A Quick Update

When I spoke to Whitney around noon today, she shared great news! Forester had eaten, had watched a little Scooby Doo, and had even read a birthday party invitation - out loud, with no slurred speech and with no hesitation! Praise God for new mercies every day!

Please remain in prayer for Whitney. The reality and enormity of Forester's illness is hitting her anew over and over again. Although we may not know exactly what she and Pete and their family are thinking, feeling and experiencing, the Lord does. Please pray that His strength & power is perfected in their weakness. Please pray that they feel His arms wrapped around them every second of the day.

I will see Whitney and Forester in a little while and will post more later.

April

A gift for the Bradburns

Oops - I lied. One more post tonight...

One of the Bradburn's dear friends in Charleston had a wonderful idea! We have begun collecting and compiling Bible verses for a scripture "book" for Whitney and Pete to refer to during this journey with Forester. Please share with us specific verses as you feel led by the Holy Spirit, and we will reference both the verse(s) and your name(s) in this special book. If you would like to contribute, please email your verse(s) and name(s) to bradburnfamily@gmail.com by Monday, March 2. Thank you so much for your help with this, and most of all, thank you for your prayers!!!

April
(Thanks Lauren!)

The CT scan is clear!

Thank you for your prayers! The CT scan is clear!!! Praise God! Please pray now for wisdom for Forester's doctors and nurses re: the proper pain medications for him and how to keep him comfortable without causing too much sedation. Although he is quite groggy, he has been able to communicate when he is in pain. He even asked to watch tv once today, although propping him up in bed caused him pain. Poor baby. :o(

Forester's surgeon explained that it's normal for his condition to seem worse the first few days after surgery. Because he didn't really seem sick before surgery, though, this has been especially hard for Whitney and Pete. He had basketball practice a few days ago, and now he's lying helpless in a hospital bed after brain surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. Whitney especially asked for prayer against anxiety, as this is her automatic response to illness. As I'm sure you can imagine, seeing her baby this way has caused her serious anxiety. Please pray for supernatural peace for Whitney and for her to physically feel the Lord carrying her through this time.

Finally, please pray for communicative and compassionate doctors and nurses and for restful and restorative sleep for Forester and his entire family.

Unless something comes up late tonight or first thing tomorrow morning, I will not post again until tomorrow afternoon. Don't worry! I'm headed to Charleston first thing in the morning! I cannot wait! Once there, I will give you a first hand update on my beloved Bradburns.

Love,
April

A New Prayer Request

I just received a text from Whitney:

"Forester is very groggy, so they are going to do a CT scan to see if there is fluid build-up. He hasn't had morphine since 10am."

They are taking him for the CT scan now. Please pray!!!

April

One more thing...

Please remember to be praying against all possible side effects & complications from the surgery. Forester is talking a little and is trying to eat (without getting sick), but it's still too early to know about side effects.

Thanks!!!
April

Rejoice!

When I spoke with Whitney a little after 12:30pm EST (forgive me for the delay in posting), Forester had already been moved out of PICU and into his room in the Pediatric Medical/Surgical Unit! Praise the Lord!!! The PICU nurses fell in love with Forester and bragged that he was the best patient they had had in years. His arterial line had been removed, and he and Pete were having some quiet father & son time. Forester made it through the night only on tylenol but did need a little morphine for the pain right before he changed rooms. Forester's new room overlooks the playroom, and hopefully, he will join the other children there in just a few days.

Although we're still waiting for the official MRI results, a close friend of the Bradburns in Radiology/Oncology looked at the films for them and said they look awesome! Whit said he was so excited by what he saw: a complete resection of the tumor!

Before you plan a visit to the hospital, please check the blog for additional information & details. Whitney & Pete need to find a place to meet visitors since they no longer have a waiting room nearby Forester's room. We don't want to overwhelm Forester with visitors in his room. Thank you all for your amazing expressions of love and support!

April

A New Day

A text from Whitney this morning:

"We slept. MRI was at 9:30 last night. No results yet. FJB (Forester James Bradburn) slept quietly through the night. Vitals are good. Praying all is well enough for him to move out of PICU today."

Praise God for sleep and good vitals! Believe with me that no MRI results yet = great MRI results!

April

Sleep well, sweet Bradburns

Whitney and Pete are at home with Micah and Slade, while Whitney's Dad (Pop) and Pete's Mom (Grandma) stay with Forester overnight. Please pray for peaceful and restorative sleep for everyone, so they wake renewed in the morning.

At some point tonight, Forester will have another MRI to confirm that the entire tumor - about the size of a golf ball! - was removed. If any part of the tumor remains, they will immediately take Forester back to surgery. Please pray that the MRI is clear!

Although Forester is on morphine and "out of it," he is responding well postoperatively. He will leave the PICU tomorrow afternoon if all continues to go so well!

Sleep well, sweet Bradburns!
April



Thank you, Father, for Forester. Thank you that he is fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank you for holding him and his family so lovingly in Your Hands. Thank you for using Your people to so clearly, so tenderly, so mercifully care for Forester and his family in their greatest time of need. May You be glorified and may Your sufficient grace and power be made known to all. In Jesus' name I pray.