Can you pray for Patrick tonight in your bible study? Patrick is the 10-year old son of a lady we work with in Pittsburgh. I have met with her a couple of times and I have been on many phone calls with her over the years.
*******************
Tracy called with an update on Patrick and the news is not good.
On Thursday, they learned that the chemo does not appear to be working. His neuroblastoma is getting worse. While the tumor near Patrick's eye seems to be getting smaller, there is evidence of tumor invading the skull.
The liver is worse and the tumor bed shows signs of regrowth - and it has spread to the lining of the abdomen. The indications are that the cancer is spreading and getting worse and their current chemo regimen isn't working. They are going to start trying some different chemo this week, but the doctors say they are running out of options. The doctors even advised Tracy and Steve that stopping treatment was an option if they thought Patrick has been through enough. I'm sure that Tracy and Steve can't even imagine giving up hope. The doctors are consulting Children's in Philadelphia and Memorial in New York looking for other treatment options that might help, including experimental treatments. There might even be a treatment
option here in Pittsburgh, but Tracy is not sure if Patrick would qualify for it.
The O'Brien family continues to appreciate all the support and prayers for Patrick and their family. Please continue to lift them up, especially in this difficult time.
Thanks, Glenn, Senior Manager
*******************************************************************************
Please read below and include my nephew, Trevor, and his family in your prayers. For those of you who don't know, Trevor was born with a rare brain disorder, Sturge Weber Syndrome, which required him to have a functional hemispherectomy of his brain when Trevor was 9 y.o. He is currently 13 and has not been able to use his right arm for functional activities since the surgery. This is a great opportunity for him and the family, but will require significant patience and hard work on everyone's part. My concern is that insurance may believe that too much time has elapsed since his surgery to approve the Constraint induced Therapy described below. However, I know the power of prayer, so I would appreciate it if you think of it, please pray for this situation. Thanks!
**********************
Children's Hospital has offered Trevor a position in a therapy program they have. It is called CIT or Constraint Induced Therapy. The program provides intensive training of his right arm by constraining his left (non-affected)arm with a cast. His arm would be casted for 3 weeks and therapy would be for 3 hours a day. Pray insurance would give us a referral for this and fast as the program starts Monday March 8. Also for Rana and I to work with Trevor - it would be like after his surgery when he needed help with everything from eating, dressing, ect. - the cast stays on for the full 3 weeks and as you know he currently can't use the right hand. We need to also work with the school as he would not be able to write, would need help going to the bathroom and everything in between.
This is great opportunity, but will be a lot of work and not a lot of time to get things together. He is not thrilled about the idea so that is a concern as well.
Brett
