Happy Days!

Sorry about the delay, but the days fly by as we continue this long journey. As many of you know, we received some good news at St. Jude. Namely, that we don't have to undergo another surgery at this time, which is a major praise to our Most High and to each of you prayer warriors. Furthermore, we don't have to return to St. Jude until May, which would have been our next trip anyway. Tzadok's headaches seem to have gotten better, yet another praise, and since we're in the praise mode in two days Tzadok will be three!! It has been a long tough year for this sweet boy, and we are going to have a very big birthday blowout bash, at the only place to have birthday bashes, Chuck E Cheese. We thought about taking him to the park, but he still has bad memories of parks and he quickly shut that idea down. He, however, is looking forward to a very special Make a Wish trip to Disney World in a little under a month, so this year is shaping up to be one filled with healing, grasping for new norms, and some good ol' fashion theme park fun. Overall, these are happy days. We will keep everyone posted as we draw nearer to returning to St. Jude, but keep praying that these headaches stay away and that this tumor shrinks.  

Yet will we Serve Him

     This journey has been long and arduous for our entire family. When we think that we can begin to move forward we seem to take two steps back. Tzadok had the tumor drained on Wed. but the doctors were only able to get out about 1CC of fluid, which was not the news we were needing. So, we have to monitor Tzadok for two weeks and if he starts complaining of headaches again we will have to return to St. Jude for another MRI, and if the tumor has shown any growth Tzadok will have to go through another surgery. The doctors are afraid that there is some problem with the catheter or that there may be multiple cysts in the same location, which is hindering them from draining the cyst. Or, or, or...there are just so many or's. After this, he could still have to undergo another surgery to remove a partial amount of the tumor because there is no guarantee another catheter will have any effect what-so-ever. Please pray that Tzadok is spared from all this unneeded stress on his body; please pray for protection; and please pray that this tumor does not grow anymore because our Father is more than capable. These prayers are for miraculous intervention. The Father is the only one who can intervene now, and we need your voices in a chorus with ours. During each stage of this journey, we have clung to the hope that we were one step closer to picking up the pieces and moving on with our lives. However, it seems our life will reside in flux for the next year at least. Regardless of the next two weeks, Tzadok will have to go back to St. Jude for another MRI in a month with the same prospect list that I described above, so more anxiety and stress loom over our household. About the only thing we know for sure is that we will serve Adonai for now and forever. As we grow more weary with each passing day, that thought is the only hope we have left to cling to. Rachel and I echoed the words of King David at our dinner table tonight "though He slay me, yet do I serve Him." No matter where this all leads and ends, He is our only hope, and that is very comforting, indeed.

News and Waiting

       Well, we have been informed that there was about a millimeter worth of new growth, which is within the safety levels. Rachel and I are definitely relieved and we've begun to suspect over the last several days that we might have had a virus in the house, which could explain a lot. Additionally, we are trying to understand what is cause to worry and what isn't. Tzadok is ready to go home and we are not about to agree to a brain surgery with this new revelation of information. We do have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow, however, and we may decide to drain the cyst again since we are in town, but we're ready to get on the road and beat the terrible weather coming in tomorrow.

    Okay, so we have received some new information. It appears that Tzadok will have his cyst drained tomorrow around one in the afternoon. We are not for sure what is going to happen afterward, but please pray that enough of the cyst is drained to appease the doctors and everyone is relieved.

We're Here...Yet Again

   We just wanted to let everyone know that we made the trip safely with few incidents. The day has been relatively uneventful and for the most part it has been more of the same routine: register, access, draw blood, get anesthesia clearance, etc... Tomorrow will be the most important. The MRI is scheduled for six in the morning, so please remember Tzadok as you lay down and as you rise. Our little man sure does need a break. As a reminder, we need these scans to be stable to avoid any unwanted intervention. We are trying to figure out Tzadok's new normal and we feel that these scans will go a long way toward us learning more about how to care for Tzadok in the future. Most of all, please join us in rebuking any thought of a further brain surgery.