Mom & Dad asking for prayers for their daughter

The full gravity of the situation unfolds

The day  for surgery is set

Dad tells what happens on the day of the surgery

God answers the  prayers and provides a truly amazing outcome!

Recognizing  God’s hand in all this and giving Him the credit

Subject:
GCC Prayer Chain *
Date:
Sun, 2 Oct 2005 13:39:58 -0400

From Chuck and Trina :
Please pray for Amanda, a 16 year old who has grown up at GCC suffered a grand mal seizure Friday night.  An MRI shows some damage to the front left portion of her brain.  Apparently she has experienced a head injury or a stroke some time in the past.  She will be evaluated by a neurologist and a cardiologist and we will up date the prayer request once we have more news.
 
What do we ask prayer for?
She is having a hard time walking today. Her knees are wobbly.  Why????
We want to understand the source of her severe head aches and how to help her.
Wise Doctors who find the problem, give us good information, and offer accurate solutions.
Her friends who were present and helped her. They are really shaken up.
Her witness as she interacts with her friends.
Peace for her and her family

Subject:
GCC Prayer Chain *
Date:
Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:02:35 -0400

From Trina :
Thank you so much for praying for Amanda.  We feel your prayers!!!!
 
I feel that it is important to tell our story as so many people want to hear it and to get the straight truth. So here it is:
Friday, September 30 7:30PM Amanda suffered a grand mal seizure. She was watching her high school football game surrounded by a great group of friends.  Those wonderful friends were excellent care takers and first responders!!! Thanks you guys! All of you did your part and ensured Amanda got the right help! Chuck (her dad) and her brothers were at the game too so they were paged over the loud speaker to report to the ambulance when it arrived.  I was at home and got the call and made it to school in time to ride with her to the hospital.  Chelsea (her older sister) was on her way home from college and arrived at the high school just as the ambulance was leaving. She rescued the little brothers and drove them home freeing Chuck to meet me (mom) at the hospital.  Chelsea, you are always so good in a crisis!!!  Your brothers were so glad to see you and you took such good care of them.  We love you and appreciate you and hope you know how much support you gave to all of us. Thank you!!
 
Amanda received a CT scan and was released from the hospital to do follow up with a neurologist. The seizure left her with a strange paralysis in her knees.  She was able to walk but her legs looked like rubber and she bobbled up and down which gave her the giggles. (There is always humor if you look for it!!!)  The laughter was very healing and lifted our spirits.  After six days her knees were back to normal. Over the past two weeks we have met with doctors and she had several different MRI studies.  Five different types to finally get a grip on what we are most likely dealing with.  We landed a GREAT team of doctors who are connected to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. They have treated Amanda like a person and not a medical condition.  We are so fortunate to live in an area with access to some of the best doctors in the world!   Just in case you are wondering we are working with Dr. Roger Packer who is the head of neurology at Children's, Dr.Robert Keating who is the neuro surgeon, and Dr. Cynthia Heath who is the neurologist who has been absolutely loving!  I feel so in awe of them as they are just so darn smart!
 
I know you are wondering what all the tests have determined so now the real news.  Amanda does have a brain tumor and she will have surgery probably the end of October or the beginning of November.

Subject:
GCC Prayer Chain
Date:
Tue, 25 Oct 2005 11:34:02 -0400
 
Amanda is scheduled for surgery on November 3 to remove her brain tumor. Please pray for the surgeon and everyone involved in the process.  Pray for Amanda to remain in good health between now and then and for her safety during surgery. Her mom has been fighting a respiratory infection and sore throat. Pray for both of her parents as they are both pretty exhausted and have three other kids who need life to be normal.

Subject:
GCC Prayer Chain
Date:
Sun, 6 Nov 2005 16:51:40 -0500

From Chuck

Wanted to update you on Amanda. Amanda came through 7 hours of surgery to remove a brain tumor Thursday. The doctor came out at about 4 PM to tell us that they had been able to get all of the tumor and that there had been no complications. He said the tumor looked like a cavernous anglioma  that had ruptured several times (causing the seizure) and he was almost positive  that it was benign. He has sent it to out for pathology and the final results will be back in 3-7 days, but he feels strongly it will be benign.

