Alexa, the two year old granddaughter of Pastor Kurt Hering (Layton, Utah), was taken to the hospital last week with stroke-like symptoms. The cause was found to be a tumor (about the size of a soup can) pressing on her brain. The tumor was successfully removed, but it was found to be malignant, so Alexa will have to receive radiation treatments, as Pr. Hering writes, below:
> The pathology is in and the diagnosis is the tumor is an "anaplastic > ependymoma." I'll let all y'all do your own research as you are inclined. > Further tests are indicated to further define and determine extent, as there > are a number of variations. > > Daily radiation on the area from which the tumor was removed will commence in > about two weeks at LDS Hospital in SLC--33 treatments over the course of 6 > weeks, weekends off. They will be at 7:30 am. They allow 7-10 days for > recovery from surgery. Then they have to do a planning MRI before actual > treatments begin. > > Current research indicates 75% of those treated with the protocol being used > for Alexa have no recurrence. > > The radiation oncologist is encouraged by her progress already and thinks the > onset probably was in the neighborhood of 6 months. > > So more roller coaster, good news/bad news for the forseeable future. > > Most likely long term effects involve intellectual function (low end of > average), and if pituitary gland is in the field of treatment, some growth > issues. > > The dear little soul had a cheery good bye for the oncologist when he left. > She remains a very polite and comical young lady. > > As far as Bumpa Pastor is concerned, Alexa is in the best place she could > possibly be--with her Lord Jesus and dear Father in heaven via Baptism, and > the best medical people here in SLC. The LDS righteously relentless pursuit > of perfection and success hold a certain value for us all. :^) Mr. Norm Fisher (Brothers of John the Steadfast--steadfastlutherans.org, Pericope.org, BookofConcord.org, go-to guy for The Henkel Project at grabauski.com, LutheranLiturgy.org, etc) has established a blog and donation center for Alexa and her family. If you can donate to help offset what insurance won't cover ($5,000 plus travel and so forth), please do, but if not, please visit the site and remember to keep Alexa and her family in your prayers. The blog URL is: http://bumpaslittlesweetie.wordpress.com/blog/ EJG
