The Results and Plan

Thank you for your continued prayers and support for our family.  Calleigh has been moved from ICU to a regular room.  Her drain is out.  She still has a lot of swelling and we have some therapy issues that will need to be addressed.

God saved Calleigh and I know He has plans for all of this.  Unfortunately her tumor was malignant and will require further treatment.  Are we devastated?  Yes. Are we mad?  Yes.  No child should have to do this, but we will. It's all about Calleigh from here on out, not that it wasn't already. :) We are committed and prayer for a full recovery from this so she can continue on her with her life.  I keep trying to remind myself of the positives.  She is young and hopefully this will all be shadowy memories to her.  We have an incredible support system who is waiting on standby.  We know we cannot do this alone.  We covet your prayers going forward.
We have a preliminary path report and are waiting on the final path from Johns Hopkins.  The doctors anticipate she will start treatment in 4-6 weeks but we will not know what that entails until the doctors receive and analyze the results.  We will meet with them in a couple of weeks.

I have no idea what to even predict what will come next but I am placing my faith in Him and claiming this. I sang this song the night before surgery and I'll continue to sing it.

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15

Defender
Words and Music by: Travis Doucette

He is near to the broken
Close to the weary of heart
In His name is a refuge
A safety for the weak and discarded

There is help for the hopeless
For the wounded in need
In the presence of Jesus
There is power unleashed

Call upon the name of the Lord
He's our defender, our deliverer
A shelter in the midst of the storm
Jesus, our Savior
He is King over all

I will sing of my Redeemer
Testify to the touch of His hand
Lifted me from disaster
Set my feet on a solid rock to stand

God is our refuge, our strength and salvation
A mighty fortress is the Lord Almighty!
There is no equal, no power beside Him
Forever our champion is the Lord our God!

Grateful

My plan for summer 2014 involved sun, fun, and Disney. Calleigh became sick with what we assumed was a stomach bug on June 18th. This continued on the 19th and then she seemed better, although wiped out on the 20th. We went to a race that night and celebrated a victory. Saturday the 21st she slept late and then spent all day playing with her best friends. Sunday she started vomiting again. We took her to the evening clinic and left with inconclusive results. The vomiting continued so I took her to her pediatrician as soon as we woke Monday. We were admitted for dehydration, but despite fluids and meds, she still vomited and became more lethargic as the day wore on. Tuesday the doctor felt that her care would be better managed in Greenville. By the time we arrived shortly after 11:00 am, she was nonresponsive. They rushed her to CT and 30 minutes after we set foot in the door we were told she had a brain mass. I think God had prepared me for this. I knew it on the ride over and when they told me I felt no shock or surprise. Her symptoms were due to the position of the mass blocking fluid from draining. They needed to insert a drain into her brain quickly to remove the pressure. Once this was done, she was alert, speaking, and eating. It was a dramatic turn around. Many would say what's to be thankful for so here's my list. (Because I love a list)
1.  The Nurse Practitioner admitted her Monday.
2.  The pediatrician who saw her in the hospital moved her to Greenville.
3.  SHE IS ALIVE!  We were told later she probably only had one hour left to live.
4.  My sister works in neuro trauma in Greenville and knows the doctors personally.
5. The mass was operable.
6.  We have so many people covering us in prayer and support
7.  The mass was completely removed!
8.  I can hold her and tell her I love her.
I give God the glory for all these things and I know He has a plan for all of this.  Your prayers and God's grace were a buffer around my heart and although it shattered, He and you were the glue that held m e together. I can never thank you enough for everything you've said and done for us.  I love my family, friends, church, and colleagues so much and you came together as one to pick me up when I was defeated and discouraged. Today I smile because God is working here in me and I know He will use this for His Glory.

Calleigh (n): sunshine, spunk, joy, love

If you have never met Calleigh, I'll try my best to describe her for you. She enjoys every aspect of life.  Her wide smile shows her elation over the simplest things. She's smart as a whip and is eager to learn new things. She loves wholeheartedly her family, friends, and pets. She is gentle and kind. She simply sparkles and when you've met her you don't forget her.
Calleigh loves princesses. She tells me she'll be one when she grows up, but she already is. Sure she's got the dresses and crowns but it's what's inside that makes her shine and all those around her wonder what makes her so special.
Calleigh was born February 27, 2010 and when I held her and our eyes met, I knew she was who I'd been waiting for. She brings me joy everyday and she makes me proud everyday. She is my gift from God and I'm grateful everyday that he chose to share her with me.