MRI Update. 8/24/2018

Yesterday my devotional read:

"When tests and challenges come at you from all sides, consider it a joyful opportunity....Instead of being overwhelmed by all the difficulties, grasp My hand with confident trust...One of the hardest part of dealing with multiple trials is waiting for their resolution. Since patience is part of the Spirit's fruit, He can help you endure the waiting. Don't try to get out of hard times prematurely. Instead, persevere patiently, knowing that perseverance must finish its work- making you mature and complete."

Yesterday was a long, and exhausting, day filled with appointments with our oncologist and neurosurgeon. And at the end of the day, we don't know a whole lot. 

The good news- the area of concern from the last MRI did not change- which would typically indicate that this is not a glioblastoma or melanoma, as both these cancers tend to grow quickly. But it still doesn't tell us what it really is that's going on in Dad's brain. Dad's neurosurgeon was happy to see there was no change, but has not ruled out that this could be a slow growing tumor, or radiation damage, or just the way Dad's brain looks now post everything that's happened to him. He said, "If it were my Dad, I would wait it out- do another MRI and see if it tells us more."

So that's what we are going to do. Wait. 

And that's where that devotional from yesterday comes in..."...He can help endure the waiting. Don't try to get out of hard times prematurely."

We will schedule another MRI in about 6 weeks and re-evaluate our next steps. 

I am so thankful that Dad continues to feel well, and has not been experiencing any symptoms of re-growth, but I am also very realistic in our journey- we were always told it was a matter of WHEN the tumor returns, never IF. It will be difficult these next six weeks trying to patiently wait, with the back of my mind analyzing every headache, every speech difficulty....it will be difficult just not knowing what exactly is going on. 

We feel as confident as we can feel with our plan, as we trust our amazing team of medical doctors 100%. Dad is living proof that there is clearly a hand in all this that is much greater than any doctor or treatment, and I'm working so hard on trusting this plan with Him. 

I can't thank each of you enough for the countless prayers throughout the last (almost!) five years. We've been on an incredible journey, and we pray that the journey continues on- that this is just a small bump and whatever this is that is showing up on the MRI is truly nothing!

And I also can't thank our medical team enough for their countless support- Dr. Fleener and the entire staff at the Cancer Clinic have become family to us all. We trust Dr. Fleener with every aspect of Dad's treatment, and I can't imagine having any other doctor with us on this journey. And Dr. White without a doubt saved my Dad's life almost five years ago during surgery- and the second surgery. We are so thankful for this incredible team to help us manage all that life's thrown our way. 

Thank you all for the prayers- keep them coming!- and thank you for helping us BTHO Brain Cancer!