Proverbs 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."

I'm beginning to notice that Karen is definitely more tired toward the afternoon and early evening. I know that many of you are slapping your forehead and saying "duh! What else would he expect to see after major surgery", but I have always admitted that I am slow on the uptake when it comes to things like this. For Pete's sake, when we were dating Karen had to tell me THREE TIMES that there was no future for our relationship before I finally understood. Fortunately she was wrong :) but the point is still the same. I often need the obvious to be hammered into my head a few times before I see how obvious it really is.

Aside from the fatigue, however, Karen is doing remarkably well. She was noticeably more energetic this morning and when my Mom called she commented that it sounded like the old Karen.

I am also pleased to announce that Karen has now reached a real milestone in her growth as a patient. She actually passed up a fun opportunity this afternoon realizing (without help) that it might be a bit much for her at this point. Usual she only acquiesces after receiving a volley of "No" missiles from me and any other family and friends in the vicinity. This was momentous for her because it is the first time I can recall that I've heard her admit without "help" that she might need to rest. For Karen this is an epiphany of the 1st degree. When I heard her turn down the opportunity my jaw dropped, my eyebrows raised in astonishment, and for a moment I may have glimpsed a cartoon 'thought cloud' form above her head announcing that she finally realized that when you have brain surgery you really should slow down a bit.

As Karen continues to improve I've also been thinking over the past few days about the whole idea of odds and percentages. I'd like to think I am pretty tenacious in my pursuit of consistency. Whether it is in the context of politics, theology, or beer, I like to think that I'll be consistent in how I apply arguments, even to the point of having to make uncomfortable changes in beliefs or behaviors.

So as I was reflecting on the hurricane of emotions that was last week, I am pressed to apply my argument about odds and percentages consistently. As you may recall, I was significantly impacted by an article by John Piper called "Don't waste your cancer". For those of you who are interested you can read it here. (I'd encourage everyone to take a look. It's short but powerful).

In this article John Piper talks about the ten ways that a Christian can waste his cancer. In particular the third point struck me to the core. I think it had such a poignant impact because at that moment I was battling with the words of the surgeon after he had come down to talk about what he'd discovered during surgery. The words

"98% fatal ... Terminal ... 98% fatal ... Terminal ... 98% fatal ... Terminal ... 98% fatal ... Terminal ... 98% fatal ... Terminal ..."

kept pressing in on me. I knew that God could heal Karen but I also knew that these percentages were not pulled out of thin air. They were real and I had to come to terms with the reality of the situation.

When I read the following words, however, it was like a kick to my rear (uncomfortable but effective) ...

3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.

The design of God in your cancer is not to train you in the rationalistic, human calculation of odds. The world gets comfort from their odds. Not Christians. Some count their chariots (percentages of survival) and some count their horses (side effects of treatment), but we trust in the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7). God’s design is clear from 2 Corinthians 1:9, “We felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” The aim of God in your cancer (among a thousand other good things) is to knock props out from under our hearts so that we rely utterly on him.

I realized even before reading this that God is not bound by odds. He messes with the so called experts all the time and leaves them scratching their heads wondering what part of their calculous went wrong. But somehow the way Piper communicated this truth at that moment really provided me with a peace that carried me through until we got the news the next Thursday that Karen's cancer was not what they expected in the beginning. Her chances were now extremely good.

NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF CONSISTENCY

If I was not to put my hope in odds when it was 98 to 2 against Karen, should I now be putting my hope in odds when they are suddenly reversed in her favor? I'll admit that the good news did lift an enormous burden from my back and I finally felt myself breathing again. Nevertheless, at the moment the good news was delivered did I slip back into the trap of trusting in my odds rather than our Heavenly Father who seems to really get a kick out of frusterating the odds? I think I did to some extent.

Don't get me wrong. I am thankful for the new and promising prognosis. This is surely an answer to prayer. But I am reminded that I am required by the 9th commandment to be consistent in my thinking and more importantly to be consistent in my fidelity to Christ. My physical life remains in his hand, my spirtual life still rests in his finished work on the cross. Were do the odds come in then? I guess 'Odd' in this situation really should only be used to describe Karen's husband, and not her chances of survival. I'll leave Karens' future in bigger and beter hands than mine.

