Neuro Oncology Appointment

Majesty, Majesty, this is our story......

Those words keep going through my head as we sang them in church yesterday. This is our story, this is the story God choose for us.


We had our appointment with Dr. Gross this morning. He is our neuro oncologist at MD Anderson. He was amazing. A wonderful, intelligent and up beat guy. He was very positive about David's tumor and gave us all the information about the tumor and what kind it is. And used a bunch of words that I really did not understand. So, you can refer back to David's post about the exact make up of his tumor.

So what's next? Now that we have resected 99 percent of the tumor? That we don't know. More waiting and MORE PRAYERS! There is still one more piece of information we need to find out from pathology that we have not gotten back. This is the one piece that determines our treatment. We need to find out the make up of the IP19Q. We need to find out if it is co-deleted or non deleted. This is what that means.

If it is co-deleted! That is good! That is wonderful! Pray to God for it to be co-deleted. If it is co-deleted that means that treatment would be either observation, radiation or chemo. Dr. Gross said if it was co-deleted he would suggested we do just chemo. Chemo would involve a pill that David takes Monday - Friday for 5 days each month. The Chemo would prevent the tumor from growing and hopefully shrink what is left. Then we would follow up with MRI's every 2-3 months. With this option he is confident David could go back to work as soon as he feels up to it.

If it is non deleted, not so good. This means that we have two options. Radiation for 6 to 8 weeks. Or to be a part of a clinical trial that involves radiation and chemo. The clinical trial would all need to be done at MD Anderson. Which would involve David's parents having a new bunk mate and David not being able to go back to work as soon as he would like:) Also, with radiation there can SOMETIMES be cognitive effects that you do not see for 5 or more years. But, that is a SOMETIMES. He said with David's intelligence and age he may not experience any of this.

We also asked the Doctor about long term survival. He said it could be 7 to 12 years. But, then again he can't say. He said he has a patient that had a stage four tumor and has been alive 19 years and is living a normal life hard a work. And then has a patient that had stage 2 and didn't live nearly as long. He was very positive about David and him beating this. I told the Doctor that I know this is not curable but managable. He looked at me and said I don't know what you are talking about. The advances we have already made and are making are going to make this treatable in no time. He was awesome. He basically told us he is our quarterback and he is going to put us where we need to go.

I also asked about diet. He said we can always try flax seed, tofu and green tea and Olive Oil. He said there is not fact that diet helps or prevents tumor growth. But, from people's personal experiences it has. Now, we just need to get David to fall for that!


I really hope that this answers every one's questions and not only ask for continued prayers but to Thank God for all the blessings he has already given us in this journey. We sometimes pray so much for our needs that we forget to thank him for the many blessings he has given us.

A lot of people have commented on our strength and faith and it is through this wilderness we are in that our faith has strengthened. I hope we have glorified God through all of this as that is our purpose on this earth. I do not know how any one could experience something like this without faith. God is the only solid and true thing we have and we hold on to that.

We love you all. We are heading home. We don't need to proceed with any appointments until we get our final pathology back. Hopefully by friday. Also, praise God for Dr. Gross and his impact in our life and for his knowledge.


Lots of Love!
Dana and David

Headed back to Houston for 1st Follow-up

Good evening everyone!
Yes, it has been a week and a half since surgery and we have our first post-op visit back at MD Anderson tomorrow, Monday morning with the neuro-oncologist. I spoke briefly with the neurosurgeon, Dr Rao, on Thursday last week. He relayed the preliminary histo-pathology report with the good news that it has a beneficial mutation that upregulated a gene which made the astrocytoma more susceptible to chemo and radiation, great news for me! Yeah!!
So, we are now headed back to my parents home to hang out with them tonight and then another clinic appointment to outline the next 6-12 months of my life with both chemo and radiation! Including life expectancy! I have always been fairly realistic and known that I would not live forever but I really did expect to live at least to eighty! We shall see what the doctor has to say about that tomorrow!
We will update the blog after we get more information.
We are so appreciative of all the wonderful and phenomenal support we have received from all of our friends and family scattered throughout the US and abroad in London (shout out to Jon & Lynds) We again thank everyone for all the support and prayers, do not forget to stop and pray for your family and give them a great big hug!
We love everyone
Thanks
David and Dana
Audrey and Parker

