Prayers for Nikki, you and your children, and the doctors. (Click)
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.
Look at what’s happened so far- the Lord is already working on this now.
Y’All will remain in my prayers until you get the “all clear”.
May God’s love enfold you and your family during this time of trouble.
Prayers for a successful procedure.
Ray
God bless your family!
Continued prayes for her.
She’s in two sets of great hands: the doctor’s ... and the Lord’s.
THANKS OPRAHSTHEANTICHRIST
END TIMES PING LIST PRAYER REQ PING FOR BRAIN SURGERY.
Please read the OP . . . sobering.
LET GOD ARISE AND BRING WHOLENESS TO EVERY CELL AND FIBER OF NIKKI’S BRAIN.
MAY HE GUIDE EVERY PROFESSIONAL’S HANDS AND EVERY BIT OF TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED IN A VERY ANOINTED, SPIRIT-SATURATED WAY, IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.
His strength is made perfect in our weakness. May God touch Nikki and her medical staff with his perfect healing hand and through all the hours that the family awaits her surgery may you feel His peace that passes ALL human understanding. Praying for a complete healing.
Prayers for your entire family.
Dear Mr Mills (an assumption) - that is a grueling amount of time for the patient, the surgeons, the operating room attendants - and for your family. Be aware that 8 hours is likely a 'best case' estimate - so please don't be alarmed if the surgery runs 10 or more hours, as many of these often do.
Please do come back to FR and let us know when Nikki is discharged from the hospital - and how she is doing!
Freepers, let's keep Nikki and family in our prayers for a month or two. In-hospital time will likely be a minimum of 5-6 days - and recovery-time always takes weeks...
Prayers lifting for Nikki, and for you all, and prayers of gratitude for wonderful physicians like Dr. Parney.
May God bless and keep you all.
Tatt
My prayers have gone up for your wife and you.
Prayers for your dear wife Nikki, Mills. I pray that she heals quickly and fully. Amen.
Prayers up!
I will be sure to followup on FR with her status- I can’t thank you all enough for this outpouring of love...
Hi: One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Behold, God is mighty and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding and gives the afflicted their right. He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous. He delivers the afflicted. He has allured you out of distress. And what was set on your table was full of fatness. Remember to extol His work. Praise and thanksgiving to Nikki and your family for a healing outcome of this surgery.
Thanks for the ping dear Quix. I’m praying in Montana.
I have the day off work tomorrow and will keep Nikki and her medical team and mills044 in my prayers right out loud. I am sharing this request with others who will pray faithfully.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Prayers up! You’re in good hands with the Lord and Mayo.
prayers up for Nikki!
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