A number of people have asked that we post a picture of our whole family. Funny thing is ... after searching high and low I was not able to find many pictures with all of us. I did find one, however, that we took when we were on our trip to Oregon.



I'll give a special prize to anyone who can tell me what device is pictured in the background (residents of Redmond, OR are not eligible).

Karen got her staples out today. All 51 of them. For those of you who are interested it was painless. Karen said it just felt like someone was tugging on her hair. We had our regular family doctor do the removal around the corner.

The devise to the right is the staple remover. For those of you who would like one of your own you can purchase one for $8.80 or a box of ten for the low low price of $61.90.

Next Tuesday the 3rd we have an appointment with our Neuro Oncologist. He'll have the final pathology report back then and will use that to determine their suggested course of treatment. He's already said that for Ependymoma's they usually just suggest a 6 week course of radiation therapy.

We continue to value your prayers. Though the diagnosis and prognosis appears optimistic at this point, the road of recovery certainly is not over. Thank you for your faithfulness in lifting Karen up to our Heavenly Father.

Matthew 7:-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts
to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

We're at home now with Karen's parents (Gordon and Mary) enjoying a beautiful Livermore Sabbath's rest. Worship was wonderful. I was struck particualrly by the words of one of the Hymns ...

Great things He hath taught us great things He hath done
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder our transport when Jesus we see

It always bother's me when I notice how frequently the focus of my praise centers on all that God has DONE for me rather than all that he IS. He'd be worthy of praise even if he'd never done one thing for me. Don't get me wrong, though, I am thankful that he saw fit to extend his love in my direction. I am also thankful that the outlook for Karen is now so good. I just know that to a great extent my praise can be so self centered and fair weather.

I liked the words of this song because it starts out by recognizing God has done great things, but it ends where it ought to, in recognizing that ultimately our joy will simply be in seeing Christ face to face on the day he calls us home.

Great things He has Done!!!

Dave

The kid's are on their way back home. Kevin (Karen's brother) and Tacy have been so great during this whole time. In fact it has been truly amazing the way all of our friends and family have been so helpful and supportive. Thank you all!

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

We are really looking forward to the kids being home. Josh has a soccer game today and KP (Karen) really wanted him home so he could play his vital role as nose picker and space cadet.

I am very interested in how they will do today. The first game was a slaughter (we lost), the second game they only lost by two, and last Saturday they tied! I like the trajectory :)
GO BULLDOGS!!!

If extrapolation were appropriate in this situation I'd be confident Josh would bring home a win today, however, we're talking about six year olds here. Oh yeah, and we're not supposed to be keeping score.

On another note ...

Karen and I are really looking forward to worship tomorrow with our church family. There is nothing quite like worshipping corporately with the people of God. I love to hear the voices of God's people raised in joyful song. What a day it will be when there will be nothing separating us from Him, not time, or distance, or distraction, or this body of sin, just pure unobstructed adoration amidst a countless throng of saints.

Revelation 7:9-12

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

I guess each Lord's Day is something of a rehearsal for that great day. I hope that you all will be joining with us tomorrow, wherever you are in the world, as we ready our voices for eternity.

Here's an update from our Pastor regarding our fellow church member Bob Gibson ...

We wanted to update all of you regarding Bob’s surgery so that you know how to continue praying for him and for Jane. Bob ended up having to have a quadruple, not a triple bypass. He’s out of surgery now and doing “well”. He’ll be in ICU for 2 ½ days, Lord willing, and in a regular hospital room until Thursday. Jane is weary, but relieved that the surgery went smoothly. Keep praying for them as Bob begins the lengthy recovery process!

I have a new prayer request for you all. Some friends of ours from our new church just found out a few days ago that he needs a triple bypass. He is actually in surgery right now.

I am excited that I have the opportunity to share this with you because I know you are faithful in your prayer. Please lift Bob Gibson and his wife Jane up in prayer.

Dave

I am amazed at God's faithfulness. Karen woke up this morning and for the first time since surgery had oomph in her voice. It's is wonderful to hear energy back in her voice. I have so much to be thankful for. God has been gracious and given us the desire and hope of our hearts.

