This has been one of our very best summers ever as a family. Perhaps having gone through the small hiccup that was Chris’s Brain Time all of last winter and spring put a fire under us to live better; enjoy life fuller; and just do more things that bring us joy and fulfillment together.  With that said, the phone call from Dr. Breeze’s office that came late July to schedule Chris’s 6-month MRI and follow-up visit sort of collected us up like a lasso and pulled us down a little. “Holy cow! Was it actually time already for that? How could that be?” We weren’t concerned about it, however. We had been cruising along every day, gratefully and humbly living in the blessing that God had given us of incredible healing within Chris. We had simply lost track of time.

So when we drove up to University Hospital on Wednesday to find out if the radiation treatment back in March killed the tumor, it did feel a bit grounding. Again, I wasn’t scared and most certainly Chris wasn’t either. But I’d be lying if I said that walking through those doors again didn’t give me just a few willies as I very briefly allowed myself to revisit a little bit of the time we spent there.

But let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Just as Robin, Dr. Breeze’s Physician’s Assistant, said to us upon walking into the room to give us the results from his MRI scan.

“That brain scan is freaking amazing!” She announced, with a great big smile across her lips and wide-eyes. 

She proceeded to show us the scan that was taken on March 25 and then the one taken yesterday. My friends, the tumor not only stopped growing….but it it shrunk!! Here, look for yourself!

The one on the left is from Wednesday’s appointment

and the one on the right was from right before the Gamma Knife Radiation Treatment

6 months ago.

It is remarkable because it looks like his brain was never even compromised! And, by compromised, I mean, it doesn’t look like surgery was ever performed on it, let alone 6 months ago, only! I specifically remember the Gamma Knife technician clarifying for me that the tumor wouldn’t go away, that it would always be there, that the idea was that the radiation would stop it from growing and not shrink it. So when we were told that I actually had shrunk, when it wasn’t even supposed to, well, I concur! That is freaking amazing!

Robin said she and Doctor Breeze were baffled by it, but we’re not. We know that what we saw yesterday was all the work of God’s miraculous healing and the answer to all of our prayers. We recognize this as the blessing that it is. We are humbled and so grateful for it. How can I even express it appropriately?

Chris will continue to be seen every six months for a time and then perhaps yearly after that and will remain on the anti-seizure medication indefinitely. If this is all we need to do from here on out to ensure his continued well-being, we’ll take it! With a ribbon on it, even! 🙂

I think our feet haven’t touched the ground much in the last two day! 🙂