Category: Chase

Preparing for a Long Haul…

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” — Psalm 91:1-2

Chase went into his surgery this morning at about 7:45, and the surgery went quickly and well.  The surgeon, Dr. Alden, was able to remove all of the tumor that we’d seen on the MRI last night.

However, the initial results of the pathology that was sent in during his surgery showed that the tumor is malignant, which means that it’s an aggressive tumor which gets bigger quicker than a benign tumor, and may spread more quickly.  Also, Dr. Alden saw several smaller (“spore-like”) tumors in the sub-arachnoid space of the brain. 

The sub-arachnoid space of the brain.

Since the pathology report showed that the tumor is malignant, the doctors are also now more concerned about some gray coloring that they’d seen on the MRI on Chase’s spine.  They think that the tumor may have spread down into his spinal column.

So, where do we go from here?  That’s the big question that’s been on Ellie and my mind.

Well, the next step is the full pathology report.  The full report will tell the doctors exactly what kind of tumor it is (there are a bunch of types of malignant tumors), which will tell them how aggressive the tumor is, and what kind of treatment is needed.

What is for certain is that Chase will need to do some kind of chemotherapy for the next four or so months, and then he will probably need to do radiation therapy.  This may continue for some time, depending on the type of cancer it is.

This is going to be a long process for Chase.  We appreciate all of the prayers for us and for Chase, and all of the phone calls, texts, Facebook messages, and tweets that people have been showering on us.  We are so grateful for all of our family and friends that have been so encouraging to us in every way.

Chase after his surgery, with his awesome scar.

Surgery In The Morning

“We will do surgery in the morning.”

It’s ironic how one sentence can bring such relief and fear all at the same time.
First thing tomorrow, Chase goes into surgery for an unknown duration.  In the words of his chief neurosurgeon …”As long as it takes.”

Later this afternoon while in an EEG, they discovered that Chase was having multiple “sub-clinical” seizures.  Meaning that his brain is seizing without any outward symptoms.  A team of neurologists watched him have a seizure while eating a french fry.  (warning: inappropriately timed humor ahead)  I’m just saying, if you have to have a seizure, you should definitely be able to eat french fries.


Because of his need for continuous monitoring, he has been moved to the PICU.  Every time there is a status change, and sometimes even more often than that, my heart sinks and I’m in a place of fear over faith.  I’m so very thankful for the moment by moment grace that I/we are being given.

Malignant or benign, removing all or some, what will be lost not to be regained, and what will the hours/days/weeks after the surgery hold?  All of these things are issues they can only discuss options on…not to be more fully known until after the surgery.
In moments of such great unknown, we feel so alone, and yet, as a friend (and mother of a child who survived heart surgeries) reminded me – sometimes that loneliness is good because it reminds you that all you have is Christ and that’s all you really need.

Chase sleeping peacefully with a precious message written by a dear friend in the moments of our admittance: “Jesus is near”

“I stand upon the mount of God with sunlight in my soul; I hear the storms and vales beneath, I heat the thunders role.  But I am calm with Thee, my God, beneath these glorious skies; and to the height on which I stand, no storms, no clouds can rise.  O, this is life!  O this is joy, my God, to find Thee so: They face to see, Thy voice to hear, and all Thy love to know.” Horatius Bonar, Scottish minister who returned five young children to this same God

Inside and Outside

Because of the size and nature of Chase’s mass, a nurse or doctor has to take his vitals and check his eye movements every hour.  Having said that, you can well imagine our night. 

Around 9:00pm, we got to meet with the surgical resident who showed us this:

A picture from Chase’s MRI…yes, the peach-sized white area…

Externally, we nodded and looked serious.  Internally, I think we both let out a panicked mental scream.  I wanted to jump up and say “Take him into surgery 5 minutes ago!” 

The amazing and astounding thing is that THAT is on the inside of THIS: 

Chase with the Beany elephant peace offering from Donald the orderly who had to pin him down for his 3rd IV port

 …who up until 3-4 weeks ago had no noticeable symptoms.  (that we’re aware of)  (could excessive wearing out of parents be considered a symptom?) 

We are currently awaiting several teams stopping by on rounds, after which, we will most likely be briefed on a surgical plan.  

Praying for peace …

When A Seizure Is A Blessing

At this moment, I’m sitting in a hospital room overlooking Lake Michigan, waiting for my baby boy (who is currently in a 2 hour MRI), having been up and functioning since my husband woke me around 4:00am with the words “Chase is having some kind of seizure.”

In this moment, our hearts and minds are almost too full to process what is happening to our son, but here is some brief info:

  • Chase has a large mass in his brain.  This is what has been causing his illness and loss of language over the last weeks.  This is also what caused his seizure this morning.
  • The biggest issue now is to keep the swelling on the brain down and medicate against seizures.
  • As we are beginning to meet with the neuro team, they are very encouraging about this type of mass.
  • The mass means surgery and surgery soon.

In this moment, we have SO many unanswered questions, but here are some that we know to be true:

  • God can handle our fears and asks us to bring them to Him (Philippians 4:4-7).
  • God promises peace (Isaiah 26:13).
  • God knows and loves Chase and has been all over this happening in his life since, well, forever (Psalm 139).

We are so thankful for all the messages of love and encouragement.  In some ways, the seizure is the best thing that could have happened because they detected the mass and moved us to a higher priority level where Chase is getting great care.

Something tells me we are just beginning this journey…

More to follow soon…

 

Chase resting before his transfer this morning

A Boy and His Panda Bear

Chase is always in rare form, but recently it’s been so rare that if he were a steak, you’d probably get food poisoning.

He’s not, and you won’t, so don’t worry, you can keep reading in relative peace.

Rarity in point: Chase has a panda bear.  Actually, it’s a stuffed panda bear who is (in Chase’s mind) actually a dog named “Panda Bear” – which explains why Panda Bear always barked at us.  (We really did wonder for the longest time if Chase was “animal sound challenged”.)

Panda Bear is a flailing, crazed creature  who has a penchant for getting in people’s faces when he “talks”.  FYI, Chase “talks” for him in a high, squeaky, abnormally loud (which is going something for Chase) voice.  I don’t think I’d mind him so very much if he didn’t try and smother Chase’s younger brother in his enthusiasm or talk to us over the baby monitor at 5:30 in the morning.

Much as I’d occasionally love to send Panda Bear back to China from whence he came, a boy and his panda bear are not soon parted.   So, I guess I’ll keep him … Chase, that is … uh, I mean, I guess I’ll keep them.

 

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