More Smoky Mountains and Downtown Gatlinburg

I know it has been a long time since I posted to our Blog, but as most of you know Rita and I have been busy taking care of business, primarily her health. We praise the LORD that she has lived the 23rd Psalm and holds it close to her heart as her health outlook is so much better after a long surgery. Nine and one half hours of surgery takes a lot out of you, both of us, but she did wonderfully well and we will move on to the next stage. From all aspects, another surgery will probably not be in the picture for sometime, as we are pretty much focusing on having the Gamma Knife radiation next. We have a meeting with her primary Neurosurgeon tomorrow(who did the microsurgery) but he has not given us the information we need at this time to put Rita through another surgical approach to remove any more of her tumor. The Radiation Medical Therapist and his staff are instead quite confident in their presentation to us that they can be successful in stopping the present growth of her tumor and shrinking it over time. Rita's symptoms after surgery so far have not increased and they are minor, at this time, and we do not want to cause her greater harm from another surgical approach without any conclusive results expected. The Gamma Knife procedure will be only one treatment and no significant side effects are expected from that procedure. Our outlook from that point on would be to follow her tumor status over the next many years and determine that it is or is not growing any further. We can only give continued praise for what has happened so far. So many events have happened along this pathway to her surgery that have inspired us. I would have to chronologically address them for you to know them all. Many of the events have been people who have unexpectably been placed in both our paths to lead us or inspire us from doctors, former patients who have had such procedures, church members and even the hairdresser who witnessed to Rita just a week before her surgery, telling about her sister who had a tumor ten years ago like Rita and confessing her faith as a Christian. If I could type all the tears that we have shed it would be wonderful but they have been all to the glory of our LORD and more were for joy than saddness. They were meant to support us each day. We give thanks to all of you who have called so many times to encourage us and the wonderful cards and letters we have received. We also acknowledge the wonderful medical care we have received so far, the doctors, nurses and staff who have loved Rita and I through this crisis. Especially to Dr. Rachel Hess, Rita's primary care physician who so quickly responded to her minor symptoms to identify the tumors and who has encouraged her so closely and warmly through this time. I have put in a couple of pictures of some of the cards( in front of Dan's stained glass window that he made sometime ago) We received so many cards and a few of you sent some spring flowers to brighten our day. How we continue to enjoy and will treasure those beautiful words that were written by all of you. Of course we cannot show the prayers you offered but those will always be written in our hearts and in heaven for eternity. Thank you all so much and continue to keep us in those prayers as we will in thanks to you all. GOD BLESS.

WINTER HAS FINALLY ARRIVED

Rita and I were thinking that we would never see any real snow this year as it has been so warm and dry. Well we finally got some of that white stuff this week and it makes for a cozy night in a warm home viewing out the windows at all the fresh clean snow that makes it feel like Pennsylvania. We do not have much but it seems to be sticking around for awhile. Enjoy a few of the pictures above from our back and front yards.

THE DECISION

Rita and I after much prayer and many medical consultations have come to the decision that her long term health must include taking some risks and trusting in GOD to have the right medical care. Considering all of this we know that surgery would be the best option for her to regain her full health and stop the growth of the largest of the meningiomas. The recommendations from the opinions we received would be to have a two step surgery(all in one procedure, approximately six hours) scheduled with follow up one time radiation therapy at an appointed time and watch the progress over the following years. We will schedule this with her surgeon after we have completed all the initial other consultations that her doctors would like to take place first, probably around March 5th or no later than April 5th. Continue to pray for us as waiting has its own issues and we are always needing the strength to continue. We will continue to let you know of the events as they occur by using our e-mail instead of the BLOG. We are really at peace with these decisions and our focus is entirely on Rita. GOD BLESS

UPDATE FOR RITA ON JANUARY 3RD 2007

We met with two physicians today. A neurosurgeon and a radial surgeon(radiation specialist). They reviewed the MRI with Rita and I and they both offered of couse some different viewpoints based on their specialities. The neurosurgeon believes that a surgical procedure would be of some benefit to reduce the size of Rita's largest tumor, the smaller one not a concern to them now. Then when that is done the radiation specialist believes that GammaKnife radiation therapy would be highly successful in stopping the growth and quite possible remove it almost entirely. The radiation specialist also believes that even without surgery he could stop the growth of the tumor and over years time see it become smaller and not present a problem to Rita. We will meet with another neurosurgeon in a few days that is well known for his surgical technique through the nasal area and get his opinion of the surgery he might perform and what success he believes could occur.

Either way we will have the surgery and than radiation therapy to gain as much improvement as possible or make the decision only to have GammaKnife radiation therapy and watch the development over the next few years. All the physicians at this time still believe the tumors are meningiomas and within a range of 90-98% not malignant, praise God.

A NEW YEAR AND A TIME OF HOPE AND PRAYER

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Rita and I are looking forward to 2007, as it will be "Something Beautiful" and a time of great hope and healing for us and we pray for all the world. This would be our prayer.

Lord

We know that you humble in order to exalt and weaken the body to strengthen the spirit. Further, we know that we cannot experience Your full power until ours is gone. We ask you to enable us to persevere in this process as You unfold the way You choose to glorify Yourself in our lives. This is never easy for us. Often it is frightening. We want to faithfully follow, however, wherever You lead. Hear our prayer Lord and make it our daily walk.