I was thinking about the idea of hope yesterday. It's a very prevalent theme in conversations from doctor's, friends and anyone else you come into contact with in these situations.

"You have to have hope." We are told and say to ourselves. It does seem, in fact, to be the cardinal and unforgivable sin in situations like these to take hope from the one suffering.

That got me thinking, however, about what we mean when we say this. (We so often say things without thinking through what we mean). Hope, after all (like trust or faith) is only as good as the object in which it is placed.

I am convinced that there is such a thing as vain hope. This is an empty hope. Hope for hope's sake. Or hope in something that is really not powerful enough to do any good at all (our own goodness, our inner strength, the skill of doctors, the love of those around us). Even hope in a good outcome is no place in which to put our hope. After all, none of us are promised tomorrow.

This is not the kind of hope that Karen and I have been given over the past week. By God's grace our hope has been placed in an object more solid and immovable than the universe itself. The Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ.

As I looked in scripture at the whole idea of hope I was struck by how consistently we are shown that the key to hope is placing it in the hands of our redeeming God. Take a look at just a few of the verses that show us in whom we ought to place our trust ...

Psalms 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalms 33:18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

Psalms 33:20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

Psalms 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalms 130:7 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Psalms 147:11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Isaiah 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed."

Jeremiah 14:22 Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.

Jeremiah 17:13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.

Lamentations 3:25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

1Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

I thank God that because of his grace toward us, Karen and I know in whom our hope is found. I pray that from now on, if you have not done so before, you will all think carefully when you use the word hope and will ask yourself in what object that hope is placed.

Great News!

We got a call from our NeuroOncologist a few minutes ago and he informed us that they believe the tumor to be a very rare variant of an "ependymoma." This would be a class 2 tumor rather than the very aggressive class 3 or 4 that they were expecting to find.

These tumors are very receptive to radiation and the prognosis is good. No Chemo therapy should be needed.

I'll fill you in on more details shortly but wanted to get the good news out right away. We have a lot to be thankful for tonight!

Dave

Karen Just played the piano and we sang some Psalms together. It was really nice to hear her voice and see her fingers gliding across the keys. Here's the words to one of the songs that we sang in preparation for the Brown/Bush wedding ...

How blessed all who fear the Lord and walk within his ways. You'll eat your labor's fruit be blessed, and prosper in your days.

Your wife will as a fruitful vine within your house be found; Your children will as olive plants your table gather round.

Behold thus shall the man be blessed who truly fears the Lord! The Lord from Zion grant to you His blessing and reward.

And may you see Jerusalem's good all days on earth you dwell. May you your children's children see and peace on Israel.

This is a very strange process. You never really know when the gravity of this situation has actually sunk in. I've been trying to assess where Karen is at in terms of her really understanding her condition. While we were on a walk earlier she told me, without my prompting, that she doesn't think she really gets it yet. I think she's right. She has not had as much time as we have had to really let this all sink in. She has not allowed herself to think to far into the future yet, which is fine for now. "Baby steps" as I was told once by a goldfish wearing hypochondriac.

I do worry about Karen and how she will handle the full weight of her new reality as it sinks in. Maybe the epiphany will come tomorrow when we hear the results of the pathology and get a prognosis. She is strong, stubborn, (her faith is much stronger than mine) and I know she will process the information just fine. But I also hate to see her scared and hurting.

In the past I have often said what a comfort it is to look back at our own lives as Christians and to see the many troubles and times of uncertainty that God has brought us through. The path that God has cut for each of us through history is fraught with these hills and valley's and we never in our wildest dreams would have written the story line God has penned for us. But what a drab uninteresting and lifeless story our lives would be if we were the ones writing it.

Then I think of the history of God's people through the ages. I think of the Israelites as they were being delivered from Egypt and how quickly they turned their backs on the God who had just saved them. Yet God was gracious and demonstrated his mercy and let them drink from the rock. I think of the church in Corinth in the 1st century and the way they had so quickly fallen into sin. Yet by the second letter Paul wrote to them God had proved faithful to forgive and bless them once again.

