Sunday, April 20, 2008
A Special Visit
I was blessed yesterday to be able to visit my friend, "A." It is absolutely amazing how his spirits are high. His family is with him. He continues to praise God in this "storm." The funniest thing in the conversations that we had, and I mean funny-ironic, was his concern for everyone else. He wanted to know how I was doing. He wondered how the rest of our co-workers are. He wanted to make sure that his being gone is not a burden on others. That's "A" for you.
He is doing well, a little tired, but doing well. He continues to suffer, though to a lesser degree, from what I call "after shocks" from the surgery, small focal seizures specifically on and around his left thumb. From the beginning, the MRI showed the tumor in an area "that will have an effect on the left thumb." It is amazing the ability God has given man to study and learn. To know the exact locations in the brain that affect certain areas of the body.
With all that has happened in the last couple of weeks, one thing is for sure: the power of prayer is amazing. Never, ever underestimate that "where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, there He is in their midst."
God is awesome and the way he has spoken to so many during the "storm" is a testament to His overwhelming grace.
He is doing well, a little tired, but doing well. He continues to suffer, though to a lesser degree, from what I call "after shocks" from the surgery, small focal seizures specifically on and around his left thumb. From the beginning, the MRI showed the tumor in an area "that will have an effect on the left thumb." It is amazing the ability God has given man to study and learn. To know the exact locations in the brain that affect certain areas of the body.
With all that has happened in the last couple of weeks, one thing is for sure: the power of prayer is amazing. Never, ever underestimate that "where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, there He is in their midst."
God is awesome and the way he has spoken to so many during the "storm" is a testament to His overwhelming grace.
Labels: power of prayer
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
My God is an Awesome God!
UPDATE: 04/17/2008
I spoke this afternoon to "D". "A" is going home today. He will continue therapy on his left hand, but all is well and he should be back to his usual shinanigans soon.
PRAISE GOD!
Continued prayers are needed for the biopsy.
I spoke this afternoon to "D". "A" is going home today. He will continue therapy on his left hand, but all is well and he should be back to his usual shinanigans soon.
PRAISE GOD!
Continued prayers are needed for the biopsy.
Labels: power of prayer
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
God Is Good!
UPDATE on "A" (04/14/2008):
Please continue with your prayers, as will I, as they biopsy the tumor and "A" gets back to 100% and has an opportunity to partake in all the other things that he loves.
"A" had his surgery this morning. On Sunday, I spoke with him. A little about life, a little about work, and a little about his unfaltering faith during all this. He was surrounded by family and getting ready to have a good ol' Texas Bar-B-Que. "A" has been a role model for me in my Christian walk. A man that is even tempered in his understanding of his role in God's plan, when dealing with customers and employees, and a man that looks to God for wisdom, not others.
"Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV)
Our first update today was a little shaky. Upon surgery, the doctor realized that the tumor was a little deeper than expected. We were told that "A" may have a deficiency in the use of his left appendages for a short time, but with therapy, he should recover quickly. There was nothing to be alarmed about. Currently, he was doing well. Here is the exact update:
"'A' is out of surgery and all went well. The doctor is hopeful that they removed 100% of the tumor, but they can't tell at this time. The doctor feels he should have a full recovery. He is in the recovery room at this time and will spend the night in ICU. They anticipate moving him to a room tomorrow and begin physical therapy as well. 'D' [his wife] is there with [his] parents and 'B' [another family friend] said that she sounded as though she was holding up well."Later in the afternoon, we received the following update:
"I just received a call from 'D' with another update. She said that they had allowed her in to see 'A' and that he was awake and alert. Although she said he was in some pain as you would expect, he was able to respond to the doctor and perform basic movements as well or better than the doctor had expected at this point. [GOD IS AWESOME!] He will stay in the ICU tonight and they still plan to transfer him to a regular room tomorrow. It sounds like things have gone very well so far."
Please continue with your prayers, as will I, as they biopsy the tumor and "A" gets back to 100% and has an opportunity to partake in all the other things that he loves.
Labels: power of prayer
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Please Pray for Healing
I realize that I have lost a great deal of readership over the past few months has died to my inability to post on a regular basis. That is ok, since I really do not do this for readership numbers. For those of you that still look at this from time to time, I have a prayer request.
A close friend of mine, let's call him "A", to protect his anonymity {:^) , has recently been having seizures. While at a charity event the other night, and by the grace of God while sitting next to his doctor, he had another. Upon the first round of tests, they found a small growth on his brain. At this time, they are running more tests to determine the severity of and round of treatment for this growth. He is a wonderful Christian man, loving father, gentle husband, and good friend. Please keep him and his family in your prayers this next week.
Thanks.
A close friend of mine, let's call him "A", to protect his anonymity {:^) , has recently been having seizures. While at a charity event the other night, and by the grace of God while sitting next to his doctor, he had another. Upon the first round of tests, they found a small growth on his brain. At this time, they are running more tests to determine the severity of and round of treatment for this growth. He is a wonderful Christian man, loving father, gentle husband, and good friend. Please keep him and his family in your prayers this next week.
Thanks.
UPDATE (04/07/2008):
This update is directly from an e-mail that he sent out. Names and places are changed to protect the innocent.
"All - We just had a visit from the Doctor who has been coordinating my stay at hospital. Bottom line is he will not releasing me until sometime tomorrow. [04/07/2008] What remains is the visit with the neurosurgeon. He will determine how the tumor is to be removed.
What they have found is a quarter sized tumor on the right frontal lobe. Thru cat scans, MRI , EEG they have determined that it is not a satellite of any other growths and is most likely not cancerous. It is most likely a level 1 mass which is good news. Right now they are giving me steroids to keep the swelling down and anti seizure medicine.
Although I do not know how they will remove it may be done by radiation, gamma rays, or surgery.
I am doing fine, just would like to go outside and go for a walk.
-----------Just visited Neurosurgeon. He wants to try to schedule surgery Monday the 14 th at St. ***** [Hospital]. The stay for the procedure s/b only a few days. He told me that he wants me to take it very easy this week and minimize stress. I will have to go in probably Tuesday for pre op stuff. The doc said that post op I will have some therapy, if all goes well it will be outpatient. All sounds positive."
Everything is looking good, but we still need to continue to pray. Thanks again to all who are keeping "A" in your prayers.
Labels: power of prayer
