August 29, 2008 8:51 AM
Hattie and Josh - need your prayers again
It's been a little over a year since Josh took my sweet daughter-in-law Hattie to the emergency room because she could no longer walk. They'd been married only a year.
Hattie had been experiencing back pain for many months which the doctors treated with pain medication. But there was so much more going on.
After being transported to two other hospitals - the second by helicopter - Hattie was discovered to have a tumor growing on her spine. The surgery to remove it left her with a 3" titanium replacement for the part of her spine which the tumor had turned to mush. It was a long recovery, which began with Hattie's first few steps using a walker. But eventually things were back to normal.
Then another big blow: they found a tumor on her thyroid. Hattie had to have her thyroid removed and undergo radiation treatments. Meeting others who lived full lives with daily synthetic thyroid meds was helpful and hopeful.
Following the second surgery, Josh and Hattie started putting their lives back together - fixing up their house and all the things which had been put on hold for months while they dealt with the two unexpected crises in their early married life.
But there was another crisis in February as they found another tumor on Hattie's lung. Hattie went into surgery not knowing if her lung would be intact when she woke up. Mercifully, the tumor was removed without damage to the lung.
Six months have gone by and things seemed like they were back to normal - again - with Hattie and Josh. But last week following a routine MRI they found another small tumor on Hattie's lung. Surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday 9/3.
And then yesterday Hattie and Josh met with the doctors and learned there is yet another tumor on her spine in the original location. They cannot do both surgeries at the same time. So she will go in next Wednesday to have the tumor on her lung removed, only to have to schedule another surgery to deal with her spine.
Friends, I can't even imagine how difficult it's been for two unusually joyful people who wanted to get married and simply share their joy together to experience such unexpected trials in their first two years of marriage.
But God has his reasons and I'm sure He is planting something deep and eternal in their hearts, that things are truly going according to his purposes, and that our prayers are part of that purpose.
Will you please pray for Hattie and Josh?
And click below to read Hattie's latest update.
I feel like I am living in an endless "info-mercial", because everytime I think we have found everything there is to find, there is always the "but wait, there's more....", and we had another one of those moments today.I went last week for a bone scan, and another MRI, but this time of my entire spine. Today, we went to see the nerousergeon for the results. Of course we were hoping that there would be nothing, and we could proceed with next week's lung surgery, not having to worry about any other spots, but that was not the case.
It turns out that there is a recurrent tumor in my spine, at the T10 level (which technically is replaced by metal, but has a bone graft inside where the tumor is attached. The doctor seems to think that this is "very approachable" and should not be too difficult to remove, but it does mean another surgery, number five for me.
We did ask if it was possible to go after the tumor in my lung, and the one in my spine at the same time, but the doctors say they are two totally different approaches, and have told me they will do the surgeries seperately. So, since my lung surgery is already scheduled, I will proceed with that next week (Sept 3 at 7:30 AM).
Then on the 8th of September I go to see another neurosurgeon about removing what is in my back. It is not an emergency, but they don't want to wait too long because it is right next to my spinal cord, and they are afraid if it continues to grow, that it may put pressure on the cord, which of course has not so good side effects (we already went through that with the first tumor).
When it was just the lung tumor, the doctors were considering doing a radioactive iodine treatment, instead of surgery, but it is good that we are not going that way because I was told today that if we had done that, it could have caused this tumor(in my back) to swell before it would start to kill it, but with it being so close to my spinal cord, that would have been bad. So I really feel like God has me in the right place, and is bringing the right doctors into my life when I need them.
Also, another thing that was totally God was that Josh was supposed to work today, but it was raining,he had no inside projects, he did not go, and was able to be with mom and I instead. I was glad he was able to be there.
For me this is still sinking in, I am trying to remain strong, but it is hard not to get shaken sometimes, but with the Lord as my God, as well as the amazing support system he has given me, I know I can get through this. I just ask for your continued thoughts and prayers for myself, and my family during this season in our lives. I will keep everyone updated as things progress.
Take Care,
Hattie
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Comments
Yes, Barbara, I will pray for Hattie and Josh and your family as they go through this.
Love,
Libby
Posted by: Libby | August 29, 2008 9:32 AM
We'll be praying for Josh and Hattie. Keep us posted on them, will you?
Posted by: Renee Garcia | August 29, 2008 9:59 AM
What a beautiful young couple! I will pray for them that she be healed and God will send them abundant grace to persevere each day. Julie c.m.
Posted by: Julie Klekas | August 29, 2008 10:11 AM
PRAYING for Josh and Hattie!
Posted by: imajackson | August 29, 2008 10:35 AM
Oh Barbara, what a trial! But, in our marriage, trials have made us a stronger team.
I will certainly keep them in my prayers!
I don't know if you are familiar with Chastity/prolife speaker Dawn Eden? She has thyroid cancer/Hashimoto's and a very active blog, and she will sometimes post about how it affects her life and faith.
Posted by: Milehimama | August 29, 2008 10:44 AM
Prayers for Hattie's healing are headed at her from West Virginia.
Hattie, if you read this: keep fighting, dear heart!
Posted by: Anna | August 29, 2008 11:30 AM
(((HUGS))) to you Hattie! Hang in there, sister! I'll be in prayer for you!
Posted by: Lisa | August 29, 2008 12:00 PM
Prayers for Josh and Hattie, and your whole family!
Posted by: Angela | August 29, 2008 1:09 PM
My husband and I and our daughter will pray for Hattie and Josh. Judy
Posted by: Judith | August 29, 2008 3:30 PM
