Dr. Rughani is not just my neurosurgeon but he has been a source of hope and light in my darkness.
I know nothing about this man other than his credentials.
I have seen this man maybe, maybe 6 or 7 times.
Every time we meet, he has sat down with me like we were old friends and talked with me as if he had no where else to be . When I know full well his schedule was booked and his days were long.
I think he see's our pain, finds it and fixes it.
What an extraordinary gift to have!!!
The gift to Heal. The gift to take away someone's pain and give them their life back.
On some days, I am sure Dr. Rughani feels the weight of his gifts.
I am sure he has many days were the loses are almost are too heavy.
I am thankful that he continues on.
That he fights for those of us in pain.
I was referred to Dr. Rughani in the summer of 2017. It was my first time being diagnosed with Trigiminal Neuralgia. I had exhausted all medications and needed to see if a Microvascular Decompression may be an option for me.
Microvascular Decompression is a surgery to relieve abnormal compression of a cranial nerve causing trigeminal neuralgia. MVD involves opening the skull and inserting a sponge between the nerve and offending artery triggering the pain signals. Medications often provide initial relief, but when drugs become ineffective or cause side effects, MVD is an option.
I first looked him up online.
The thing I noticed first was his age!!!
He was a year older than me!
Well.... wasn't he the overachiever I thought to myself!!!
I scrolled down a bit more through his bio. It's when I came to his photo that I really gave pause. His eyes seemed kind. He had a a calming, confident demeanor about him and a sincere smile.
I stared at the photo a moment and felt at ease.
Damn his Age....
This was the man that was going to help save my life.
After we meet in person I couldn't have been more sure of it.
We meet in person in August of 2017.
Dr. Rughani and his staff listened to my story and sympathized with my pain.
We talked through my options before settling on the MVD surgery.
What I remembered most about the day I meet Dr. Rughani , besides the fact that he said he would try and help me! He outlined my surgery with a pen and the paper on the exam room table. When he was done , he preceded to rip it off and give it to me! I still laugh at this today!
(I recently heard he also writes on paper towels as well)
I left Dr. Rughani's office that day with HOPE!!!
On Thursday, November 30th 2017, Dr. Rughani Operated on me. He performed an MVD on my left side, for my Trigiminal Neuralgia. The surgery was a success!
I'm not sure which moment changed my life more.
The moment where I woke up from that surgery and felt no pain and realized I COULD live again! And EAT again!
Or.....
The moment in May of 2021 when I felt the unbearable shocks of pain throughout the right side of my face.
I'm not sure if can even begin to describe that moment.
The excruciating pain caused by Trigiminal Neuralgia is hard to describe, even to those of us that have it. It's a stop you in your tracks, bring you to your knees and wished you were dead type of pain.
It's not called the "suicide disease" for nothing!
If you think it's hard to find out you have Trigiminal Neuralgia one time , imagine how hard it would be to learn you have it a second time.
My first thoughts were of my girls and Kevin.It was so hard on them the first time around.
My thoughts than turned to myself, how was I going to do this again? and did I even have it in me?
Throughout all the next steps, the PCP appointments, blood work,
Neurologist appointments, medications, the MRI. Throughout it all, I had hope. Hope, that if none of this worked that maybe just maybe Dr. Rughani could give me my life back once again.
On January 20th , 2022 Dr. Rughani performed my second microvasular decompression surgery.
How do you thank A man who has saved your life not once but twice.
A Thank you didn't seem like it was enough the first time.
NEVER MIND the second time.
If I could speak without crying this is what I would tell him:
You are the talk at my table at every Birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
My mother in law has never met you but she talks of you often and is in love with you.
My husband and my girls .... I have no words. ( I am sobbing now)
You gave us our life back. A life that we loved and we had all missed so very much.
I am able to share my gifts with the world because your gifts saved me!
Thank you... For who you are and all that you do!
" He is the best Physician , Who is the most ingenious , inspirer of HOPE"
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Yes, My husband does know how I feel about this man! Just so you know, Kevin feels the same!
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