News about Courtney's health - please pray with us
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 10:25PM Dear friends,
Megan and I wanted to write something to explain what is happening with Courtney's health. Rumors tend to fly thick and fast. We would rather that our friends know the truth, and in doing so hold Courts, Liam and the two of us in prayer.
What has happened so far.
On Sunday the 5th of September Courts woke up with a very swollen right eye. She had a bad cold the week before. Megie took her to our doctor - he later admitted her to hospital. Essentially it seems that an infection had spread into her sinuses and when she was blowing her nose it spread behind the right eye which caused her eye and face to swell up.
On Monday the 6th of September, after spending the night in hospital, Courtney went for an MRI scan to ascertain exactly where the infection behind her eye was, and if there was any damage to the lining of the ocular cavity that would need surgical repair, or if there was an abscess that would need to be drained.
While examining the MRI our doctor discovered a tumor of about 2.5cm in height, and 1.5cm in breadth in the fourth cerebral ventricle of Court's brain.
A few requests from our side.
Naturally this comes as a great shock to all of us. Here's what we would like to ask of you.
1. Please pray for Courtney. Naturally we are asking for God to heal her completely. We believe God is able to this in many wonderful ways. We are blessed with a wonderful team of doctors, but please pray specifically for our neurosurgeon. 2. Tomorrow (8 September 2010) we will share the news with Courtney as we meet with the neurosurgeon again. Cancer can be a very scary thing for a little girl! We have told Courtney that the doctor has discovered the reason why she has been getting headaches and been a little 'clumsy' over the last while. 3. Please silence any rumors that you may hear about Courtney's condition. We know that she will receive the best treatment possible and that she will be completely well. We are trusting God to use every means at His disposal to work this wonderful miracle! We are taking the journey one step at a time. First the infection in her eye needs to settle so that she can have the brain surgery. Then once the surgery is done we will know what kind of tumor she has and can decide how to proceed with treatment from there.
Please pray that she will be shielded from fear and that Megan and I will have all the wisdom, love and courage that we need to support her, Liam and one another.
The way ahead (as we see it today).
As of today Courts is in hospital receiving antibiotics and cortisone to clear the infection in her eye. She cannot have the surgery for the tumor until the doctor is certain that there will be no cross infection. Her eye is looking so much better today and so our neurosurgeon has scheduled to meet with the three of us tomorrow morning at 9am and then to do the surgery on the 15th of September.
Naturally an oncologist will do tests to determine what further treatment is necessary (if any). It is difficult to say what that treatment will involve. It may be that the surgery is enough, it may be that she needs radiation treatment or something else.
God's faithfulness.
We are so grateful for God's abundant mercy and grace. We know that we are experiencing what Romans 8.28 says, "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him". If Courtney did not have a cold, and did not pick up the infection behind her eye (as painful as it is), she would never have gone for the MRI and we may only have discovered this tumor too late.
Now, we have a great sense of God's love and peace. An abiding scripture over the last few days has been Lamentations 3:21-25 which says:
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him". The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him..."
Thank you for your friendship and care! Please remember to pray for Courtney and for us. I'm afraid that we don't have the time to return all the calls and text messages we receive, please do feel free to leave any messages here and we will make sure to share them with Courts at the appropriate time.
God bless,
Dion, Megan, Courtney and Liam
Reader Comments (40)
Our thoughts and prays are with all of you right now. All our love Janine and Jonathan
Dion, all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. Thank God for your faithfulness. He carries Courtney in the palm of His hand. He'll bring all of you through it. Yours in Christ, Ally B.
Dion, thank you for sharing this, I will be praying for you all.
Hey guys, thanks for the details and keeping us up todate on Courts, we both hope and believe that all will be well and that soon enough will see her and you guys and dish out some hugs all round, not a minute goes by that we not thinking and praying for you. You can tell my niece her Uncle is on his way come and give her a big kiss :-))
Meegs, D, Liam and Courts know you are in our thoughs and prayers, dammit it is tough been so far away.