We were able to see Amanda about 5:30 pm and she was resting peacefully. Trina was allowed to spend the night with her in the Intensive care unit (ICU). Amanda will sleep most of the first 48 hours due to the morphine they are giving her for pain. Hopefully Amanda will be released today from the ICU and be moved into a private room for the next 2-3  days. The doctor may release her to come home Sunday or Monday. We can't wait to get her back home and continue the healing process. Doctor  said she may be able to return to school in a month and (believe it or not) may  be up to playing sports in 3-4 months (just in time for Lacrosse). We will take it slow and steady during her recovery time.

I know Trina will provide a more eloquent email later, but I really want to  thank all of you for your loving support and powerful prayers. I  personally know that God's hand has been on Amanda and our family during this  entire process. The speed with which we have been able to see some  of the best doctors in the country in this field and the positive prognosis from  the surgery have all been direct answers to prayers of hundreds of people. It humbles me as a father and a man to have so many people interceding with our Lord on behave of Amanda and providing so much loving support to our  family during this time through your prayers, meals, calls of concern, and encouraging personal notes/cards/flowers. Thank you all for yourpart in caring for my little girl and our family.

In Him,

Chuck

Subject:
GCC Prayer Chain
Date:
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 14:50:49 -0500
   Really great news!!!
    
Sunday evening we brought Amanda home. Her bandages are off, IV's out, pain meds reduced to Tylenol and Motrin. She is up walking and eating and doing amazingly well. She feels pretty good and is glad to be home.  She got a warm bath and we actually shampooed her hair.  It will take several shampoo-ings to get all of the junk out of her hair but she got to keep her hair. Amazing!!! An incision across her head that looks like a headband gave the necessary access for surgery.
    
The surgeon said she only lost about 2 TBS of blood during the surgery and that they got everything.  She was on morphine and several other drugs until this morning but she has come out of the drugged state with incredible strength and alertness. She seems several weeks beyond surgery in so many ways.  She is weak and needs to be assisted as she walks around but she is even going up and down the stairs.  It hurts her head to laugh so we are trying not to behave too giddy. That is hard as we are just so overjoyed.  She will need to continue to take it really easy for at least a week then continue to be very careful about activity for at least a month.  No sports for 3-4 months.
    
I got to spend the night with her and there was no real place for me to get comfortable in her ICU room.  I didn't sleep for about 40 hours (I did nap for about an hour).  When she was moved to a regular room I was greeted by a sleeper chair and slept as if I were on the morphine. Of course the sleep was broken every two hours but it was good sleep. I am looking forward to my bed in just a few minutes!!!!
    
Love to you all!
 Praise God for His goodness is all around us!
 Trina

Date:
Sun, 13 Nov 2005 06:40:49 -0500

Sunday morning 6 am. The house is quiet and peaceful as everyone is still sleeping. I am sitting in front of my computer attempting to catch up on E-mail from the past month.  As I wade through the numerous E-mails I am struck by the goodness of God and how the power of prayer has carried our family, but most of all Amanda through it all.  From the craziness of the seizure, doctors appointments, tests, brain surgery, and now recovery we have felt your prayers.  I realize that Prayer has been the key. The prayers of so many people all over the world have been heard and answered! I am aware that when we have been unable to utter the words... others have been asking on our behalf. When worry and fear would have been justified we have felt peace and overwhelmed by an out pouring of love and support. I am just beginning to comprehend that we have been walking through a miracle!  Our family has been experiencing the unmistakable presence of God in the midst of this very difficult thing.  I realize that prayer makes a difference!  I can't explain it but I know that the prayers of others have been heard and that the God of heaven and earth has responded and carried us in a way that is not humanly possible.  God has allowed Amanda and our family to see and experience first hand that He is in control even when the situation seems desperate.  I feel it is necessary to share this with you because chances are that you have been praying for Amanda and our family.  That means that you too have been walking through this miracle because God has heard and answered your prayers! Now on this Sunday, I choose to celebrate what God has done for Amanda and I invite you to celebrate and thank God for ALL of the answered prayers!
 
Amanda continues to heal and regain her strength with an amazingly cheerful attitude!  She is paying attention to the need to get plenty of rest and manage her stresses.  She is only taking visitors on a limited basis and is getting out with great caution. However, she does turn on the music and dance in her room and I might add she looks great!
 
God is in this journey with us!
Love,
Trina