Pathology Report

Good Afternoon everyone,
Today I got a great call from the Neurosurgeon, Dr Rao.
He had very good news, he indicated he had recently received the pathology report...here it is...
predominantly Astrocytoma Grade 3 with NO indication of Grade 4.  (small area of oligodendroglioma)  He also stated there was a mutation in the tumor which made it more susceptible to the upcoming Radiation and Chemotherapy that we will learn about on Monday from the Neuro-Oncologist, Dr Gross.
This should make the Cancer much more treatable and gives a much better prognosis, so Yeah!!!
So, great news Dana and I are so excited that everyone is praying for us!!
All is good and we love all the prayers, remember to pray for your family and yourselves.
Thanks for all the well wishes and we will keep everyone updated on Monday when we go to Houston.
David & Dana
Audrey & Parker

Hurst Update

  I am so sorry that it has taken a few days to post on the blog. We made it home and have taken the time to relax with our family and get back into some sort of a normal routine until we wait for Pathology Results. I also was going to wait to post to tell everyone the Pathology results, but as it is wednesday and we still have not received I knew I had to give some sort of an update:)

We called the neurosurgeon today and they are anxiously awaiting the results too, but have not heard anything. We do have a scheduled appointment monday in Houston with the Neurooncologist to figure out the next step depending on the pathology results. It will be so nice to go to that appointment and see what to expect from here on out.


We have loved being home and David has spent the past couple days resting. He was so tired once we got home and has enjoyed relaxing as much as he can. As with any surgery, it is taking his body some time to get back to 100 percent. The steroids have had the most impact, but he has started to ween on them, which will make a huge difference. Already today I noticed his upbeat personality coming back. He has been hanging tons with the kids and I and he had the luxury of going with some of his buddies golfing tonight. But, don't worry, his golfing included riding in the golf cart enjoying the scenery:) He is taking it easy but he is also SO READY to get back to work, life and normalcy. Anyone that sees him comments on how he does not look like he just had brain surgery! He looks so good!

The kids are doing amazingly well! And we are so blessed by all of the amazing things you all have sent them. What we have decided to do, is save the gifts for the kids until radiation and chemo start. We thought each day Daddy completes a day of radiation he gets to do something fun and they get something fun. We will pull out one of the gifts from each of you and make sure to let them know which special person it is from:)

David and I also spent the morning reading all the cards and opening all the packages. I wanted to do this with him when he was feeling better. We feel so humbled by all of the love out there. It truly is amazing and again such a blessing to feel so loved by so many people. The cards and the words of inspiration are huge in our healing and fight against this disease:)

Friends have also set up a care calendar for food, which I think is pretty much filled until October. This has BEEN SO NICE. For one, it has given us the opportunity to catch up with each person when they bring the food over. It is SO NICE to see everyone and to hear about you and your lives and the joys you are experiencing. And two, David LOVES the food:) As do I and the kids:) That has been super special to us.

It has also been cool to hear how many people are following the blog and praying and sharing our story. I had someone call my mom the other day and was at church in Ohio and they were praying for Dana Aynes's husband. How cool is that! You all are so amazing and your prayers are loud and God is listening to you.

I keep on wanting to thank everyone tons and feel sometimes that I am not showing enough how thankful I am. Saying that,  I hope that you all know I thank God for each of you every night. You all have given us encouragement when we needed encouragement and most importantly prayed for us. David and I could not do this with out God and could not do this with out you. And I pray that I can someday show each of you how thankful I am for what you have done for my family.

Tonight I feel God holding those pathology results, saying " I hear you, but I need you to be a little louder" Please continue to pray for good results tonight and tomorrow.

