Knock, Knock...

Apparently the first thing I reported to my anesthesiologists after waking up from surgery was a 'knock knock' joke that my niece had told me the day before:

David: Knock Knock,
Dr: Who's there?
David: Banana.
Dr: Banana Who?
David: Banana Chicken.

I asked them if they understood it.  They said no and I agreed.  Still trying to figure that one out.

Quickly after surgery I was in an ICU room overnight.  Despite my first experience with a catheter which I won't go into... my wife and family were able to join me and laugh about the crazy things that continue to happen.  For example, I was lying in the Pre-Operating Room and had someone walk up and say to me, "This might sound random, but were you just on Jasmine Star's blog?"  Yes, a photography fan / Med-Student who had been specifically assigned to my case, read my story 2 days before on the blog of a photographer friend of Amy and I's. And now here she was comforting me, making small talk over the photography world, something extremely unexpected and completely comforting. Small world?

I'm not going to lie.  It was scary.  I was wheeled into the Operation Room where quite a few people were all rushing around and making final preparations.  As the anesthesiologists were placing the mask over my mouth and asking me to take deep breaths, I can still remember what running through my head over and over until I passed out... "The Lord is my light and my salvation.  Who is there to fear?"  - Psalm 27:1

I woke up several hours later and was feeling pretty good despite a headache. Throughout the day, it was incredible to see the prayers that had been offered on my behalf.  As I've said before, I will never speak ill-will of Facebook again.  It has become a faithful tool sharing all of your thoughts and prayers with me.  For that, I cannot thank you enough.

Amy spent the night in the ICU with me which was needed because it was such a frustrating night.  Why?  We've recently learned that my resting heart beat is extremely low.  Meaning that when I go to sleep my heartbeat actually dips below about 40 beats a minute.  While in the ICU I'm hooked up to heart monitors that alert the nurses just in case my heart stops or slows down. While originally set at about 60 beats a minute, they have to turn down the alarm to 50, 45, then 40 beats a minute, but can't go any lower... 

What does this mean?  Every time I fall asleep... every time my head drifts off (like it used to do in 6th period Physics class) to that delicious land of sleep, 3 different alarms start blaring in my ear.  Despite my best attempts to bribe my nurse to turn the 'beats per minute' alert down, turn down the alert volume or turn a blind eye and unplug my machine, alas, he would not.  I understand. It's his job. So pretty much, after brain surgery I got about 1-2 hours of sporadic sleep. ICU has now been turned into a sleep-torture chamber for me. 

I'm praying for miraculous healing from God because if I ever have to spend the night in the ICU again, I'm not sure I'll keep my sanity.

---

I want to publicly say thank you to Dr. Meyer and his surgical team. While my experience with surgeries is... limited, I couldn't have imagined it going any better.  Apparently, they were able to successfully obtain samples from the tumor 'hot-spot' which allows them to get the best possible idea for what the pathology of the actual tumor is. Using a 3-D map of my brain pieced together by the results of the functional MRI to avoid any 'sensitive regions', they drilled a small pencil-size hole in my head and placed a needed through the 7 cm tumor to find this hot spot and draw out 4 different samples.  Science is so freakin' cool.  Operation 55 Zebra = Biopsy Success.

While Dr. Meyer is like a hard-core fighter pilot or an astronaut exploring the outer-reaches of what is capable through brain surgery, he is very careful about what he says about hope.  Over and over again, he has made it very clear that from a surgical standpoint, I have an inoperable brain tumor.  But he has been the only person we've been able to speak with up until this point.  After a successful biopsy, he was able to pass me onto an oncologist who could shed some light on the post-biopsy situation.

Dr. Uhm was brilliant in an entirely different way.  He explained to me all of the potential outcomes of the biopsy and detailed what the best / worst scenarios were.  I knew I really liked him when he started explaining the situation like this...

"There are 3 of you sitting in this room with me.  Let's pretend there is an assassin attempting to kill one of you.  What is the best way he could possibly do it?  Well, theoretically, he could..." 

