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