A friend Lauren Lively gave us the book, The RED SEA RULES. I am so anxious to read this book and how it compares to the journey David and I are on. It is the biblical verses and stories that often remind me, God is not new at this. And how cool is it that the same God that led through the Red Sea is leading David and I against the fight of Cancer:) Wow! Pretty neat:)


Love and Hugs!

Dana

Headed back to Waco

Good afternoon everyone!
We are headed home to Waco today.
We had a busy couple of days and it is good to be headed back home to our house, kiddos and Bella! We have missed them dearly and cannot wait to get home and relax. Mom and dad's house was nice but a little cramped and I need space to spread out!

We love all the wonderful texts and emails and prayers, so please don't stop, they are a true welcomed surprise and gift! Remember to say a prayer for your family, it is truly important.

We love everyone and really appreciate all the support.

Thanks
David an Dana
Audrey and Parker

David Coming Home:) And some pictures

David had to have MRI lastnight to make sure no blod clotting or anything. Leave it to his friend Barrett to jump in the gurney with him. The tech took them serious?

David wanting to walk down to the cafeteria, no wheelchair:)

This was sent by our small group at church, it says Cancer sucks. Yes it does:)

Leave it to David to get discharged only two days after his surgery:) It looks like sometime today we will be discharged from the hospital. You can see how excited David is to be out and get home to the kiddo's.

The past couple days he has been walking around, refusing wheelchair rides and heading down to the cafeteria every few hours. We have learned that after surgery Cancer patients are put on a VERY HIGH dosage of steriods. These steriods make David crave food and very, very moody. I keep running out after the nurses apologizing for David's shortness, they remind me that all Cancer patients are like this after surgery because of the steriods and also that all physicians are like this because they HATE BEING THE PATIENT! Everyone just seems to laugh it off which is what David's family and I have done:) The steriods make him want to get up and walk around and not sit much. So, you add all these things together and it makes for an interesting day:) But, overall he is doing AMAZING. And the fact that we could leave the hospital today is truly a blessing. He will be on the steriods for 10 to 12 more days then tapper off. The doctor then said, our sweet David will be back:) Although, he is still sweet:)

We have also been able to FACE TEXT with the kids a couple times a day. It has been so much fun and Audrey loves it. David only had his head shaved around the lession. He looks great! Tomorrow he is allowed to shower for the first time which he is pretty excited about:)

We have made trips to the chapel to pray with family and friends and David is first to lead a prayer the times we head down to the cafeteria. It is so nice to continue to put our faith in God.

There was an article publish this month on Glioma tumors and how Brain Cancer is not curable but managable. And the many people who live normal lives with these tumors by having the radiation and chemo and then follow up MRI's every 6 months. The article also offered the many things we can do as far as food and exercise to help manage this cancer. And every person interviewed was back to work in only a few weeks with no sign that there was any surgery or chemo done. It is truly amazing the medical advances today and I can only imagine what it will be like in 5 to 10 years.

We love everyone and really believe God chose you all to help us through this journey:)

1 Samuel Chapter 17, The story of David and Goliath:)

David's recovery

Good moring everyone!


It has been a wonderful past 24 hours and we feel God has graced us with health and happiness today. We got to see David last night and spend time with him and he was all smiles. He looks amazing and is talking 100 percent normal and acting 100 percent normal. Every time a doctor or nurse comes in to ask his pain level from 1 to 10 he says 1:) He has less pain then me and I didn't have brain surgery:)


I stayed with David in the hospital last night and got sleep when I could. The hospital was actually pretty comfortable and I slept great. The only thing that woke me up was David wanting to just keep chatting:) He is on very high steriods that are making him pretty gittery and not giving him the opportunity to rest much, which eventually they will taper off the steroids and he can get some sleep.

Right away this a.m. we were greeted by David's wonderful friend Barrett from Nebraska who flew in to stay with us. It was nice to go down to the cafeteria with Barrett and just chat. Barrett had someone very close to him go through the same thing 18 years ago and pass after many struggles. Barrett was just in absolute amazement at David's speedy recovery and at the medical science of the awake brain surgery they can do now and the interactive MRI. It is these two new things that help with saving lives of those with Brain Cancer. It was very reassuring to just sit and talk with someone that has been through this and also to be surrounded with such positiveness.

