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.

AN UPDATE ON RITA THIS AFTERNOON

We have an appointment with Rita's neurosurgeon on the 3rd of January at 9am. He is concerned about the size of Rita's primary tumor and she may have to have more aggressive surgery than thought. Keep us in your prayers at that time that we will make the right decisions and do the right thing for Rita's health.

This afternoon on the 27th, Rita's family physician Dr. Rachel Hess called Rita and told her that they are believing that there were only three options for her:

1. Watching the tumors and see if they get any larger(That is not an option as far as we are concerned and her doctor agrees)
2. Using the Gamma Knife(although the largest tumor is 4.5cm and the Gamma Knife generally is not used for tumors large than 3.5cm)
3. Performance of what is called Transnasal approach to remove tumors at the base of the brain, especially at the pituitary level.(UPMC has the most experience with this radical new technology, opening up a special operating room at the University Medical Center. Our resources tell us that they have done over 1000 of these procedures with great success and are known all over the world in the performance of this type of brain surgery) They believe Rita would be a good candidate for this procedure and she would be able to leave the hospital after a few days, if there are no complications to resolve. The affect on her would be significantly reduced compared to complete craniotomies as have been done in the past. It is possible that both the Gamma Knife and this procedure will be used, but that is just discussion at this time.

Of course we will know more what will be the best choice on January 3rd but our hopes are high and we have been much encouraged by her physician's daily sharing of information to us. GOD grant us the wisdom and may he guide those physicians who will participate in her procedures and healing.

YOUR PRAYERS

Many of you already know from our e-mail that Rita has been diagnosed with meningiomas in her brain from a recent MRI. We know that she has one large tumor deeper in her left side of her mid brain and another smaller one high on the right side closer to the outside of the brain. The one in the mid brain is the most concern because of its location to the pituitary gland and other blood vessels and sinuses. This tumor lesion measures 4.2 cm at its largest position. The one on the right measures only 7x12mm and its position is less concern. She will be seeing a neurosurgeon after the first of the year and the plan at this early stage is to consider her for the Gamma Knife. The Gamma Knife is a radiation machine that uses high energy 201 gamma rays to penetrate and go directly to the tumors and remove them completly, God willing. We are praying that this technology can be used for Rita as it will keep her from a craniotomy, and no risk of bleeding or loss of cerebralspinal fluid and all the other complications and recovery that occur with invasive surgery. Rita has a wonderful family physician who has been most attentive to her and through her physician's aggressiveness and also her experience as a researcher these terrible tumors have been detected we believe early. Since Rita also works for the University Medical Center, our care can be managed more closely and with more sharing of expertise and support from her employer. Rita was blessed by the fact that when she received the news from her physician at work and before she called me, she had a Christian co-worker to share this with and be in prayer. Meningiomas grow slowly so we do not really know how long they have been there but Rita's symptoms of left side tingling and headaches have only most recently been a consistent irritation. Rita is strong and her faith is strong and we are of course encouraged by the hopeful diagnosis at this early time and only GOD will be able to control the events in our lives. We pray for complete identification of the initial diagnosis and subsequent healing and your prayers will of course be such strength and support for us. The class I participated in and most recently subsituted in leading on prayer and intercessory prayers, at our CMA church, was certainly appropriate for us and does remind us of the power of prayer in our lives and gives us strength.

GOD is testing us now and we must remain faithful, as He does with us. We praise GOD for our wonderful church family and their now prayers and concerns for us and we are anxious to move forward as soon as possible to restore Rita to her wonderful health and faithful living. GOD is with us and we ask you to walk with us also and we know you will. I will of course use our BLOG site to provide updated information as we undergo this journey and join with GOD as He works his wonders in our lives. We are always glad to hear directly from all of you anytime. Thank you and again keep us always in your thoughts and prayers.. GOD BLESS.