We had our meeting today with the neurosurgeon, and feel confident with him. He said that the "brain mass" is "almost certainly at least a low grade tumor, level 2." Therefore, he recommends surgery to remove it and to do a biopsy.
We should know the exact surgery date by Monday, but it will most likely be around the end of October or beginning of November. Mark will be at a hospital in Boulder that has state-of-the-art MRI technology, which will enable the surgeon to see MRI images of his brain in "real time" as he works. (It's the only hospital in this 5-state region that has this equipment.) It will be a four-hour surgery, and he will be in the hospital anywhere from one to four days.
It was explained to us that almost all brain tumors are considered "malignant" on some level (which does not have the connotations it use to have). What that means is that Mark will very possibly need some chemotherapy and/or radiation after we hear the results of the biopsy. There is also a good possibility that he will need a second "follow-up" surgery to remove anything "missed" in the first surgery.
On an encouraging note, this neurosurgeon believes that there is a chance that the tumor is causing the problems in Mark's leg (unlike the opinion of the neurologist we first saw). So, hopefully that will be taken care of with the surgery.
When we find out the exact date of the surgery, I will post again on the blog.
We are feeling kind of drained, but overall are doing well.
Thank you again for all the kind and encouraging words, and especially for the prayer! It makes a difference!
I'd rather Mark, and the rest of you guys, wouldn't have to go through this, but this news is encouraging, non-the-less. It is operable and treatable and could be the cause of the leg problem. I'm praising God that He has identified the problem and I know He will use doctors, treatmeant and His Amazing Healing Power to make Mark as good as new in the near future. We are praying and God IS Faithful! We love you guys:D
ReplyDeletePraying!!
ReplyDeletePraising!!
Love you!!
B&K
Wow, that is a lot and I am praying for you all.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteI successfully navigated your blog and found this update! I am praising the Lord for your faith. I just prayed these verses for you and Mark...Colossians 1:9-11 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;
Love and prayers, Peggy