Phew!

Aaron's surgery went well, so much better than 10 years ago, and better than we expected. He'll just be in pain for a few days, but he knows a brave little boy who has been a really good example of handling pain.

One week ago when we arrived at the hospital for Nathan's surgery, he said, "I never get to have a 'normal' day." What he meant was the girls get to stay at our friend's house and play, but he has to be at the hospital. Well, today he got to stay at their house and play, too, reminded that this was God's gift to him.

Now It's Aaron's Turn

Aaron goes under the knife at about 10:00 a.m. tomorrow for his hernia operation, God willing. Tonight he's feeling achey, flu-like. It's never boring around here. Please pray for my dear husband, the rock of our family.

These Pictures Tell About Nathan's Recovery

This was taken today. The lump you see is the shunt. I prayed that the Lord would give Nathan joy to outweigh his sufferings.

Today we got a visit from the young man who gave Nathan his racing trophy, and his brother. They are John Bandimere's grandsons (of Bandimere Speedway), and I'm sure he's proud of them. Their family had been praying for Nathan, and called a few days before the surgery. These boys wanted to buy Nathan and his sisters some Christmas gifts with their own money. And they came with some very nice gifts. We have received so much kindness from this family, and we are Bandimere Speedway fans for life!

Opening gifts on Christmas Day, three days after surgery. Best Christmas ever!

In the wagon getting ready to leave Children's Hospital the day after surgery.

The day after surgery, napping with policeman bear. He wanted to be dressed in his own clothes to be ready for a visit from his favorite police officer.

We thank God for sparing Nathan's life, for sparing him the massive headache and the rush to the hospital for emergency surgery. He was throwing up the day of surgery, we think from the cranial pressure, so it couldn't have been much longer. God's timing was perfect, that his surgeon could do the surgery, and as a bonus, that we could be home for Christmas.

He's Home!

Just a quick post to say that Nathan is home as of last night. Up a lot through the night with pain/vomiting, but doing much better today. Biggest complaint is a very stiff neck. He's walking around, sitting and playing, even humming some of the time. We're so thankful. I'll post some pictures and other details when I have some more time. Thank you all for your prayers.

After Surgery

I just heard from Darlene. Nathan is out of a successful surgery! The surgeon came out and told them it could not have gone better. He was able to burst the largest cyst and one of the smaller cysts. Darlene and Aaron are just now going back to see Nathan.

Thank you Lord!

I'll update more when I talk to Darlene tomorrow.

Answered Prayer

Thank God, Nathan slept through the night and woke up well. We met with the surgeon today and learned more about shunts and the procedure he will be doing. He is planning to attempt to burst the largest cyst and then place the shunt. The surgery is still scheduled for 5:00 Tuesday, but may be moved up an hour or two. We so appreciate your prayers.

Missy will try to post the results late Tuesday or Wednesday.

SCHEDULE AND COMPLICATIONS

Nathan is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. But tonight he started throwing up, most likely from the virus I had a few days ago, but it is also one of the symptoms of brain pressure, so things are complicated now.

He will either have surgery as planned, or they might admit him to the hospital tomorrow to keep him under observation.

Please pray that Nathan's surgeon will have wisdom from God to know the best course of action, and be skill ful in the surgery. He will either attempt to burst the cyst, which is risky, and put in a shunt, or leave the cyst alone and just put in a shunt to drain brain fluid.

Pray that Nathan will recover from his sickness and gain some strength before his surgery.

Surgery Dates

Nathan's surgery is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, but not sure yet of the time. The doctor is hopeful that Nathan should come home around Christmas. We rescheduled Aaron's hernia surgery for the next Tuesday, the 29th.

What We Know Right Now

We will know more tomorrow morning, but I will tell you what we found out today. The largest cyst closest to the ventricle is the only thing that has changed since the last MRI six weeks ago. It has grown larger and is beginning to close off the ventricle, and the ventricle is starting to swell. So the neuro-oncologist thinks that sometime within the next week or two would be the optimal time for the surgery to put in the shunt. Hopefully catching it before the massive headache sets in. That way it could be scheduled so that Nathan's neuro surgeon could do the surgery, and not whoever would happen to be on call in an emergency.

We'll know tomorrow if Aaron will go ahead with his surgery or have to cancel.

This is not the news we wanted, but we know that the Lord has his good purposes for everything He brings into our lives, and we can trust Him, even when our circumstances don't look good.

Nathan is being a steady trooper. He is already planning to pack his policeman dress-up outfit to wear in case officer Crump comes to visit him at the hospital.

COMING UP THIS WEEK

Just to let you know, Nathan is scheduled for a follow-up MRI on Wednesday to see how things are doing in there.

On Friday, Aaron is scheduled to have a hernia repair surgery. Ten years ago he had the same type of surgery done, and he had a rough recovery. We're hoping he does better this time. I think he'll be spending Christmas on the couch, though.

Urgent Prayer Request for Kirk

Our friend Kirk was scheuduled to have his brain tumor treated with a cyber-knife procedure today. But they found on a MRI that his tumor has grown so quickly and is now so large that they can not do that procedure on him. Instead he will have to have brain surgery quickly to remove the tumor and have it biopsied to see if it is cancer.

After all his other brain surgeries, they were hoping that this relatively easy procedure would be the last of all his treatments, but now they are faced with a major brain surgery and possibly cancer. Please pray for God's peace and grace to be overflowing to them during this difficult time, and for wisdom for the doctors who will be treating him.

All That And Sausage Too!

Yesterday was a really great day for Nathan (and us). He actually got to go to the hospital to have fun. The Make-A-Wish Foundation invited him to a Christmas shopping event. A volunteer escorted him with his list through the shopping room to help him pick out gifts for his family, then they wrapped and tagged them and he came out carrying a big bag with a big smile on his face.

As he shopped, I visited with a mom who also has a son named Nathan, who also has a brain tumor and a shunt. It was very comforting to talk with her. I watched a little girl, maybe 5, dressed in a santa dress, bald with a scar on her head, scamper over to her parents after she was done shopping. You can't imagine the display of love and happiness in that little family. It would have baffled me before. How can those parents look so happy? Now I know. You treasure every moment, thankful that God has given you today with your child.

That night we had a quick sausage and brussels sprouts dinner (one of his favs) and dropped the kids off at friends. Aaron and I had to do some quick Christmas shopping, but first we ran to get a Christmas tree, put it up, and throw some lights on it to surprise them. We had missed out on cutting down our own tree this year, and the kids weren't sure if we were even going to have a tree.

When we pulled up and they saw it in the window they were soooo excited! Nathan said, "Wow! First, sausage, and now a Christmas tree! This is the best day!"