Family Tragedy

As some of you are aware, on Wednesday, October 1, my precious five-year old niece, Kyra Elizabeth, was diagnosed with an inoperable malignant brain tumor. The position of the tumor, which surrounds the optic nerve, makes it too dangerous to attempt removal. Even if removal of the tumor was possible the only guarantee is that she would become blind, along with a strong probability that very little of the cancer that surrounds the tumor could be removed. Since Kyra was born deaf, sign language is her primary method of communication. She has a cochlear implant in her right ear to aid in her ability to hear, but that would most likely have to be permanently removed if surgery was performed. That option would take away much of Kyra's quality of life as she knows it today. A very tough situation indeed!!

The question now is can the cancerous tumor be treated with radiation or chemo-therapy? We won't know the answer to that question for another 2-3 days, maybe more, when the biopsy results are returned from the lab. If the cancer is low grade (soft tissue in and around the tumor), then yes the tumor can most likely be treated. However, if the cancer is high grade (hard tissue embedded in and around the tumor), then treatment is probably not an option. It's now wait and pray.

Needless to say, our family is all emptionally drained, especially my brother Eric and my sister-in-law, Candi. All of us are struggling with this, but Eric and Candi are taking the brunt of the news. Nearby family and friends are helping in whatever way possible.

My family believes in the power of prayer. If you do, the next time you pray, please say one for our precious little angel.