Saturday evening in preparation for yesterday's tracheostomy. There are no other changes to report at this time.

Sunday, February 8 - 8:15 pm
Ron had a peaceful day and will have another CAT scan tomorrow.

Sunday, February 8 - 2:10 pm
Ron's tracheostomy went well this morning. He is resting comfortably. Everything else remains the same.

Saturday, February 7 - 9:10 pm
Ron again had no change for the worse today. He is scheduled to have a tracheostomy in the morning. This is standard operating procedure, as they cannot leave patients intubated for long periods of time, or it could irritate the esophogus. This procedure should make him more comfortable.

February 6 - 9:00 pm
Again no changes for the worse - things remain status quo for now. We are still awaiting a final pathology report, which may not come until Tuesday. The family was able to have some quiet time together this evening, and Dana is trying to spend more time with the boys.

Thursday, February 5 - 7:09 pm
No CAT scan this morning. Another day with no bad news, but no notable changes. Ron is resting comfortably and is doing well with his feeding tube. We do not know at this time whether they will do another CAT scan tomorrow. Will post more when we know more.

Wednesday, February 4 - 4:31 pm
Ron had another CAT scan this morning, and his neurologist showed it to Dana, Harriet, Ken and Ken's wife, Norma, this afternoon. He believes that he sees some reduction in the swelling in Ron's brain since the surgery occurred. Otherwise, things remain the same - there has been no increase in neurological function. We are aware that everyone is anxious for news, but do not have much to share at this point. We may not update again today if there is nothing new to report.

Tuesday, February 3 - 6:42 pm
There has been no change regarding Ron's neurological activity, but his vitals are pretty good, and he is handling the feeding tube (which they started yesterday) well. We appreciate everyone's patience and support. The family is not eating together at home, so please do not send meals to Ron and Dana's home or to the hospital. We do realize everyone is aching to help, and we promise we will ask for help once we are ready. Thanks again to everyone for the very kind comments!

Monday, February 2 - 10:19 pm
Still no change. No CAT scan Tuesday morning.

Monday, February 2 - 10:05 am
Ron remained stable through the night. This morning's CAT scan showed no changes. We know that you all are keeping the prayers and positive thoughts coming.

Sunday, February 1 - 9:27 pm
Dana had a conversation with Ron's neurosurgeon today. There has been no significant change to Ron's condition; however, there has been no decline. The doctor stressed the need to give Ron plenty of time for the swelling to decrease. They will continue to do CAT scans every morning until they are sure that they show enough stability to warrant doing them less frequently. We will continue to update, but please understand that there could be many more days without much news to report. Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement, prayers and offers of help.

Sunday, February 1 - 2:14 pm
Dana, Harriet and Ken met with the neurologist this morning, and there is still no change in Ron's condition. The CAT scan did not reveal any new information. He had been running a fever yesterday, which has come down a little today. The catheter is still working. The good news so far today is that there hasn't been any additional bad news. Apologies for not updating sooner, but we cannot update from the hospital. Unfortunately, there is nothing to do but wait at this time.

A few more details and clarification - yes, the fact that Ron is non-responsive to the extent that he is does mean that he is (and has been) in a coma. He does respond to pinching (but this is an involuntary response), and he does have corneal reflex. We must wait for some change for the better.

Saturday, January 31 - 10:41 pm
There has been no change in Ron's condition. Immediate family will gather at the hospital again in the morning. Ron will have another CAT scan very early, and we hope to discuss the results with his doctor sometime in the morning. The family has been reading the comments posted, and we all appreciate everyone's good wishes. We will post again when we know more.

Saturday, January 31 - noon
Dana, Harriet and Ken met with Ron's neurologist and neurosurgeon. Ron's situation is very serious. His pupils are fixed and dilated, which is a bad sign. The doctors say that Ron's brain stem has been compromised; however, he does have some neurological activity. Ron's tumor is a very aggressive, fast-growing tumor with tentacle-like features. The doctors speculate that it may have originated in the hypothalamus within the last month or two. What remains of the tumor (which may be as much as 40%, vs. the 20% reported earlier) is deep in an area of the brain that the surgeon could not risk invading. The MRI Ron had this morning revealed that Ron had actually had 2 strokes, one at the back of each hemisphere of his brain. They were swelling, not bleeding strokes. It is still not clear when the strokes occurred.

Ron's catheter had gradually stopped working this morning, so they repositioned it. It is now working again. We now must wait to see whether there is any change in Ron's neurological function. If there is no change before tomorrow morning, we will speak with the doctors again at that time.

Friday, January 30
Ron was prepped for surgery to remove the brain tumor early in the morning . The surgery began at around 8:15 and lasted six hours. In the afternoon,the neurosurgeon reported that he had removed 80% of the tumor, and no incidents occurred during the surgery. He placed a catheter in Ron's head to drain the spinal fluid. It is expected that he will remain in ICU for 5 days with the catheter in place.
Following the surgery, the doctors noticed unusual movement on Ron's right side, so they took him for another scan. The scan revealed that Ron had had a stroke, the neurosurgeon thought within the past 12 - 24 hours. There was no evidence of the stroke during the surgery, and no conditions occurred during the surgery which would have been expected to cause a stroke. The stroke did not appear related to the tumor, because the tumor was in a different location. Ron did not regain consciousness after surgery.

Thursday, January 29
Ron woke early in the morning not feeling well, and stayed home from work. Dana tried calling him many times during the morning and got no answer. She emailed his work, and found that he had not called in, so she went home to check on him around noon. She found him shaking and sweating and complaining of being cold. She began to dress him to take him to the hospital, but realized she needed to call 911. While she was trying to put a sweatshirt on him, he appeared to have a seizure. She called 911 again, and was informed that the emergency crew were at the front door. They took Ron (and Dana) to the hospital and did CAT scans and MRIs. They determined that Ron had a brain tumor that was preventing the fluid in his brain from draining properly. The neurosurgeon said that it was important that the pressure build-up be relieved quickly, and recommended surgery within 24 hours. Surgery was scheduled for 7:30 am Friday.