The neurosurgeon came in this a.m. and the first thing David asked was when he could go hunting:) The neurosurgeon said David is just doing amazing and that we could go home maybe by Monday. He said that we will make an appointment to come back to Houston to see the neuro oncologist that will set up the radiation and chemo that we can do in Waco. But, we can't start any of that until we see what the pathology report says about the tumor. Also, can't start radiation and chemo until his body is healed from surgery:)

David was already up and dressed in normal clothes this a.m. and ordering the nurses around. It was pretty funny. He is having a very hard time being the patient and not the physician. At one point he just told the nurse he would take care of taking his bandages off. Leave it to David:)

He is in such great spirits and we just feel so relieved. Although this surgery has been a wonderful success we still ask for strong prayers on the pathology report. This report will determine our weeks ahead. I am often reminded of the story of David and Golith and how God chose David to fight Golith. I keep reminding myself that we were chosen for this.

This a.m. I showed David all the pictures of the people in Green and he loved it! Made more smiles to his face.

I am back at David's parents house now, 1.9 miles from MD ANDERSON:) I needed some time away from the hospital. Although David is doing great, I am reminded that we are at a Cancer hospital. And we are surrounded by so many people young and old fighting this ugly disease. My heart just aches and I just keep offering them smiles whenever I can. The thing that keeps me going looking at all the saddness is that God will grace some of them with healing and they will fight this and God will also grace some of them with the end of pain where they will spend eternity with him. Either road is a good road although we may not understand it now. But, for me looking at the Good at both of God's options helps me to keep offering the smiles where I can.

I ask that you thank God for all the workers at MD ANDERSON, from the cafeteria staff to the doctors. They have all been trained to offer love and kindness to the patients and the family and we are in such a good place. None of them look at you with saddness but instead make the place such a happy and upbeat place. Thank God for their hearts.


I will update everyone.

For me it's Goodnight:)

Dana

More fun Green Posts!

The Cooneys sporting the green!

Britteny and her son wearing green!

Our dog Bella Hurst and her best buddy Bella Totten in Green!

Barb in Green:)

More Green Love!

Ellie Zupnick sporting her green for David. (We aren't sure how to turn this picture but will do so as soon as we leave the hospital!)

Myles sporting his green shirt!



Waco Friends: The Starrs, The Atkins and The Starrlings

Surgery DONE!

I am just amazed how medicine has changed and where we are today. My friend Breck who has sat here with me all day reminded me, God is not always safe. That God is good but not always safe. And sometimes we don't understand His purpose, but through it we have the opportunity to see the Good and really experience joy.

Right now, I write with joy. Because, we accomplished step 1. Surgery. And with God's help, Dr. Rao was able to remove 99%of the TUMOR without touching David's Corpus Collsium or effecting any of David's speech and motor skills. He said they also kept David up most of the surgery because he wanted to keep talking:) Leave it to David not take a break, even during brain surgery.

They are confident that the tumor that they removed is a Glioma. Glioma's are brain cancer tumors that are in the brain. Nowhere else. So, there is no cancer anywhere else, which is good. These Glioma's are rated on grade levels, 1,2,3,4. He is not sure what the grade level is until we get the pathology report back, which could be Monday. But, he is sure that surgery is just the first step of treating it.

He is pretty confident that we will need to do radiation and chemo starting in 3 to 4 weeks and that this will be for 6 to 8 weeks to get rid of any of the 1% of the tumor that is left. The good thing is, this can be done in Waco.

He said that David is already up, talking and able to move everything. God is healer. The biggest concerns today were surgery, how much of Tumor could be removed and what functions David would still have. And he is doing so well that the Dr. said David could be out of the hospital as early as Saturday. That brings me such happiness as I am anxious for my kiddo's to give him a big hug.

