We visited Cleveland Clinic (in Cleveland, Ohio) this past week. It's number 6 in the U.S. for neurosurgery. We met with the chief of neurosurgery there, who gave me about the same information that I received at Mayo Clinic. His techniques are different, (etc), so we are going to speak with our local neurosurgeon on Wednesday, and present him with both doctors plans of attack and see if he has any adivce on which Clinic to go with. We are also scheduling another MRI, to see what is happening with the edema. I am desperately hoping it is gone, and that this was just an infection of some sort. The doctor in Cleveland said that there is a small chance that that could be true, so I am fixated on that right now, as it is a much lovelier option than the glioma (brain tumor). lol

• While in Cleveland we took the girls to Lake Erie and collected some beautiful sea glass on the shore that we are going to use to make a small frame. The girls are being so awesome about all of this. They sat in the lobby for 3 hours by themselves during some of my consultations just playing and chatting it up with the staff.
  

• One of the top comments/questions I am asked is regarding my hair, and what will happen to it due to the craniotomy. Well, the good news is that they just make a very small incision across the top of my head and flip the skull bone back to do the surgery. There will be barely any hair loss. (yay!)

• Please add my precious mother-in-law, Linda, to your prayers as well. Last week, we learned that she has breast cancer. I will be updating how she is doing on here as well. At this point, they are just holding tight, as their appoinments don't start until next week, Thursday. I will post her updates here as well.
  

• Thanks once again for all of the prayers and support. The prayers sustain me in a very tangible way. Throughout my life, as trials have come and go, I have always felt God walking by my side as I tackled the problem at hand. But, this time, there is not much I can do of my own strength to change these events, and I do feel God carrying us through it.

• "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:7

• Love and hugs to you all from all of us!
  
  

I discovered this song while living in Brazil, and loved it, but it has become even more precious over the past few weeks: "Healer", sung by Kari Jobe



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvIEJ_PmqJ8&feature=fvw



Well, I really should be cleaning up this much "loved" little yellow house, but I thought it's probably a better use of time to give a little update to my dearly loved friends and family. Honestly, I am doing amazingly well. I spoke with a friend today who told me that, when speaking with her sister, she reminded her that her problems weren't so bad considering that she has a friend who has a brain tumor and needs "brain surgery." Hmm...are my problems really all that bad? I don't know. I still feel ridiculously spoiled and loved by God, family, and friends. Life is good, and God has been faithful, and He will continue to be faithful no matter what the outcome of all of this is. I have seen God answer the prayers of a very sad little girl, in a broken home, who prayed so earnestly for a good husband for herself and a good daddy for the children she would have when she grew up. Well, here I am, married to the most amazing man. Andrew has always simply been the best, and yet through this "trial" as we call it, I have seen an even more beautiful, precious side of Andrew than I have ever seen. He's the trusest of the true--I am blessed.



God opens and closes doors, and He has never closed a door that when looking back, we wish He would have left open. Looking on our past, I know our future is safe in His hands. The months ahead may be challenging, but it could be so much worse. I don't have it the worst. I don't have an inoperable brain tumor. There may be side effects from the surgery, but the fact is I am super lucky compared to so many. I dare not complain when we have been so blessed with so much. We've had so many blessings in just the past 3 weeks and, so many good doctors, who have bent over backwards, and have signed papers that say that they are not comfortable with doing my surgery, which allows me to jump out of our insurance network and go to the very best doctors available in the States--and thanks to those doctors who have put their professional reputations on the line and signed those papers our insurance covers the surgery costs. God is so good. Blessed I am. Love, and Brazilian style hugs to you all.



The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. Isaiah 30:18



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3Jv1Hf2oCw&feature=related