Monday's report

Today the radiation oncologist, the chemotherapy oncologist and one of Dr. Willis’ associates, and another neurosurgeon involved in Katy’s treatment came by for their consult. Without the internet to reference all the terms, all the new definitions, all the potential procedures … we are realizing that none of us, except for Heather have had any medical course work. In fact, yesterday I told you that Katy’s tumor was in the temporal lobe. It isn’t. It is in the parietal lobe.

Parietal Lobe is one of the four lobes of the cerebral hemisphere. It controls tactile sensation, response to internal stimuli, sensory comprehension, some language, reading, and some visual functions.

Katy’s mom took good notes today with all the visits, trying to capture what Katy will be facing on Wednesday and subsequent to the surgery. The tumor has infiltrated the brain; therefore it needs more treatment after the surgery (like chemo and radiation). It is near critical areas of the brain making the removal of the tumor very delicate.

Today though was also the first day where there seemed to be some space to think. We took advantage of this and asked our physician friends in Phoenix to discern with us if Katy was at the right hospital and in the right care. A friend who is head of ICU at Good Samaritan found out Katy was in his hospital and came in to both offer to care for Katy when she comes in ICU after surgery and affirm the giftedness of her neurosurgeon. Another friend knows the chief medical officer of this hospital. Our friend got him to come by for a visit, again to offer his support and affirm the neurosurgeon. The good reputation of Katy’s doctor has preceded him. Our medical friends have confirmed the peace everyone has had, these visits felt miraculous, like confirmations in the flesh. She is in the right place.

People are praying everywhere … one of Katy’s Headstart children prayed with a group last night … “Jesus, love me, love Katy, touch Katy’s head and make her better”. Pretty much sums it up!

Her room is filling up with balloons and flowers … and is always filled with people. We read the messages out loud from this blog today. The children from the ministry made cards to give to her tomorrow, hundreds of expressions of love. The cooking class made cakes for her birthday party tomorrow, her favorite kind.

And in a direct answer to prayer, Katy’s sister was able to make flight arrangements to leave Rome tomorrow, arriving tomorrow night in time for the birthday.

God’s handiwork was visible today … multiple gifts of love, expressions of the crying out of God’s people for healing and intervention, the anticipation of the family being all together, and the choosing of the medical people who are to care for Katy through this.

We are expecting a lot of people to come by the hospital for the birthday party out in the “healing garden”. Who wants to help with food?