Here's an update for those who have been following the progress of my son's medical condition:
On Friday he took a fever and the lump in his neck swelled very quickly over the weekend. It is now sensitive and enlarged. It is not as protrusive as it was back in December, but it is no longer a harmless pea-sized lump.
My wife is very good with natural remedies. She has put him on her best infection-fighting regimen. I've seen this work to fight off smaller infections before, but never anything this severe.
We're praying, and considering having the surgery to remove the lump. However, we approach this with a great deal of caution. We're not too excited about the idea of putting him under general anasthesia, which would be required, and we're obviously not thrilled about the idea of cutting into his neck. Both are high risk procedures, no matter how routine the doctors make them sound. If the surgery truly has to be done, we will trust God and proceed with caution. If it can still be avoided without risk, we will trust God and proceed with caution. Either way, we need His wisdom desperately.
Oh, the heart-wrenching decisions a parent has to make! We're torn betwixt the two, wishing the Lord would make this easy for us by simply taking away the problem. We're attracted to the convenience of that solution, and it may indeed happen, but in the meantime there is the trial of having to choose.
These types of situations remind us that we are not in control, that we are dependent beings, that we are living in an uncertain world, and that God is sovereign over all. Fears can arise in an instant, nearly toppling us over - but sooner or later we find His hand nearby, and His grace sufficient. We find the God of all comfort doing His great work. Revealing His great mercy. Breaking into our terrifying world and pushing back the fright. Loving us and reassuring our hearts. We wish for the easy path through these times of struggle, but we could never experience the power of grace if we lived forever in the Garden of Eden. And so we pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done."
Monday, March 30, 2009
4 comments:
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Derek,
ReplyDeleteMy family will be keeping your family in prayer.
God Bless,
Jon (Reformed Stooge)
Derek,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update.
Still praying.
Blessings,
Tony
Derek,
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and prayers are with you. As a father of a few boys, and one who's had to make some difficult medical decisions myself, I share in your agony, brother. May the Lord comfort and encourage you.
Jon, Tony, Barry:
ReplyDeleteYour prayers are much appreciated by me and my family. I know that God will be glorified in us by whatever means. In the broad scope of things, our struggle is just a tiny piece of the puzzle, and unlike so many in this world we're blessed to have good medical care readily available. The most difficult part is deciding a course of action in the midst of changing circumstances, incomplete knowledge, and uncertain scenarios. That's why finding God's wisdom is so necessary. Twenty years from now, I'd like to have my son go back and read these blog entries and see how God worked in his young life. I want him to see that his parents were trusting the Father.