Hope

Good evening! The Bradburns had another encouraging day today! Forester woke up with a healthy appetite again and ate well all day. Pete, Forester and Micah spent some quality father/son time at the playground. Although Forester was understandably nervous about climbing, he overcame his fear and even played a little on the monkey bars. :o) Whitney and the kids just arrived at Muzzy & Pop's house (the grandparents) to spend the night at Forester's request.

About Pop... Whitney has asked him to compose a post to provide us with a summary of Forester's diagnosis and prognosis. Pop has spent hours and hours speaking with Forester's physicians and surgeons and reading up on medulloblastoma. Until he posts, please remember that although Forester has an aggressive sub-type of medulloblastoma, his neurosurgeon was able to remove the entire tumor. Total tumor removal, aka gross total resection, is HUGE deal and a HUGE blessing!!!

Please forgive me for discouraging you with the pathology report. Sometimes it's difficult to accurately communicate about Forester's illness without sounding pessimistic. It's important to give you specific details about his condition, so that you know how to pray, but it's also important to remember that we have A LOT of solid reasons for REAL HOPE. As we cry out to the Lord for help and for healing, we also praise Him and thank Him for all He's already done and all He will continue to do in Forester and in his family. We look forward with "an attitude of expectancy about what He is going to do." (Thanks SM!)

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Sleep peacefully,
April