The journey of cancer is not done. We don't know any of the above for sure, until Pathology comes back with the results. I ask prayers to continue. To continue to have God place his hand over that Tumor and take away all the ugliness it would cause in David's life. These tumor's do come back and with treatement and monitoring we can live a normal life and David can do what he has wanted and go back to work.

There are also the scary parts, this Tumor being a high grade and heavier radiation and chemo. But, after long prayer with Breck I now hold on to the fact that with God all is not good in situation but all is perfect with his strength. And I am going to continue to focus on the positives of today, that my husband had a golf ball size tumor removed in his brain with no effect to his brain! Thank you God, you are miracoulous and are there when we call on you and even we do not.

I will update everyone tonight after we see David.

I have held so strong today and it is because of you. I told Breck the hardest thing of all of this is seeing my kids miss us and seeing David's parents and friends hurt. It is God shining through all of you that we made it through today.

Through this God has taught me, be thankful for today. And when you wake up tomorrow, be thankful for tomorrow. Be thankful for the breath he gives us every day. You do that and you have nothing but happiness.

Lots of Love!
Dana

Resecting Continues, Update, 2PM

A short while ago, the surgical team finished resecting the tumor.  David was put back to sleep and was given an MRI (he has not been sewed back up yet).

It is incredibly difficult for the naked eye to differentiate between tumor tissue and brain tissue.  MRIs are used toshow doctors what part is tumor and what part is brain.  David and Dana fought so hard to be treated at MD Anderson because it is only at MD Anderson that David could be given an MRI during surgery, potentially catching left over tumor that was not caught by the initial resecting. 

And this is exactly what he needed.

While the surgical team thought they originally got all of the tumor out, the MRI given during surgery showed they did not.  It turned out the tumor exists microscopically farther than they expected.

So, the team is currently going back in and cutting out more of the tumor (and the brain tissue around the area) in order to make sure as much of the tumor has been taken out as possible.

David will not be woken up for this part.  We suspect it is because the doctors feel confident that he does not need to be awake for this part of surgery and that they know what they are doing.  But we all feel a bit of anxiety as we pray that the doctors will touch only what is necessary and not anything that would cause any lack of normal cognitive, speech or motor function.

While it is hard to continue to wait, it is obvious that the staff at MD Anderson is good.  So, we know he is in good hands. 

After this final resecting, the team plans to put David back together.  So, we feel like we're on the home stretch.

We should have another update at 4pm!

Wearing Green for David!

Here are just a few people supporting David today by wearing David's favorite color: Green!

The Warrens

The Starlings



New York JCrew



Dana and David's Neighborhood Ladies

Update, 12PM

The nurses just called the family back to give an update.  They are currently resecting David's tumor.  During this process of resecting, the surgical team must cut out a small portion of the brain around with the golf-ball sized tumor to ensure they get all of the tumor. 

In order to do this, the surgical team must confirm they are not taking out any vitally important portion of the brain.  So, David is awake and is being required to communicate with them on how he is doing.  The nurses are using flashcards to confirm David's cognition is in tact.  David cannot feel them touching his brain. 

David has been awake for about 1.5 hours.  They typically want the patient to be awake for no more than 2 hours as it can be exhausting for the patient's brain to be stimulated for so long.  So, we anticipate this part will not take much longer.

David is awake during surgery for only the middle part of it.  He was asleep during the opening of his skull and will be put back to sleep for the closing of it. 

So far, so good!!!

Update, 11AM

The nurse just called Dana over.  All of our hearts stop beating for a second when we hear from a nurse.  But it was pretty clear things were fine when the nurse called Dana over to the counter in the center of the waiting room and said, "the doctor is on the phone for you."

It turns out, it wasn't the doctor at all...but David himself.  Apparently, while in the OR, the doctor wanted to have David talk to Dana.  So, Dana says that for a few minutes she could just hear him.  The doctors and nurses and David were all laughing.  And then David started giving an update on how he is.  He was saying things like, "I think everything is going ok.  I can talk ok.  I can hear ok.  I think I can move everything.  And I think my head is open."

