Kris update… No tumor!!

Dear loved ones and dear friends!!!

You can count this one as a huge prayer answered: there is no tumor on Kris’s pituitary gland!  There is no mass of any kind, as a matter of fact.  We thank you all for your prayers!!! 

Kris’s neurosurgeon called Thursday morning and said he had just looked at the MRI, and there is no tumor!  Praise God!  He did say, however, that the ventricles in her brain are somewhat enlarged, so they may want to do further testing.  It could mean some fluid build up.  She had an appointment with an endocrinologist on Thursday, and quite a number of blood tests were done.  That will likely tell us something.

So, the last week or so has been somewhat eventful.  Kris continues to have good days and others not as good.  With some really good physical therapy sessions lately (see attached photo), she seemed to rally quite a bit on several occasions. But, on other days, she was more apt not to cooperate very much.  It would seem that her main focus is to go home and that sometimes distracts her from focusing on anything else.  With constant reminders from everyone that she really must work hard to learn to communicate consistently in some fashion (we still pray she will talk eventually!), she does do well in speech most days.  And she really must learn to eat again (although we have been told PEG-tube patients can live many years that way).  Being the mom, I worry that people will eat in front of her and I can’t bare that.  We have made it a practice not to.  It also hurts to know that she can’t tell people what she needs.  That has always been a worry, and I can’t seem to get beyond it.

This week should prove to be interesting.  Hopefully we will know something a little more concrete from the military and where they might be sending Kris.  I do feel she is ready to move on and have another shot at some more in-depth therapy.  I pray her next battery of therapies will include teaching her to eat again.  She hasn’t been inclined to do as much trying as she did back in the winter, but she seemed to “kick in” again a few days ago.  She had ten teaspoons of yogurt (first time in many weeks to eat more than a few), and she drank some coffee and some water without choking.  She had some pureed macaroni and cheese last evening, and seemed to enjoy that too.  Today, she wouldn’t try anything.  Just not interested.  (Those good and not-so-good days!)

We seem to be at a threshold, however, and we are anticipating God’s hand in all that is to come.  Do keep praying.  Please do.  We have some other issues of our own to deal with, and I ask your prayers for us... George and I. 

Blessings and much love,

Carol and George