Lots of Love, Craig and Kath
Holding you all in prayer.
Dear Dion and family, we are praying for all of you and for the doctors who are helping Courtney. I have also asked family members and friends to pray for Courtney. May God give all of you the strength that you need to get through this.
Love and prayers from Michigan, USA...
John and Laura Hice
My thoughts and prayers are with you. xx
banish fear, Lord
hold your child
may Your being
and her being
together bring peace
Immanuel
Amen
Murray & Gina & Emma & Baby B
Thank you for sharing this information with us, so that we can talk positively and also pray focusing on the problem. My thoughts are with you, Megan and of course Courts and also not forgetting little Liam. I will be praying for you and will also forward this to some prayer groups that I belong to. God is so great and He never lets His children down! Love and hugs to all of you!
We are confident that Jahweh-Ropheka (The Lord your Healer) will do far above what we can pray or imagine!! Praise be to God!
Much love!!
Rainer, Charmaine, JJ and Charai
Dion and Megan
This came as a shock to us, and we will definitely mobilize the prayer army here in Kona. We serve an awesome Father and He is faithful. We pray for miraculous and speedy healing.
We love you guys
Athol, Debbie, Christie and Joshua
Hi Megs and D
May you all continue to be blessed. Be strong guys! Please remember we are just down the road ANYTHING no matter how small!!! May you all be so strong today and continue to take this in your stride. We will all continue to pray for you Courts! You are a very special little princess and we love you lots! Be strong big Girl we are very proud of you. Lots of Love Uncle Greg Aunty Shirley Reece and Jade xxxxx
Dion, thanks for sharing. God Bless you and your family.
Dearest Dion and Megan
We are so sorry to hear of this news. However we praise God for being the greatest healer. We certainly will keep you in our prayers for your peace of mind, for the tremendous skills of doctors and nursing staff, for healing for Courtney and that she will understand that all is being done to make her better.
Lots of love
Renny and Alec
Dear Megan and Dion
We are shocked to read this news. Our thoughts and prayers will be with your family and your team of doctors over this time. Please tell Courts that we are thinking of her and sending our love and wishes for healing and recovery!
Love
Charlene, John and Jenna
Praying for you guys
Dion/Megan
I'm speachless. I will cry with you before the Lord.
Gert
To His Faithful Servants Dion and Megs
We believe that Our Awesome God will Heal Courtney beyond expectation!!! In spite of all that has been thrown at your family lately you have remained Faithful and in Awe of our Powerful God and you will be rewarded! His is our Comforter and Provider and He is our Father who Loves us and Will carry us through ALL trials. Please know we are here for you and if there is ANYTHING at all we can do - you just need to shout! We will continue to pray for strength for your family and Amazing Comfort and Peace for Courts! Lotsa Luv The Collier Clan
Dear Dion and Megan
Our God works ALL things together for good and NOTHING can separate you and Courts and Liam from HIs love . He is able to do more than we can even think of - He is greater than this situation. I pray very specially for the peace which passes all human understanding to fill your hearts and minds now. May you be able to surrender yourselves to God and His ways and thus experience His quiet and peace, even in this overwhelming and frightening situation. I undertake to fast and pray for Court's full recovery.
Hi Dion and Megan
Just want to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please tell Courtney that our Courtney sends her love.We trust that she will get better!
We can claim that in Jesus' Name
God Bless you all
Love from Francois , Lydia ,Sean and Courtney ( In Australia)
You are all in my prayers. Lots of love to you, Keryn.
Dear Dion, Megs & Courtney & Liam,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Please give Courts a huge love from us all. We are hoping for good news after the appointment...
Love the Forsters
Dear Dion,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Karin
Hi D,
So sorry to hear this about Courtney. Know that you are all in our prayers and thoughts. strength to you all, Friend!
Grace
John