At the end of August, we went in for what we thought would be another routine MRI for Isaac. After nearly 10 years of stability with his brain tumor, we had grown pretty accustomed to these appointments and were hopeful this one would be no different. Unfortunately, this MRI revealed a new area of growth and enhancement on his tumor, indicating some new tumor activity.
Over the past 2 months, we've spent time talking with doctors and trying to determine the best path forward for Isaac. While there were a few different options to consider, it became clear that some form of treatment was in fact needed. Doing nothing wasn't an option. We spent time discussing chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery, weighing the benefits of each option. After much discussion and prayer, we've decided that returning to Boston Children's Hospital for another surgery is the best course of action for Isaac.
Isaac has another MRI scheduled for October 13 at the University of Iowa. This will give his medical team in Boston updated imaging before surgery. We'll then be heading to Boston next week, and Isaac's surgery is scheduled for Thursday, October 22. We anticipate being there for 10 days as he undergoes surgery and begins his recovery.
We're grateful that my mom and her husband will be joining us in Boston. We're also incredibly blessed to have Nick's mom and step-dad staying home with our 2 girls, helping keep life as normal as possible for them while we're away. Having family willing to step in and support us in these ways is such a gift.
For those who may not know Isaac's history, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor on this brainstorm/spinal cord when he was just 19 months old. He underwent his first brain surgery at Boston Children's Hospital in 2015 followed by about 18 months of chemotherapy. He responded well to treatment, and for nearly 10 years, his tumor remained stable. Outside of his regular MRIs (and let's be honest, there have been a whole lot of those! 😉), we've been incredibly blessed to watch Isaac grow up and enjoy life without needing additional treatment during that time.
Many of you followed Isaac's journey when he was little, praying for him and encouraging our family through his first surgery and chemotherapy. We are still so thankful for the many people who walked alongside us during that time and for the prayers that carried our family through it.
We know how powerful prayer is, and we've seen God's faithfulness in so many ways over the years. We're trusting Him again as we take these next steps.
We would love for you to be praying for Isaac, for wisdom and steady hands for his surgical team, for a smooth recovery, and for our family as we navigate the coming weeks.
We'll use this blog to share updates along the way, especially while we're in Boston, so those who would like to follow along and pray can stay connected.
Thank you for being part of Isaac's story and for continuing to lift him and our family up in prayer. ❤️
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