Then, the nurse put Dana on the intercome.  Dana said, "David, we are all waiting for you and love you."  David's first question and response was, "who is all there??"  So, Dana went through the list, which seemed to pacify him.  And then, the call ended with David saying, "Love you, Miss you!"

We all laugh...both because it's so wonderful to hear from him...and because we are weirded out by the fact he is in the OR with his head open...and because it's just funny.  How amazing is technology and medicine that Dana can talk to her husband during the middle of his brain surgery.

The best part is that David is just his same self.  Dana's humorous remark after talking with him and realizing he was his self was, "is he ever gonna calm down?!"  She knows her husband well.  Whether at work, at play or on the operating table, David is not gonna let this tumor beat him!

Update, 10AM

Things are going well so far!  David went back alittle after 7AM. 

The family is here (David's brother, sister-in-law, mother, father, Dana's father and David's good friend, an ENT doctor from Chicago).  We are all sitting in a fairly relaxed but crowded waiting room.  The nurses are coming by regularly to each group of families asking if they want their updates.  They take each family back to a small room and inform them of the progress of surgery.

David and Dana's family just received their first update at 10AM.  The update was he is doing well!  They didn't get started until about 9AM and have now just "opened" him up.  The next update will be at noon.

Dana is doing really well.  She is as peppy as usual.  But she's also tired...and, when more quiet, she shows her anxiety.  But she says she's relieved.  It feels good knowing surgery will be over soon.

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.  Psalm 94:19

Day of surgery! YEAH!!

Good morning everyone,
We have arrived at MD Anderson this bright beautiful morning to have surgery!
Yesterday was a long busy day which included a handful of neuro-psychiatric and memory tests and then a really cool functional MRI, it showed areas of my brain that highlighted when it was stimulated by thoughts or movements! Very cool! My MRI tech's name was Jorel, Superman's Krypton name! Also cool.
I slept surprisingly well last night and feel well rested! Dana & I woke up in a great mood and ready for today! I wish I could have gone on a run with Bella and the kids, but I can do that next week.
Last night we had a great dinner with family and friends and this morning drove over to the hospital with Dana, my parents & Ron Dorsett, a very long term friend my brother and I have known since elementary school.
We have several family expected to come and sit today while I'm in surgery and I know Dana will have plenty of company!
I will head to the Operating Room at 7:30am
Surgery could last 6-8 hours! We are planning intraoperative MRI during the surgery and I think we are planning an awake craniotomy! That means 1/3 the way through surgery they will wake me up during surgery, take all the airway stuff out and said I will talk just like sitting in an office interview, only strapped down and my head locked into a clamp so I cannot move at all.
It is now 6:05 and I am in pre-op, gowned up with TED hose stockings.
Go to surgery at 7:30.
Thanks everyone for all the well wishes and prayers and cards and love!
Dana is a very special woman and she has been wonderful throughout this entire process! She is my champion and I could not have done it without her! I love her very much.
God bless all! We will update after surgery.

Night Before Surgery

Good Evening Everyone,

Our phones are ringing off the hook with emails, phone calls and text messages. And we thank you. We feel so loved and feel in complete peace now that God is in complete control of tomorrow.

We had a long day with testing. We met with the anesthesiologist last. That was pretty hard as he explained the awake crainotomy and how David will go from an asleep state to an awake state then back to sleep. David pulled out his camera phone and showed Dr. Freson pictures of our children and said I want to be fully functioning for them when I wake up. I want to live for them. The anesthesiologist, Dr. Freson gave David and I both hugs and said that we are going to be OK. MD Anderson is known for these surgery's and they are going to do their best to get as much of the tumor out with out touching and affecting David's speech and motor areas.

Tonight we went to dinner with David's long time friend Alex who flew in and his Houston native friend Bob and his wife Mindy. David's parents were able to join us and it was nice to just relax and enjoy life and all that God has given us.

