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We wanted to post some details on our blog that we had emailed out to our freidns and family. We figured there might be some people that we didn't have their emails for that follow our journey on here.
Sent December 3, 2012
To
my most beloved friends and family,
I
wanted to take a moment and send you a personal email asking if you each
wouldn’t mind taking some time this Friday morning to pray for our son Brayden.
As most of you know, back in June Brayden’s MRI showed that the Arachnoid cyst
on his spine (found at birth) had started to grow and compress on his spinal
cord. Our neurosurgeon told us at that time that his spinal cord was 7 mm
in diameter and the cyst had compressed in 2 mm. This could, in turn,
decrease blood flow and oxygen to the brain, affect his neurological response
in his extremities, and affect the function of his bladder and kidneys.
At first Dr. Roberts suggest that we go ahead and schedule surgery, but after
an additional consult with the radiologist we determined that we would look to
see if it was actually having any of the above mentioned affects first.
After thorough testing, we learned that his oxygen saturation in the brain was
normal, as well as his bladder/kidney function and neurological responses. We
were given a 6 month pass and asked to come back in December for another MRI.
This was great news as this surgery is extremely high risk. I will spare
you of the risks during surgery and the survival stats but it is a very
complicated surgery that he could have a hard time pulling through and
recovering from.
My
precious Aunt Nette often posted and shared throughout her battle with Ovarian
Cancer and I have recently began to go back and read her words to draw strength
and encouragement from. During her battle, she continued to give thanks and
praise and glorify the Father, despite her struggles. Her words have of
late become some precious to me. I share “We go before His Throne with
petition, to learn His will and to give Him thanks for His hearing our prayers.
We are dependent moment by moment upon Our Lord. He graciously tells us
“whatever we ask in His Name, He will do it that the Father may be glorified in
the Son.” John 14:13 and “Those who Trust in the Lord, shall not be
disappointed” I Peter 2:6 God is our refuge and strength, a very present
help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 This is where I plant my feet and take my stand.
The circumstances are too bizarre to try to untangle. All that matters is that
I keep my focus on Jesus and to know He is with me to deliver me from all of my
trouble.” She once told me that what kept her going was keeping her eyes on
Jesus and His calling for her life and not on her circumstances.
This
Friday morning, we will be taking Brayden back to Cook Children’s for a repeat
MRI to see how the cyst has developed over the last 6 months. If there is still
compression, we will go fairly quickly into surgery. We have recently had
some very sweet moments, surrounded by friends and family, just covering
Brayden in prayer, laying of hands, and anointing with oil; that our gracious
Heavenly Father would hear our cries and heal our son. We have directly
prayed that this water filled cysts would just rupture and be absorbed by the
body so that Friday morning his MRI would come back clean and normal. We have
specifically prayed that no surgery would be required. We have been
comforted by The Spirit as David and I have been lifted and covered,
experiencing the unexplainable “the peace that passeth all
understanding.” We now would like to call you stand firmly with us in the
Victory that we claim through the blood of Christ. We realize that no matter
what the outcome, this Victory remains; when Jesus defeated the grave and
our eternal salvation was won. We would like to ask that you boldly approach
our Father’s throne and pray for the dissolve of Brayden’s cyst. We also
ask for peace and comfort for David and I as we go through the day on Friday.
If you would please commit to praying for us for just 10 minutes anytime from
8:00 am – 11:00 am, as Brayden will be under during this time.
We
can not express our utmost gratitude and thanksgiving for having the ability to
live in a nation where we are free to call friends and family to prayer and having
the blessing of people in our life that we can call on during these times. Many
of you have given us so much courage and encouragement over the last 3 years,
. Thank you for continuing to laugh with us in the hysterical moments,
put your arms around in the tough moments, and love and pray with us through it
all.
With sincere love David & Kelli
Emailed December 13....with joy and thanksgiving!!