Karen's life, and the lives of all the saints through history are a testimony to the beauty of the story of redemption that God has been weaving since the first day He made His promise to send one who would crush the head of the serpent.

Clearly, the symphony of Karen's life has entered a movement with a distinct minor key, but as long as we are driven to Christ by these minor chords then her pain, and ours as those who love her, will not be wasted.

Karen is getting better each day. She woke up this morning asking for pain killers though, because she slept great but that meant she didn't take any pain meds in the middle of the night.

She's feeling better now, had her 'Kicks' (apparently not just for kids), her morning cup of coffee, and paid our quarterly tax bills. That might sound to you like an odd combination of stuff but is quite normal for Karen.

Tomorrow is the "Tumor Board". This is where about 25 experts on brain tumors sit around all day and review a few tumor cases. They'll look at Karen's scans, review the pathology of the cancer, and assess which forms of treatment will be best given the specifics of Karen's situation. Please pray for good results from Pathology and great options for treatment.

We'll we're about to watch the second season of 'Lost'. I know, I know, but it's not our fault. Mike and Michelle (Brother and Sis'n'Law) got us hooked when they gave us the first season on DVD. You know how it is. In times of crisis like this you find out what is really important to people :) I'll let you know what happens to Walt.

Dave

We're home!

I am currently sitting next to Karen and Michelle on the couch while Karen crunches an apple in my ear. 5 days ago this probably would have irritated me. Actually I'm sure it would have irritated me. After the past few days it now sounds like a chorus of angels. (Michelle's crunching on the other hand still irritates me).

I am finally able to show Karen the blog first hand and she is really overwhelmed and touched at your outpouring of love and expressions of sympathy.

Karen has given me permission to post a picture of how she is looking, but it may be a day or so before I do.

Thanks again to everyone. The next big news will come on Thursday or Friday when we find out exactly what kind of cancer it is and then begin to develop a treatment plan.

I'll be talking to you all again soon (probably later tonight).

Dave

Just a quick post before I go to bed. This should be our last night here at the hospital. Karen has been up and walking. Actually doing laps around the building. Don't get the wrong impression, she's not going very fast but she is walking. I accompanied her on one of those walks around the 8th floor hand in hand. I can't tell you how special I felt walking through the halls with my bride on my arm. I felt like the way I did as we walked down the aisle on our wedding day after being pronounced "man and wife." I knew she was gorgeous then and I felt the same way tonight. The goofy look on my face was a testament to that fact.

If I step back and analyze my feelings for a moment one part of me says that I am blinded by love, but the rest of me knows how cute she looks with those silly pigtails they gave her before surgery.

For those who haven't seend her yet she has little pig tails randomly placed all over her head with rubber bands. Probably the best description I could give you to help you build a mental picture is that it looks like my spazzy two year old daughter Sophie somehow got ahold of a bag of rubber bands and absolutely went to town on Mommies hair with the help of that WWF wrestler from the 80s that adorned himself with those useful little office supplies. She really is cute.

Surgeons do a great job on brains, not so much on hair.

Maybe I'll sneak a picture and post it later ... I may need to slip a few more vicadin into her tapioca for that to happen.

Dave

P.S. I know she is getting back to normal because as she was walking with me around the floor she looked up tenderly into my eyes ready to whisper what I can only assume would have been some confession of abiding love for me when she promptly walked straight into the corner of a wall. I was obviously concerned considering she just had brain surgery and her skull is currently held together with staples. So I asked her if she was OK and she said without missing a step "Yeah, it would have happened on any normal night at home.'

It's good to have her back :)

A couple of hours ago few family and friends were sitting in a waiting areas just around the corner from Karen's room when Karen came waltzing through the door. (Well, now that I think about it, it wasn't really a waltz it was more of a waddle.) Either way it was a truly beautiful sight to see.

She's improving consistently each day and the doctors are very happy to see her phenomenal progress. Right now we are both very encouraged. We'll meet with the head of neurooncology later today and he'll give us an overview of how things will work over the next week or so. I'll try to remember to update you all on that info later today.