David and I have hugged a lot today and have laughed and smiled a lot. We have had no tears. It is an amazing relief you feel when you know that at this point it is out of your control and in God's hands. I believe God chose us for this. And I have said that a lot. And in some sort of a way, I want to make sure that we make God proud and honor him through this whole journey every way we can.

I ask that tomorrow, wherever you are and whoever you are with, that you stop and say a prayer. Pray for Dr. Rao, that he will have a clear mind and steady hands as he goes in to operate on David's brain. Pray for Dr. Freson, that he will make good judgement in anesthesia for David. Pray for healing David and to not have his motor or speech affected with this surgery. Pray for David's parents, as this is their son and for their hearts to feel the warmth from all the prayers that David and I have been so lucky to feel. Pray for our children, they are without mommy and daddy and may they feel the warmth of your prayers and love.

David's favorite color is Green and our great friend Ashley W. thought it would be cool if we could sport our Green tomorrow. It would just serve as a reminder to stop and pray for David. If you stop and pray, send me a text, although I feel God's peace, it is so nice and warming to know he is being prayed for while we wait in the room.

David would be so upset if I didn't end this with asking you all to also continue to thank God for the many blessings we are all given. Yes, David has Brain Cancer, but I look at the pictures and the many things David and I have accomplished and feel so very blessed.

I am honored that many of you feel that our faith has made an impact on you, but it is really you that has impacted our faith. It is through you that we see God is carrying us along every step of the way. There is no better place to be than in Gods hands.

Today my devotion read:

FIND ME IN THE MIDST of the maelstrom. Sometimes events whirl around you so quickly that they become a blur. Whisper My name in recognition that I am still with you. Without skipping a beat in the activities that occupy you, you find strength and Peace through praying My Name. Later, when the happenings have run their course, you can talk with Me more fully.

Accept each day just as it comes to you. Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust Me enough to yield to My Design and purposes. Remember that nothing can separate you from My Loving Presence; you are Mine.

Love you all!

Dana and David

Audrey and Parker

David Happy!

We are on appointment number 4 of many today. Right now, David is getting ready for an MRI. He has had blood tests, psychological exam and cognitive exam. The whole way over to MRI he was telling me how he thinks he can do even better on the cognitive exam next time. He is definitly a perfectionist.

We are making many smiles as David is wearing a bright pink polo shirt today in the midst of all the dark blooming colors. He is in good spirits saying hi to everyone and making conversation. Everyone at MD Anderson has been so wonderful.

I have made a committment to myself once we get out of all of this I am going to volunteer at the hospital to pass out pepermints and coffee. The volunteers are amazing making us feel so welcomed.

David packed his bag last night full of polo shirts, cologne and kahki pants. I reminded him we are not going to Hawaii but instead going to have brain surgery. So, made him add some lounge wear in as well. Oh and lets not forget the bathing suit he packed, really?

He makes me laugh and I LOVE how positive he is. It is such a blessing and I know his strength comes from God and each of you.

We love you all and will continue to keep you udpated.

I do ask tomorrow that each of you sit down, whereever you are and whoever you are with and pray. Pray for healing, pray for recovery. God is BIG enough for this. And I thank God for the peace he has provided our family.

We love you all and will continue the updates:)

Dana

Headed to Houston for Surgery !!! YEAH !!!

