One Year Ago Today

It was one year ago this weekend that Nathan first got diagnosed with a brain tumor, and we were in the hospital preparing for his surgery.

Thank you all for helping us, loving us, and walking with us this past year. We're going up the mountains for some much needed fun and family time, marking this first year with remembering God's goodness to us.

WINNER OF THE HIGH SCHOOL DRAG RACE

Last week was our first, official week of school. It was also our very first homeschool co-op, which meets every Friday with about 25 other children. So, after hitting the books a fun weekend was in order, but we didn't have any plans, other than stacking wood on Saturday. That isn't in the fun catagory for the kids because it involves spiders, getting hot, and working.

Saturday night, I got a call from Nathan's orofacial myologist (she retrains lip and tongue muscles for proper speech - I'll do another post about her because she's amazing.) She had some connections with the owners of Bandimere Speedway and was able to get us tickets for Junior Dragsters on Sunday. But it was more than that; we got a tour of the press box and command center, and Nathan had a chance to ride in a dragster as it was being towed back after the race. I cannot say enough good about John Bandimere and his son-in-law Larry, two kind and godly men.

Aaron took the kids back to the track on Monday for High School Drags, where high schoolers bring their own cars to race, and also get to race against police cars. They were there the whole day and had a blast.

Nathan got to ride in the winner's car after the race going down the drag strip FAST! He gave Nathan one of his two trophies he had won that day. You can imagine how perplexed I was when they came home with Nathan holding a trophy as big as himself which said "Winner of the High School Drag Race." My question was, "Aaron, you didn't race your truck, did you?!" Then everyone talked at once telling me the story.

Camping Trip

We just got back from our one-and-only camping trip for the year. Since I'm always cold at night whenever we've gone camping, Aaron decided to put up the outfitters tent he uses for hunting in the Fall, complete with a wood-burning stove. It was pretty homey for a tent.

But poor Aaron couldn't sleep because it was too warm. The rest of us slept great.

Besides bike riding, the kids' favorite thing was eating s'mores around the campfire. Just imagine stickey marshmallows sticking to dirty faces and hands.

August MRI Results

It was a long day at the hospital today, and at the end of it, not the results we had hoped for, but we accept it from God's hand. The good news is that the tumor looks stable, but the cysts have grown since the last scan. The doctor reminded us that the chemo doesn't have any effect on the cysts, just the tumor.

If the cysts get dangerously large, the only way to deal with them would be with brain surgery. But they would not take that risk unless absolutely necessary because of the location in the center of the brain. His brain surgery last year was relatively easy because the large cyst was off to the left.

So, could you please pray that these cysts would not continue to grow, and that the Lord would prevent him from needing another brain surgery? Thanks, it means so much to hear that others are praying.

The doctor also reminded us that we are in this for the long haul. Nathan will have MRI scans every three months for a few years, and then every 6 months for about 10 years, because these tumors and cysts tend to regrow. But his chemo treatments will end by November.

By the way, we did go to see Kirk, but he was just getting out of a follow up procedure to check on the vessels in his brain, so we visited with Rima for a while. Kirk's doctor was confident that he got all the AVM, but it seems like his recovery will be a long road. Hopefully, Nathan can go visit him in a few days.

If anything, all this is a cure for complacency, and a motivation to seek the Lord in prayer.

Comfort

This has been a rough time for Kirk and Rima. Kirk had surgeries Monday, Thurs. and brain surgery on Friday. Since the surgery, Kirk doesn't have full use of his right arm and leg, which the doctor says is temporary. Most difficult of all is his loss of speech, which they say is also temporary. He appears to understand, but is having a hard time finding words beyond yes and no. His brain is having to recover from the trauma of the surgery. Sunday we saw him make a lot of progress from when we saw him on Friday. They would appreciate any prayer offered on their behalf.

I think seeing Nathan recovered so well from his brain surgery gives them some measure of comfort. It was a comfort to us seeing our friends' son come through his brain surgery nine months before Nathan's. The Bible says we are to comfort others with the comfort we received from God, and that's what we are trying to do for them.

On this Wednesday we will be at Children's Hospital for another MRI and a treatment. Then we plan to go next door to the hospital where Kirk is, this time with Nathan with us, and visit them. It's kind of poignant to me that almost a year after his surgery, Nathan would be in a position to go cheer up someone else in a similar situation.

He'll Have A Hard Time Eating Corn-On-The-Cob Tonight

Last week at the orofacial myologist (who retrains muscles of the lips and tongue) Mrs. Coulson told Nathan to wiggle his loose top tooth and get it out before next time.

Well, today it was still hanging by a thread. At our first stop at Children's Hospital, Nathan's nurse tried to wiggle his tooth loose but chickened out. In the car I told Nathan that Mrs. Coulson would probably give him a prize if he had that tooth out today, so he worked on it all the way there, but it still hung on.

Then, victory, he finally got it out as we sat in the waiting room, and was rewarded with a nice prize. The tooth fairy will try to not forget this time to leave him something under his pillow, too.

Since it was just him and me today, we went to lunch afterwards and played I Spy as we ate, and then went to Farmers' Market. A year ago, I wouldn't have believed that taking Nathan to chemo would be included in a nice outing day.

Kirk Needs Prayers

Our friend Kirk had a 3rd surgical procedure on the blood vessels in his brain yesterday, and he wasn't recovering well from it, and experiencing some numbness. He is supposed to have another one of those surgeries done on Thursday, then brain surgery on Friday. Also please pray for strength and comfort for Rima. And for a good, compassionate nurse - they have mostly had some meanies.