As I was reading some of your recent posts I found tears welling up in my eyes. Your words are so profound and encouraging and I can't help but be moved by them. I noticed, however, that though I am sincerely moved by your words and hope to hear many more, it has been the words you have quoted from God's word that truly stir my soul. Though what you have written is so eloquent and beautiful, there is nothing like the voice of my Heavenly Father. His words are so perfectly bitter sweet. No sugar coated cliches will do for the Lord of Hosts. And like any child, I long to hear the truth from my father. The truth that sends my heart soaring with gut wrenching joy.

Praise God that he has revealed himself so clearly to us in his precious word. I will pray today that as you open your Bible tonight you will be struck more than you have ever been before by the words that confront you on each page. You won't find the words of a self help guru. You won't find chicken soup, or any other kind of poultry for that matter. You won't even find great advice and nuggets of truth. What you will find etched in every word of every page is THE Truth who became flesh. The Truth that sets us free. The Truth that is so often painful until we remember that it was the Truth who was wounded so that we would not be.

How glorious it will be after we have been refined in the fire to look back and see the master artisanship of God as he molded us and shaped us into the image of his very own son. I hope that you will find that kind of life in the words you read tonight and I will pray that God's words will change you as I can feel them changing me.

Dave

I want to thank you all again for your love and concern. I just want to let everyone who is interested in coming out to visit know that you may not be able to visit with her if you do. I want to make sure that she gets her sleep. That is really the best thing she can do to get better at this point.

If you want to come and show your support, pray with us and for Karen that is fine for now. We'll all have to play it by ear.

Keep in mind that you can respond to the blog and I will eventually get her the message.

You can also send emails to welovekaren@hotmail.com.

Thanks everyone.

I think today begins the start of a new phase of this saga. Karen was moved down to the regular recovery rooms and is now out of the ICU. Her current status is truly amazing. Less than 24 hours after brain surgery the doctors have told us she can go home tomorrow if she feels up to it. That is certainly a far cry from our original fears that she would not even be able to talk.

She essentially has no negative results from the surgery itself. That in itself is an answer to prayer that we are happy to receive.

As we begin this new chapter I think we're moving from some of the more acute challenges to the longer term challenge. We'll be meeting shortly with the oncologist and will begin the longer process of fighting the cancer that is still in her.

As I try to comprehend what this means and what it will look like as we move forward, I am confronted with at least one huge reality ... I am not in control ... and neither is Karen. This is a really hard concept to grasp for both of us. The whole idea that we have to rely on other people for help is not easy for either of us to acknowledge.

Everyone hopes that if a tragedy like this one strikes they will have the kind of support that we have experienced the last four days. But it isn't until the offers of assistance begin pouring in that you realize how odd it is to actually be on the receiving side of compassion. People like us do not like to admit that we need help. If I'm being honest I'd have to say that it is much more comfortable to be on the other end. When you are the one that is giving you feel a sense of control over the situation. In our current situation we are being offered help because we truly couldn't do this on our own. It's downright humbling.

I can't help but draw a comparison in my mind between this situation and the Christian message. After all, fundamental to the message of Christianity is the reality that we are all dead in our sin. We are all separated from a loving relationship with our Creator because our sin creates that insurmountrable rift between us and a holy God. We all have a fundamental need to be reconciled to the God who created us and sustains each and every molecule of our being. In short, we desperately need help.

And like our situation with Karen's cancer, the answer is not in trying to conjure up the strength you need by looking into the recesses of your own heart. But by God's grace we get to a point where we realize that we need to rest in someone else's efforts. We need to rely on the strength that comes from God's heart as that was historically expressed in him sending his only Son to die on the cross for the sins of his people.

What a humbling thing to realize how truly weak that we are. And then to remember what our Heavenly father tells us,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

I thank Him for showing me my weakness. I thank him that I now have no choice but to trust in his strength and to remember that his hands are much much bigger than mine.

I do hope you'll forgive me for not updating this sooner. Today was a good day but a busy one.

Karen is continuing to do well. She's really really happy to see each one of you who has had a chance to visit. For those of you who can't come and say "Hi" in person please know that many of your blog responses have been read to her. I will also be making sure that when she is able she has a chance to read each and every one of the responses you have all left. I look eagerly throughout the day for each of your posts and have found them all very uplifting.