I was sold. I didn't even care what else he had to say. This was awesome. And eventually he somehow turned this assassination story into a medical decision tree explaining all of the possible outcomes.  About an hour later he told me what he 'thinks' I have based on the current evidence.  We will however not know this until Monday when final results are in. This meeting was rare.  Why? I met with a super-genius whose time is worth more than I could ever imagine who was 'speculating' about my diagnosis with no test results. What?! Anyway, I am so thankful he even TOOK this meeting without the results being back in!  So now we can pray for exactly for what we want the test results to be.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Phil. 4:6-7

So, here it is!  I ask that you would pray repeatedly and with thanksgiving for the following results! Based on the samples pulled from my noggin, the best possible outcome for my tumor results would be:

"Grade II - Oligodendroglioma with a co-deletion of chromosomes 1p/19q"

You can read about the science here.  The interesting chromosomal deletion mentioned in the above results is a heightened sensitivity to chemotherapy and improved diagnosis.  While we won't know about the co-deletion for another week, the actual treatment program will be exactly the same.  The chromosomal deletion would be just an extra bit of good-news!

Dr. Awesome then suggested I talk with Dr. Paul Brown, a Radiation Specialist who could explain a few more things to me on the side of treatment.  I kid you not... 5 minutes later I was sitting in a room with Dr. Brown who answered every single question we could throw at him.  He explained to me the medical advancements in Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments which was very surprising to hear!  We have another meeting with him on Monday which will take into account the final pathology results delivered by Dr. Uhm.  Again, so impressed with these doctors and their abilities.

After Monday, we will be returning home to Grand Rapids and putting together a treatment plan for the near future.  We have received so much hope from these 2 new doctors that the size of the tumor can be either maintained, meaning the situation will not get worse and I'll stay relatively the same as I am now OR the tumor could actually shrink relieving some of the stress currently being put on my brain.  Obviously there are many more details, but this post is already long enough.

I will keep you all updated over the weekend, as well as share some of the other stories / blessings that have come from all of this.  I love you all very much.  Thank you for your continued prayers that this story will glorify God.  As I said before and will say again many times, This is His story and I'm honored to participate in it.

Comments

[Jamie Delaine]

Wow. Thanks for the update David. That last line is such an incredible testimony to your unshakable faith! Prayers coming your way, as always.

[Gail]

David,
Your story has so, so moved me. I hope you kick this tumor in the booty because you have so much potential as a writer that I think you need to share your story with everyone!

Best wishes for good news on Monday.

[kirsten Gibbs]

David,

Thanks for the specifics so we know how to pray. You have been in my thoughts and prayers ALL week. Cool extension of your story is that I was planning this devo for the pre-med camp at CU ... and I needed something to personalize the rather "logical" presentation I was making. Long story, but your Designer cancer blog was the perfect fit! I pulled your blog up on the big screen and told your/God's story. So cool... thanks for being so open!

[Tim Spiker]

The Spiker's are watching the blog every day. Prayers now for Grade II - Oligodendroglioma with a co-deletion of chromosomes 1p/19q.

[Linda]

Read the whole thing. Pretty amazing. Prayers will continue for you and above all that God be glorified through all this some way some how.

[Adam Stielstra]

great news David! God's healing will continue, as does our faith in complete recovery!!

[nancy]

prayer being added to my church's prayer request (St Thomas Episcopal in Temecula) thank you for asking, we are honored to pray for you. My children are praying for you also (ages 6 and 8) and let me tell you, they have a direct link to God. Seriously, especially my son; when he prays it seems as though God answers faster than twitter! When someone needs extra healing we ALWAYS go to him for extra prayers and he ALWAYS stops whatever he is doing and prays until he finishes and says "do you feel Him?" if the answer is no he does it again. I will be asking him to pray for you specifically at 7pm PST.
(and then lots more of course!)Hope you can feel it!
Be Blessed

[Jasmine*]

Like I said on Amy's blog...that med student was an angel...sent by God...to show you how small the world is...and how much JD and I have been praying for you. We adore you. We miss you. We can't wait to see how God moves in your life. And we shall celebrate every step along this mangled path.
Of all the things cancer can do, it can never take away HOPE. We hope and know God is in control.
All of love,
j* and jd

[Sarah Montanye]

So cool how God is working things out and how He answers prayer. I've been praying for you & will continue to do so. Your positive attitude is unbelievable!

[JD]

Dude, thanks for the update! Truly inspiring. Praying for you and Mrs. Wenzel.

[Erika]

Thanks for again sharing with us. You have such a gift in your "storytelling." Glad to hear of your good news and praying for even more. God is listening...you have so many people lifting you up in prayer. I'm happy you get the chance to go home and see all your friends, and your kitties. I hope it is a restful and rejuvenating time for you. We love you!
Erika and Seth

[Brian]

Praise God for his provision! And praying for more good news on Monday.

