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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.
Will keep Nikki and her surgeon in my prayers, as well as you and your children.
I join in earnest prayer for your wife Nikki.
I shall pray for you as well.
2 Corinthians 3-4:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
Peace, brother.
Prayers for her safe and successful surgery and for a full and speedy recovery !
Prayers for Nikki and you and your entire family. May the Lord walk with you through this ordeal. Amen.
Prayers for a refuah shlema for Nikki!
Oh dear Mills, I’ve NO doubt that God’s hand
and presence surrounds you and your dear wife.
For you to gain such immediate entrance to
the vaunted Mayo Clinic .. well, that is
utterly God’s grace. Such amazing blessing ..
one is in awe. There’s no better place.
Prayers up for you and she and your family
throughout this time. May He guide the surgeon’s
hands and head with perfect skill and focus.
Trust in the Lord with all thy might ...
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You have my prayers. Thank God for those doctors and nurses at Mayo!
Keeping your wife, Nikki, and you and your family in my thoughts and prayers tonight and tomorrow. Have faith and stay strong!
Prayers for your wife for calm, patience and good result.
You are in good hands.
God Bless.
Prayers up for you and Nikki and family and your surgeons.
God bless.
I do hope and pray that your wife have a VERY successful operation tomorrow.
“God of power and might, please be with Nikki during her brain surgery tomorrow, O Lord. Guide the surgeon’s hand that changes it, that it might heal and function better, to Your great glory. Amen.”
I am praying very hard for your beautiful wife Nikki and also for you and your entire family. Thank God that you have been lead to this wonderful clinic and the medical staff there. May our Lord guide their hands and lay his hands upon you wife and cure her of all illness and also fill you all with His Holy Spirit and fill you all with His Love and Grace.
Prayers that all goes well for your wife and family.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Joshua 1:9
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Praying for Nikki, the surgeons, your whole family.
You might want to look into a ketogenic diet for her. I just read about a study with tumors regressing on a keto diet. Surely her doctors will know something about this. Wish I could find the link now. If I find it I’ll post it for you, you have plenty enough to think about for now.
CONTINUED PRAYERS
and off and on through the night.
Heading back to bed shortly . . .
Prayers for anointed surgeons’ hands;
anointed support staff;
anointed instruments and technology;
THE PEACE OF THE LORD JESUS THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING
Great humor and even the JOY OF THE LORD THROUGH IT ALL.
That Nikki will find it miraculously even an interesting and overwhelmingly positive vs traumatic situation in spit of the obvious traumatic aspects.
That God will enable her to shock the surgeons by her overcoming spirit, attitude, good humor . . .
Lord, we ask in your name that you banish all fears, fearful thoughts, harrassing forces from the enemy—anything and everything that would in the least bit hinder your highest good for Nikki tomorrow, in Jesus’ Name.
So be it.
Amen.
Blessings to all concerned.
Please keep us posted.
Prayers for Nikki and her family.
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