Dave

Karen is doing well.

She should be moved out of the ICU and down to a regular floor this afternoon. The doctor said that she could go home tomorrow if she is up to it but it may be Tuesday. We'll see.

As for talking to her and the kids, that has gone well. I'll fill you in on how that happened later. Karen now knows that she has cancer and that the doctor had to leave some of the tumor in. She's teary but I am glad she's not trying to "be strong".

We'll be talking to the oncologist sometime in the next few days about what kind of radiation and Chemo regimin she'll need to undergo.

We will be able to do the treatment near our home. As the doctor says, they call the game plan from UCSF and it doesn't matter who the quarterback is.

Thank you all again for your prayers. Please continue to pray. The road ahead will be long and hard.

Dave

Karen made up a song years ago for the kid's that we sing on the Lord's Day. That isn't unusual for her, it seems that every activity in our family has some little song to go with it. Funny now that I think about it that though she was a musician she never thought herself much of a song writer and yet her little ditties are attached to almost every item in our house and activity we do together.

You can't hear the tune right now but the word's are short and sweet ...

"Happy Lord's Day, Let's prepare our hearts to go to church and worship the almighty God."

I hope that you all have a sense of awe and thankfulness this morning as you enter corporately into the throne room of God and meet him in worship this morning.

She asked again in her stupor that I make sure you all go to church this morning. It's always been very important to her that His people not neglect the worship of their God. After all, those who share the bonds of Christ share the same gracious bonds that she wears. When you worship this morning you are worshipping with her. Sing loudly.


Please pray that I know what to say to her when the time comes and that I know what to say to the children.

I love you all.

Karen had a Good night and is improving. Praise God.

Well...I have been able to see Karen tonight and considering all that she is going through she is doing extremely well. She is recognizing faces and is obviously happy to see her friends and family who have come to visit. She is also able to verbalize, though with some difficulty due to her anesthetic stupor and swelling induced aphasia. For those of you who don't know, aphasia is the inability to come up with the words you are looking for to express a thought. I think this is related to a phenomenon that most mother's experience after chasing their small children around the house all day.

I am encouraged, but for now I am trying to learn to take things one day at a time. I may need to make the increments of time even smaller as we move forward, but for now a day at a time seem reasonable. As for tonight, I can go to bed truly content. I have seen my bride and she's as beautiful as ever. In fact, some things have not changed all that much. I mean, she's sleeping with her mouth open right now, but as those who know her well can attest, that is not much different than a normal night.

I can also go to bed knowing that I have an essentially endless line of loved ones who really want to help. That's certainly a bit of knowledge that many people will never be blessed to experience. And most importantly, I know that God's promises are as true right now as they were on Wednesday.

Good night for now,

Dave

Karen is on her way out of the operating room. The surgeon was able to tell us that the tumor was malignant and he was unable to remove all of it because of where it was placed. The next 24 to 48 hours are critical in terms of potential acute problems. The prognosis in these circumstances is typically not good. We do find some hope in that we are in the right place in terms of the most cutting edge treatments, some of which have been very effective.

Please continue to pray. The battle is just beginning.

Please do not spread this information to anyone at this point. I want to keep you all updated but also want the information to be accurate. Send them to this site if they are interested in an update. Accurate information will be useful to you so that you know what to pray for, but we all need to be careful. Acciidentaly spreading false information could be damaging.

We really do covet your prayers and need them now more than ever.

To God be the glory,

Dave

The doctor has just informed us (through Barbara) that they are closing up. That means that we are about an hour away from completing the surgery. She is continuing to do well.

Thanks for all your prayers. Please pray that the tumor is benign and that her mind and body respond well to the surgery.

Update: The nurse shift changed and so the new nurse (Barbara) called to let us know that she will be responsible for updating us.

Karen is continuing to do well.

I just got a call from the O.R. (Operating Room). The nurse said that everything is going well. She was in good spirits and went under the anesthesia perfectly. They have begun the inscisions and will call us again in about an hour.