[Jody Ferlaak]

I've got kids who love knock-knock jokes and any word that you put "banana" in front of equates funny from about age 5 and under. Like banana pants.
See? Funny. =)
Anyway, I've been awake on and off in the night trying to get used to a new mattress here at my house. I prayed for you from Michigan at 2:28 am and 5:37 am today. In between the cracks of thunder, I pray that God could hear my whispers of healing and peace for you and Amy.
I've also spent more time than I care to admit next to family members in ICU and with tubes in their brains/bodies. I always think it's ironic, because spending time in ICU feels like it's killing me too! But I also know the oeverwhelming presence of God in such a place. I hope you know it too.
More prayers and blessings for you. I can hook you up with some free golf if you need that to aid in your recovery when you're home too. It's very therapeutic along the lakeshore this time of year!
Thanks for the updates. Who could have imagined you sharing this type of info on your blog just days ago...and yet God is showing Himself faithful through it all! All my best.

[Deanna Barnes]

When I had my spine surgery in CA, we didn't really know a soul in the state, and were many states away from family. And do you know that God provided me with a fellow Christian physical therapist that visited me daily post-op? She was from Africa. He has amazing ways of watching over us, and putting us in the best care. I don't think you guys could have orchestrated things to go this quickly and smoothly if you'd had weeks and weeks to prepare for it. That's our Lord.

[Jeff]

I feel like anything I might say will sound pretty dumb compared to all of the doctors and their incredible knowledge of your situation. But YOUR final line about "This is His story...." brought to mind these words from an old hymn...

"This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long...."

I think that sums up the attitude you've been sharing with all of us! Keep praising GOD and allowing him to use you in His story.

The Beste's keep praying.....

[Shelfagan]

We've praying for you two throughout the week and will continue! What a blessing that you will be able to go home in just a few days!
God is good!

[Nadine Madson]

I wonder if you will ever know how deeply your journey is affecting people. As you quote many beautiful Psalms I can't help but think about King David and the battles that he fought. Your faith and family will be such great weapons in the fight you have ahead of you. I am so thankful you have had such wonderful medical treatment; all of this is so designed by God. Thanks for the very specific prayer; I plan to print out your exact words so I know just what to pray for. Your sense of humor will also serve you well through this.....remember the humor in paying your library fine all in pennies? God is great!

[Melissa Oholendt]

This is like the fourth or fifth time your blog has made me cry at work. You would think that maybe, just maybe, I would wait to read until I get home, but no. NO. I MUST READ.

God is so amazing. I am convinced that these amazing doctors have been sent your way as a direct result of prayer. You have SUCH a story to tell and will even more so a year from now.

THANK YOU for the inspiration AND for helping me to fulfill my New Years resolution to pray every.single.day. (You can't even help how much of a rockstar you are.)

[Patty Boge]

It's amazing, David, how God keeps "sprinkling" wonderful people all around you. Will pray for specific outcome of Grade II - Oligodendroglioma with a co-deletion of chromosomes 1p/19

God Bless You and Amy. May He continue to hover over you and bring you peace that transcends your understanding.

[jaime]

i am so glad it went well. i know it was scary but you have the right One with you! still have you all in my thoughts everyday! praying very specific!

[Terry McKaig]

Praise God for all that he is doing in you and through you!! You are a blessing!!

[amber dawn]

How cool is God that he put that Med student there!!! I'm so glad that you are able to share your stories with us and give God the glory! :) Will continue praying for you!

[Shuva Rahim]

I'm amazed that you're able to blog about all this... I can't imagine how tired you must be... but may God be with you and your family during this time. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[Anne]

I am praying for you! Stay strong!

[Kelly]

Hi David. I just want to tell you how much you have touched my life (or how much God has touched me through you!). I am a Christian, but sometimes we get so lost in the worldly things that we forget Who is really the most important. You have reminded me Where my focus should be and to forget all the other tedious "stuff" that surrounds us every day. Your faith and your sense of humor is also just AMAZING! I am praying for you and have posted your story on my blog to spread your prayer warriors. I can't wait to see how God will be glorified through you. Thank you for sharing your strength and for giving others hope in facing whatever it may be they are challenged with. I've printed all your writing out and I read it when I feel weak and my strength is renewed.

I was doing my Bible study the other day, and I came across this verse and felt the need to share it with you.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed or broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

I will pray that your tumor is the #%*$#^*&(*(^^%#@%$%^& kind! God Bless - Kelly

By the way, you are an amazing writer! What else do you have out there that you've written?? I want to read more!