First
and Foremost, David & I would like to express our most sincere gratitude to
the overwhelming words of encouragement, prayers, and love that we are
continually humbled and blessed by. On our drive home Friday from Cooks, I
asked David how do you even begin to say "Thank you" to someone who
selflessy gave up their time to pray for your child? Please know that we do not
take that lightly and are so grateful for your prayers. We both experienced an
overwhelming peace even before we started on Friday and we know that was a
direct result of many people interceding for us, on our behalf! Thank you!
Thank you! Thank you!! I pray that one day when you have a burden and need a
prayer warrior to walk with you that you allow David & I the opportunity to
return the favor and intercede for you.
I
know that some of you may have seen the status on FB, but I did want to follow
up with everyone that we had asked to stand with us. David, my dad, and myself
took Brayden to Cook Children's in Ft. Worth Friday morning. The MRI went
rather smoothly, however it did end up being a little longer scan that usual.
Brayden came out of anesthesia fairly well and was soon eating a popsicle and
snuggled on my lap talking to Daddy and Papa. We were dismissed from radiology
in the prefect time to walk upstairs and check in for appointment with our
Neurosurgeon, Dr Roberts. Before he gives us the results, he always give
Brayden a very thorough neurological assessment and does a clinical evaluation.
He spent some time measuring neurological responses, oxygen saturation, and
watching him walk, move, talk, and sing the ABC's. He said "I think we are
looking very good. The cyst is still there but it has stabilized. There is not
new growth or change and from the clinical evaluation, he seems to be
improving. There are no visible signs that we are in any danger and I'm not
thinking that the cyst has had any affects up to this point. Yes the cyst is
still compressing, but I can not suggest a complicated surgery just from a scan
when what I am seeing is a healthy 3 year old!" We talked for a while an
we all asked a lot of "Maybe this or that" and "What If"
questions just to ensure that we were all on the same page. We are so blessed
to have this doctor that has been with us since Brayden arrived at Cook
Children's just a few hours after he was born. He has a great bedside manner
with David & I and takes time discussing and educating us. We recently
learned from a contact I have at work, that he is highly regarded by his peers
on the industry and is known for his continued involvement in research and
development in his field. He even shared with us that Cook Children's is
preparing to launch an new focus on Gate therapy, especially for children that
have had a brain injury. He said that research shows that this Gate Therapy has
significantly improved the stability and mobility of kids and he said that
Bradyen was one of the first kids that he really wants to work within the
program. I am so thankful that Dr. Roberts has a heart for our son, and we feel
that he generally has a compassion for our family.
The
plan is that we will repeat the MRI in another 6 months, no surgery for now. He
said that he did notice that Brayden had a large growth spurt and it was
interesting that the cysts had stabilized during that period. We are scheduled
to go back in June 2013 and in the meantime, we monitor his behavior, reflexes,
and oxygen saturation. We feel that every 6 months is more time for The Father
to deal with this cyst in his time, in his way. Dr Roberts even said that if we
can buy ourselves enough 6 months increments, you never know what kind of
procedures or medicines will be developed between now and then. He assured us
that even though he is a surgeon and he loves to do surgery, he will not carry
us to that point until we are out of options and he will continue to explore
ALL options for us.
David
& I slept very good Friday night! :) And Saturday morning, I was suddenly
ready to celebrate the Birth of our Savior! We enter this Holiday season with
such an awe of who our Father is, the sacrifice that he gave so that we might
become His children and heirs, that I have a certain reverence entering into
Christmas this year I don't think I have had before. It's a small quiet place
that the more I begin to understand the depth and unconditional love I have for
my children as a parent, the more I understand my heavenly Father's love for
me. This Christmas we will celebrate the birth of King that brought us hope of
a future that one day we will be in eternity with Him forever. That same hope,
carries our family through this journey, sometimes 6 months at a time! We pray
that you and your family have a blessed Christmas. And just in case you may
have stopped believing, He is still doing Miracles. We get to tuck one in bed
every night.
Much
love,
David
& Kelli
