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.
I do that, too..You’re welcome.
Spectacular ... Glory to God!
Such wonderful news .. Nikki’s been in my
prayers. What an incredibly arduous surgery
and skilled medical team .. God bless those
whose hands and skill defy our understanding
with their amazing deftness is such a delicate
area. They are truly gifted.
God continue to abide with you and grant you all
strength, faith, patience necessary and with solid
healing for Nikki. Unbelievable, that she was ‘awake’
and talking the whole time.
Thanks for the Good News update..Kept checking last night, and was getting a little anxious..What a relief to know she is doing well..
Will keep the prayers for her recovery going!
Wow!! What great news!!!!
Thank you Lord!!
What a wonderful update! Thank you Heavenly Father, for strength in the face of fear, and blessings without number!!
May God bless and keep you all.
Tatt
Thank you for the update...Praise God.
Will keep praying.... will she need Chemo?
Just got back in town and looked up this thread to get an update on Nikki. Wonderful news! Tell her your FReeper friends send love and prayers for full recovery.
Prayers up for brain surgery success! Glory to God for all good things!
Praise the Lord for He is good.
Prayers for her to continue to heal and improve...and for all
of you to have strength to help her do this!
So far they do not think chemo will be part of her treatment. Possibly radiation however, but only after about three months I believe. Well, I’d have to think a lot hangs on what the pathology report shows on Monday...
Nikki is currently having minor brain swelling, which the doctor said is 100% normal from days 2-4 postsurgery. It causes her to miss a word or two occasionally, which frustrated her today, but we know it is temporary.
We are all so very thankful and in awe of how prayers have guided us on this journey. We met another man today with a grade 4 tumor (aggressive, fast growing/malignant) who had to wait several weeks to get an appointment at the Mayo Clinic. Somehow we were able to get an appointment the very same day I first called!
Praying for a complete healing of your beautiful wife!!!!
Prayers for Nikki’s complete recovery in the name of Jesus Christ. Twinkie
Prayers continue
Mills, somehow I missed this thread on Thursday. I am sorry I was not in on the prayers, but it is really good news that you and Nikki were led to this fabulous doctor. Praise God that Nikki is going to be okay for the time being and we pray that she heals fast. By the time the tumor grows again, we pray that science will have found a cure. God be with you and the whole family.
BTTT
What a great, wonderful blessing!
Wonderful news! Prayers for healing and a swift recovery.
PRAYERS for full recovery.
Blue-Duncan may have some info worth prayerfully considering.
Anyway—Am glad they got 95% vs 90%.
May God lead daily the rest of the way.
Thanks for the update.
Thank you for the good news update!
Prayers continue....
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