Posted on 04/12/2012 2:46:13 PM PDT by mills044
Fellow FReepers (sorry in advance for the long post)-
This is an update to a thread I posted on 3/31/12, and an urgent request for further prayers for my beautiful wife Nikki. God bless those of you who were able to help by praying for us on that thread! We KNOW that your prayers have helped our family, as I will outline in this update. More help is needed though!
On that Saturday morning, while my wife and I, & our 4 children were standing around the kitchen island talking about the upcoming day, she collapsed. I rushed Nikki to the Emergency Room, and after a series of CT scans and MRI’s, we were transported to a second hospital with a better neurology team. The early diagnosis was either a brain tumor or possible lesion due to MS, and the next day we received confirmation that it was the former: a “low grade glioma,” is the term they used.
But your prayers began coming in that very night after I posted, 160 or so in all. THANK YOU! The initial team of doctors at Abbott NW (Minneapolis) advised us that the tumor was inoperable, because of its proximity to Nikki’s speech/right-side-motor area of the brain. They didn’t even want to perform a biopsy, fearing permanent brain damage. Instead they proposed a “wait and monitor” approach, and asked us to come back in two months to see if the tumor had grown or changed. This is apparently a controversial area in the brain tumor world, but this approach is one of the schools of thought.
Nikki began having further daily seizures after we were discharged, unfortunately, despite the anti-seizure medication. We began seeking out a second opinion as soon as we got home.
I called the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and almost miraculously, they said they had an opening that very day (we live in a suburb of Minneapolis). That was on Tuesday April 3rd. We met with an incredible neurologist who initially spent an entire hour with us, going over Nikki’s MRI scans and explaining to us that though it was in a dangerous area, the tumor was certainly not inoperable. We met with an incredible neurosurgeon the very next day who concurred. Since then we’ve been down to the Mayo Clinic several more times for various tests, and are currently staying in a Rochester hotel, waiting… for tomorrow.
Tomorrow Nikki will undergo surgery to remove this thing. She will be awake for it, as they need to stimulate parts of her brain while she is speaking, in order to be sure they are proceeding as safely as possible. The craniotomy is expected to take at least 8 hours.
FRiends, we have never been more afraid in our lives.
Our doctor is a brilliant man named Dr. Ian Parney, and as I understand it, there is literally no person in the country with more experience in brain tumor resection. I have no doubt that the power of prayer brought him to us. We have placed all of our trust in the Lord, and are praying to Him for strength, courage, and above all, His healing touch. I am asking for anyone who has a spare moment, to keep Nikki in their prayers for this Friday. She has a beautiful heart and soul, and is the most courageous human being I’ve ever met. She brought me to a wonderful church one day that changed my life such that today I consider myself to be a true (albeit inperfect) Christian. I’m actually on the opposite end of the spectrum from perfect, in my opinion! But Jesus Christ is my savior, and he died on the cross for my sins. My mother-in-law sent us flowers and a card the other day, which referenced a bible verse Phillipians 4:13. I broke down when I read it, because it is beautiful:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Sorry for the long post everyone. I just want to thank you all again for praying to the Lord to help us. If you can spare another moment or two in continued prayer, I would be so very grateful again.
Thanks for sharing the news with us here on FR. That’s great news! And, within the next decade, remember, science and technology will continue to find even more ways to treat a possible recurrence.
Nikki is doing well- we have rented a house in Rochester, mn,odor 6 weeks,’so that she can do her daily radiation at a world class facility. It is still a very daunting prognosis, however: only 50% of people with this kind of tumor will survive 5 years.
But, we feel that Nikki will be on the good side of the line, and we pray every day for complete healing.
Thank you again! Free republic is such a wonderful gathering of good people. Your kind words and prayers are so very appreciated.
Mills044
Stardust- just wanted to send you an update, as you were kind enough to pray for us in our hour of need. As were so many others! What a wonderul community this forum is.
My wife and I have rented a house by the mayo clinic in Rochester mn, for Nikki’s 6 week radiation regiment. They removed 95% of a type II fibrillary astrocytoma, and the goal of radiation is to neutralize the relishing portion so that the maximum non regrowth period occurs. It is still a very scary diagnosis: 50% mortality rate for 5 years.
The power of prayer has guided us here and has strengthened us. Nikki is so very brave and strong. People tell me I am doing a good job coordinating everything medical/family/work/etc but I tell them I’m only doing what we must. Can you please continue to keep us in your prayers? They do help and we need all the help we can get!
Thank you again. I greatly repect your freeping, and your humanity and kindness. Please pass the word If you can? Not sure of the best way to update the dozens of perfect strangers who helped us. We are so grateful.
Mills044
StarWISE, rather. Dang iPhone autocorrect!
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