We met with the doctor this a.m. We have decided to go ahead with the radiation treatment. Mike will have an outpatient type surgery on Tuesday to have some gold markers placed in his skull. He should be out of the hospital after a few hours of observation. Probably within the week he will recieve a dose of radiation that will be 25x the amount of radiation he had in one treatment. That radiation will specifically target the two tumors. The radiation is a one shot deal. The side effects of this are minimal compared to another radical surgery. Surgery in fact is not an option since both tumors cannot be taken out. We are hopeful that this treatment will help Mike's well being. Mike and I both need a good night's sleep tonight and everything will look better in the morning.

A Rough NIght, but a new day

Last night was a bit rough. I guess just knowing that there are new "spots" in my brain made my head ache and i had trouble laying down. I took Tylenol through the night, but it didn't help me rest much. Nancy was also up and down a lot last night and didn't rest. We hope for some relief today and some rest. We will post after the doctor's appointment, and hope for a positive report as to the treatment options. One is not operable and will likely just be treated with radiation. We will continue to trust God's plan for us and we understand that we have more to learn from this experience. We will keep the faith and endure His path for us.

Dear friends... The MRI results were not what we had hoped for. There are 2 more lesions inside Mike's brain that withstood the radiation and chemotherapy. I talked with the doctor today and he told me about some options... We will meet with him in the morning to determine what to do. I KNOW we are being cradled in God's arms. He knows what is best for our lives. Please pray that we will make the best decisions. Thank you all for your great love. The days ahead are going to be difficult, but with your strength coupled with ours we will be triumphant. Love to you all, Nancy

Just to let you all know, I called the doctor this morning and of course he was out, but I was told that he had reviewed Mike's test and would call me back this afternoon when he returns. Luckily, I had a friend here with me to give me the strength I needed to make the call. At least today we should know something. Thanks to everyone for your kind, sweet, generous thoughts and prayers.

I know many of you are anxious for a new post... Mike hasn't felt well for the last several days. We have heard nothing about the MRI... I am too nervous to call. I am going with "no news is good news." I have thought up all kinds of rationalizations as to why Mike is having headaches. The truth is, we just don't know. I hope I have hit my low point and am heading back up. Discouragement is a terrible thing. We have faith that a loving Heavenly Father knows us and knows our hearts and knows what we can handle. I posted earlier that we need to replace fear with faith. I'm trying. I don't see my counselor for another week... He is on vacation. YIKES! I have his number... Bob would call :)

This past week end was difficult for us. Mike continued to have headaches. He slept a lot and we both worried. This morning is bright and clear and we have new hope for the new week. We are anxious to hear from the doctor about the MRI results. We trust that we will be able to take the next step with faith.

MRI complete & ready for the next step

The MRI was completed this afternoon. If you haven't had this experience, it can be a bit uncomfortable. You lay in a tube just the width of your shoulders with a guard over your head for about 20 minutes with a loud noise all around you. They do put some headphones on you to try to distract you from the tight space and loud noise. This is my 3rd one in the last 3 months, so I knew what to expect.

I don't know what to expect from the report next week, however. Though this is a precautionary MRI to see how I fared with the surgery recovery, radiation and chemo therapiess, one just never knows what is lingering up there. We are confident and trust in the Lord's plan for us. We will patiently wait for the results and take the next step in this journey, whatever it may be. We will faithfully pursue our life's mission and continue to make good decisions on eating, rest, and wellness. Our life is in the hands of the Master and we will follow what path is mapped for us.