2nd Opinions: The Woe of Waiting

Here is an update on Nathan’s condition. At the end of this update, are three simple opportunities for so many of you that have so lovingly asked, “What can I do?”

Last Wednesday, we took Nathan to Vanderbilt to have a meeting with Dr. Reid Thompson. After 1½ hours of looking at the MRI (see photo in the previous post), a brief tutorial on brain tumors and a full Q & A session, Dr. Thompson scheduled a Functional MRI (pre-surgery brain mapping) for Wednesday and the surgery on June 25^th. We ended the day by driving back to Knoxville and having a nice steak dinner.

The next morning, Nathan and Elizabeth drove back to Chattanooga. Nathan had been there long enough to hold Jack (1 ½ yr. old son) and pet Yeti (Golden Retriever) when he had the beginnings of another seizure. The Keppra and Ativan  (the anti-seizure medication) apparently prevented a full-blown seizure but Nathan was unable to control his twitching and shaking. Elizabeth called 911 and Nathan was back at Erlanger Hospital. They communicated with Vanderbilt and the result was doubling the dose of his Keppra and they discharged him. Nathan and Elizabeth then drove back to Knoxville and are staying at our house and we will take them to Nashville on Wednesday for his functional MRI.

Nathan has spent quite a bit of time on the Internet studying brain tumors and listening to the testimonials of a few people that have had them, like Matt Chandler the a 30-something pastor in Texas. Nathan is understandably nervous and impatient. Yesterday was a sad, difficult day as all this is beginning to seep into our hearts and all the waiting provides plenty of fermentation for many potential imagined scenarios. After a weekend of digesting all this and desiring every possible technological advantage, Nathan would like to get a second opinion from Duke, which has a respected brain tumor and research center with many clinical trials. So, last night, we filled out the necessary enrollment forms and I was at FedEx this morning sending his MRI’s to Duke.

Nathan will still keep his functional MRI appointment this Wednesday in Nashville, but our hope and prayer will be that Duke will see him before his surgery on June 25^th, so that he will have a second opinion and be able to choose his best course of action. When you are so unacquainted to the world of brain tumors and their treatments, it is overwhelming to try to figure out where to go to receive your best chance for a cure for this terrible condition. The stakes could not be higher; the time could not be more precious; our knowledge could not be more lacking and we could not be praying harder for guidance and the Lord’s help and mercy.

For so many of you that have been kind enough to ask how you can help, let me first say, “THANK YOU!” I realize that you all have lives and many noble places to invest your finite time and resources. So, we are grateful for your care for Nathan. There are three things we would ask you to consider doing:

(1) Please continue to pray for Nathan, for direction on what to do and for a full healing.

(2) If anyone has a connection to Duke’s Brain Tumor Center, any help you could provide to help us been seen quickly would be greatly appreciated!

(3) Finally, instead of a casserole, if you feel so led, you can bring a contribution. The bills for all this care are beginning to accumulate and that does not count the hotel rooms and the additional expenses that accompany seeking treatment options elsewhere or the bills that will definitely follow. The dear folk at Nathan’s work have created a donation page. Please, this is not a guilt thing. None of us like it when someone uses guilt as a lever for action. But, truly, if this is a fit for you, then it is a very practical way to help this young family.  Here is the donation link: http://www.youcaring.com/nathan-sexton-369096 

We could not be more grateful for the community that surrounds our extended family and particularly Nathan’s little family. It is in times like this that you begin to truly appreciate the support, love and care that can only come from a loving community! Thank You so Much!

Buddy Sexton