We took off out of Waco tonight at 6:30p, after an enjoyable dinner at home with the kids! Fresh home-made enchiladas with beans and rice brought over by one of the girls in our church small group! I need this surgery to be over or I am going to gain 100#!!
Our close friends Tom and Sheryl Carroll and their two kids (and Audrey's best friends) are staying at our house with Audrey and Parker just to try to keep things as normal as possible! We have been talking to Audrey a lot this past 2 weeks about the booboo in my head and that we have to have surgery to take it out so I will stay normal. It's funny, she will ask where it is again and then look, sometimes she says she sees it, sometimes not. She gave me her build a bear Hunter to take with me to the Hospital. (I named him & he is camo! & technically a gift from her to me from the neighbors).
We took pictures today as a family and that was great, I think Dana sent out a bunch of pictures! Brittany, the photographer is so special, she is a friend of a friend of Dana's and volunteered to take the pictures for us! Great photographer!
The girls from Bexley also put together a great music/photo collage on animoto, I hope everyone gets to see it, it is one of the few times I shed a tear! True masterpiece of our past 9 years.
So, we are on the road to Houston tonight to stay at my parents house then get up early for a full day of tests and consultations. We begin at 7:30a with lab tests then repeat MRI, then neuro-psych testing (cognitive tests) then another hi-tech neuro functional MRI then EKG and then hopefully finish with our anesthesia consultation around 1 or 2p. Super long day! That is when they will tell me what time to show up for surgery Thursday morning.

I am not really sure it has totally hit me yet! It has been quite a journey and I owe a million people a million prayers, and I plan on praying them back for many years!
I have had several very good and heartfull conversations with a lot of close friends about the whole ordeal, from initial symptoms and neurology consult then MRI. Thank all of you for your time and listening during those conversations as I am sure I rambled on, and I am sorry I could not call all of my close friends to ramble!
One thing that has been so unbelievably steady has been my lovely wife Dana. I often forget she is younger than me but she has been my champion these past two weeks! It is through her amazingly strong faith in God and all of her friends and church circles that we have all the support we do! Dana is my everything and without her I would be totally lost, I could never have found a better friend or companion through this journey or life! I appreciate her more and more every moment of everyday!
We look forward to a good day and relaxing evening and will keep everyone informed!
I will turn the blog over to Dana until I am back! God bless everyone and please continue your prayers for us and your own families! We love you all!

New Day - 100% Payment for Care

Today is a great day!!!
Parker, Bella and I took off for a 2.5 mile walk for about an hour.
Then, at 10am, Dana and I had plans to head to Temple for a full day of Debate and Discussion with anyone we could get an audience.  I had plans to track down my good friend and boss Dr Stone and then map out my day.  Peyton, our babysitter was due to arrive and I was jumping in the shower when the phone rang and Dr Stone told me he spoke with Dr Robert Pryor, the CEO of Scott and White Hospital system.  Dr Pryor said that all was done and I would get full 100% coverage for all costs of all tests and all surgery at MD Anderson.
Wow, this is actually the first time I cried during the entire process.  I immediately told Dana and called my parents.  What a Blessing.  What a relief.
Seeing the MRI with the big tumor was shocking but I knew it was just something I had to deal with and have removed.
I had long conversations on Friday trying to get someone at SWHP HMO, anyone, besides a secretary or clerk to listen to me and make the right decision.  Then, on Friday night @ 5:15p I had a disappointing conversation with the CEO of the HMO, he was very pleased with 50% reimbursement.  Obviously, Dana and I were not and we were planning on fighting this as far as possible to get the 100% we feel we and all HMO employees deserve!
So, Today is an amazing Blessing and we are so thankful to everyone that has prayed and supported us.  It is difficult being on the opposite side of health care, I have spent the past 20 years working on the doctor side and it is good to see the perspective of the patient.  Often, things in the ED happen so fast and the good and bad news is so instantaneous and then I am off to another room for some minor emergency.  I try hard to spend as much time as possible with every patient but I have to rely on my support team to stay and comfort.  (usually chaplain, Social worker, charge nurse & primary nurse)
I wish I had more time to spend with the patients and families, it is so vitally important and I see it more now then ever before.  I hope this makes me a better doctor, one with more compassion and better listening skills.  One that can convey the sense that I understand and I care.
Once again, thank everyone for their prayers and texts and calls, it is truly appreciated.  Dana needs all the support, I am tough and can bounce through this.  Dana has been absolutely wonderful and strong and a champion by my side and she needs you to continue to lift her up and keep her up.
Thank you all so very much.  Kiss your family for us and pray for them as well.
Surgery on Thursday morning.  Leave for Houston Tuesday night.

Love always
David and Dana
Audrey and Parker