The Latest on Nathan...

The unofficial diagnoses is that Nathan's tumor is what they thought it was...
juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma. It is a slow-growing non-malignant type of tumor. They won't have an official diagnoses until the whole team of doctors signs off on this. Most patients see success with slow, low-dose chemo. Since the tumor grew slowly and was there since birth, the only way to kill it is slowly. This low-dose chemo does not cause you to loose any hair, so that's a blessing. The treatments will be once a week for a whole year.
Nathan will have to go in for another surgery next week to place a shunt in his chest for administering the chemo.
Please pray for this surgery.
Pray that the tumor will shrink.
Pray that it will not grow back in 5-8 years like it does in some patients.
Pray for wisdom for the doctors and for the parents.
Nathan is in good spirits and HAPPY to be HOME!

Nathan's Going Home!

The doctor said he was doing so well, they could release Nathan tomorrow!
The new finding is that it looks like there is a second small cyst that was hidden by the one they drained. It is in the optic nerve area so they will not be able to remedy it. The chemo may shrink it.
In three weeks, they will put a shunt into Nathan's chest area (this will require another surgery) to administer the chemotherapy. He will have chemo once a week for a whole year to shrink the cyst and the tumor.
Nathan is somewhat melancholy and very tired. Pray for strength and joy along with healing.

Operation Recovery

Nathan is in ICU. They keep saying "he is doing really, really well". Darlene said he even got out of his bed and walked a little! He is alert and may be able to eat today.
The surgery was successful and they will get the results of the biopsy by Thursday. Over the next three days he will have swelling, a really black eye, and some headaches. After 3 days those symptoms will start to decrease.

Current Prayer Requests:
Nathan will have another MRI today, or tomorrow. It is an hour long and he is dreading this.
Pray for healing, no infection, no blood clots, and no refilling of the cyst.
Pray that he would eat and drink today.
This is day 4 that Nathan, Darlene, and Aaron have had no sleep. Pray for rest.

Update on Nathan

The surgery went well. They were able to get a biopsy of the tumor and drain the cyst. Nathan will be coming into recovery in ICU within the hour.
Pray for no blood clots, and that the drain for the cyst will not get blocked.
It will take a few days to examine the biopsy, get a second opinion, and determine the next course of action.
Thank you Lord, for your provision thus far!

Today's the Day....

At 12:30 Mountain Time they roll Nathan into a 5 hour surgery. Please pray.

Pray for Nathan

Aaron and Darlene's little boy has a brain tumor. The doctors are operating on Monday to biopsy the tumor and drain a cyst next to it. The tumor is right next to his speech pathway and sight, in his brain. Pray for the doctors skilled hands. Pray for timely and accurate diagnosis of the type of tumor. Pray for healing. The family is doing well and already noting many of God's graces that He orchestrated from months ago. Pray most of all for all the things you would want if this news came to you just yesterday about your own child.

Leave a comment for Nathan, Aaron, and Darlene below...