This Week Ben and I received some shocking news about my sister, Joanna. She and her husband Curtis with there three children, the oldest of which is 4 yrs old, were planning on leaving this fall for Mozambique Africa to do full time missions work. This is part of an email that was sent to us, from Curtis and part from my Mom.
Joanna had a CAT scan on Tues, because of severe migraine headaches, the Dr. wanted to rule out a tumor in the brain. But unfortunately that is just what they found. On the left side of her brain she has a tumor the size of an orange, growing. It has displaced a sixth of her brain and caused her to have great difficulty with speaking, remembering, and getting very painful. ). There are a couple factors that could point to it being a less aggressive benign type, but also one thing that could point to a malignant tumor, so there is no way to know for sure what it is until they get some it out and test it. On Friday Sept. 19, the Doctor plans to operate and once he has her skull open he will bring her to enough to have her move her hands, speak, etc., to let him know that tissue is okay. This is one of Jo's greatest fears right now that she is going to be awake. Please pray for her in this way. She is also struggling with not have answers about what happens afterwards. But, without testing the tumor, the Dr. has no way of knowing what the next steps will be. A portion will be tested for Cancer, and that will give him what needs to be done next. He has put her on steroids to help with some swelling and give her some relief. She is on codeine now, but it is not helping too much. She speaks slowly and can't remember many things that are common to her.
Ultimately, we have to trust that God knows all about it, and He has our best in mind! All we can do at this point is rest in Him. Thanks again for your prayers, it really does mean a lot to know that so many are holding us up before our heavenly father.
*Please be praying for Joanna, her family, and the surgeons. For Joanna to have peace about the surgery and being awake for part of it. For Curtis to be strong and continue to lean on the Lord for his strength. And for their three little children, who are probably very confused about why Mommy is sick and not around, and everything is so different.
Thank you for reading this and taking the time to pray about it.
~Ruth
1 comment:
Thank you very much for keeping us posted. I've been asking for prayer from the Arizona community. Thank you, Lord, for blessing Joanna, Curtis and all the family.
Love, Mamacita
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