From: Timko, Terry M
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2016 10:41 AM
Subject: Sunday AM Maura Update

Dear friends,

First, we have been greatly encouraged by how God is showing up in this.  Our spirits are high and we are seeing His hand and plan in this – the pen is in His hand, He is the author of life and we are blessed to be part of this narrative - whatever may come.

They still don’t know the source of the masses identified in Thursday’s MRI, the largest of which is in her speech center.  What follows is my current understanding of the medical side of this.  They did an echo cardiogram yesterday to rule out an infection in her heart which would be throwing stuff (clots, infection, I don’t recall) into her brain. They also did a greater MRI all the way down her spinal column.  Both came out negative.  They attempted to do a spinal tap but she could not bear the pain so they are going to do it Monday when they can sedate her in radiology.  They are doing a PET scan today or tomorrow.

The neurologist still believes this is cancer and he just has not found the source.  I believe the PET scan is to rule cancer in or out.  The 2 other possibilities he reviewed with us are some type of inflammatory process like 1) infection or 2) MS.  He believes MS is the least likely based on the MRIs.  The fluid from the spinal tap will provide source material for a variety of test including MS, looking for inflammation as well as infection and cancer markers.  The PET Scan results will come back quickly, some of the spinal tap tests will come back quickly as well but others like MS and some fungal cultures can take weeks.  So by end of day Tuesday we will either have an answer and initial course of action or they will send her home while we wait for the rest of the test results to come back.  If they can’t come up with an answer from these last 2 tests then they will likely need to do a brain biopsy, but that would be 2 weeks out.

There is clearly an active pathology in her brain which is progressing that must be addressed or healed.

We have been touched and blessed by all of your prayers and the words received from my Crazy Fathers group to our catholic friends praying the rosary (I hear there are 100 women in Atlanta praying the rosary and a mass offered this weekend!) to our dear Jewish friend praying the Mi Shebeirach.

We know we live in a fallen & broken world and things like this and far worse happen here.  That said we believe this is an attack from our enemy who does not like the new season of ministry the Father has been leading us into.  This is one reason I am so confident this will not stand, it will be reversed and He will be glorified.

Jeff Holland has set up 2 google / email distribution lists: one for those who are comfortable with Holy Spirit led prayer and one for those that may not.  If you are receiving this message you are on the 1st list.  Feel free to share what you are hearing here directly or with the group.  I am confident that we have already broken this off and it is now just a matter of how the Father wants to use this for His glory, be that Monday AM with her speech returning to normal and they retest to find the masses gone, to them having to drill a hole in her head to show the same result to a longer walk through a healing process.

One specific area of prayer is for the boys.  Josh, Ethan and Daniel (Daniel is on this DL)are processing this in their own ways. I would ask for protection from the enemy for them and that this would be an opportunity for them to grow deeper in their own faith and maturity.

We really don’t have any physical needs at this point other than some help driving Josh and Ethan around.  Jeff Holland {contact info deleted} is coordinating this and anything else.

Finally, I’m hearing from so many of you how this news has impacted you personally.  I think some have been more impacted than Maura and I.  I can so appreciate that, having gone through the cancer dance more than once with friends and family.  Please know that we are OK and at peace, and encourage you to press in to God, know that you are loved, and cherish your friends and family.

{This song, God of all Splendor by Robbie Reider, gave me great strength as I drove back and forth to the hospital many times, it became one of the anthems God gave us to keep us centered -- Lyrics}

Next update probably late tomorrow.


-Terry

Climb - Will Reagan

I lean not on my own understanding
My life is in the hands of the Maker of Heaven
I give it all to You, God
Trusting that You’ll make something beautiful out of me
I will climb this mountain with my hands wide open
There’s nothing I hold onto
If I had to choose one song that symbolized this journey and brought us the most comfort it would be this one. It was a constant in our lives since Janet brought it to us in the hospital back in May of 2016. I will forever think of this as Maura's anthem as it so clearly represents her approach to cancer and life in general