Dave

Go to church tomorrow ... She's not giving you a choice

I almost forgot to tell you all; before Karen went to surgery she told me that she wanted you all to go to church tomorrow. It is his day after all :)

For those of you who belong to a Bible believing church it will be a great time to worship our God who Karen loves and who is lovingly guiding the surgeons' hands even as I write this.

For those of you who do not belong to a Bible believing church this is the perfect time to go to church, crack open your Bible, and hear the good news about the God who condescended, became man, suffered the death on the cross, bore the penalty of the sins of his people, rose to new life three days later, and who, though he reigns over all of creation, still has concern for each hair on Karen's head.

Love,

Dave

Update as of 12:00PM

I accompanied Karen to the Operating Room at 12:00PM where we were able to meet with the two surgeons. Everyone so far has been really great (Nurses are the best!).

The good news righy now is that the head surgeon says that he expects her to be no worse than she is right now in the long run. This is actually really good because she is doing really well. You wouldn't know she had a 5 centimeter mass in her cute little head if it weren't for the pictures.

The back side of the tumor is located near the speach center of the brain so this is where they are going to spend most of their time. The rest of the tumor is located in a part of the brain that is much easier to work in so they expect that part of the surgery should go faster.

The surgery should take about 6 hours. I'll let you all know how things are going as we find out. Thank you all for your prayers.

We love you all.

Update as of 9-16-06 9:30am

David called me and asked me to give a preliminary update.

Karen is scheduled to go into surgery in the late morning or early afternoon. The doctor is currently working on another person, and they are waiting for him to finish.

The doctors won’t know much until they begin and are able to make an assessment. The affected portion of Karen's brain controls speech and comprehension.

At this stage there is nothing we can do but pray. And that is no small thing. Rather than a last resort, prayer is our first and most powerful recourse. Rather than mere individual emotional catharsis, it is our gate into the audience chamber of the Most High God, who lovingly and sovereignty ordains whatsoever comes to pass and upholds all things by the power of his Word. David asks all of our friends and family to labor in prayer for Karen because he understands its importance and power. What a blessing and privilege He extends to us, that we can cry into the ear of our Heavenly Father, who through the mediatorial work or our Lord and Savior, hears us as beloved friends and children. What amazing grace He extends to us that we can exchange our burdens for His Peace. If we ask our Father for a loaf of bread, will he give us a stone? Surely, He who has Karen's name engraved on the palms of his hands will not suffer her to loose one hair from her precious head apart from His most loving will. Let us remember His promise that our prayers avail much, while echoing the words of our Savior, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thy will be done." Amen

David wanted me to list some specific items to remember in your prayers:

Pray that Karen would have peace, be encouraged and comforted.
Pray that God will guide the hands of the Doctors and give them wisdom.
Pray for friends and family members, that they would also have peace and wisdom to know how to best assist.
Pray for the recovery. Even after a successful operation, she will still have to endure the fatigue and hardship of recovering from brain surgery.
Pray for successful rehabilitation.
Pray for yourself, that the testing of your faith might develop perseverance.

We will keep you posted as events unfold. Thank you for your prayers

-Mike Gregg

Just in case...

David had hoped to log in and post an update, but the poor guy had been up at least close to 36 hours when I talked to him. I hope he's getting some sleep right now.

I will write what little I can until he has the chance to provide better information.

Last I heard, Karen is scheduled for surgery Saturday at noon. Her MRI had at that time not been reported to have shown any real news for better or worse.

I know that's not much but I am fearful of posting anything inaccurate.

Pray, pray, pray,
Steve

Why this blog is here.

This blog is for the friends and family of Karen and for David to keep their loved ones updated on her progress and condition.

In order to make this blog easy to access it is public, so I ask that you please not post ANY personally identifiable information such as full names, addresses, phone numbers or similar information.

I'm sure any and all prayers and comments will be greatly appreciated. Karen is blessed to have so many godly and loving people in her life. I hope that this site will be a blessing to you and David and Karen's family.

Please pray that the doctors will have wisdom as they diagnose Karen's condition, that David, Karen and their little ones will be at peace, resting in our Lord and Saviors grace. Please pray that Karen will be spared pain and that God would grant her healing mercies and full restoration to her role as a loving wife and mother soon.

Steve (Brother-in-law)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28