Gamma Knife Procedure

The gamma knife procedure will take place June 12th. We are disappointed that it was pushed back another week, but we really don't have any say in the matter.

Keith was able to work a few hours yesterday and today. Please pray that he will continue to be able to work. Pray that while he is at work that he will be able to focus and his pain will be minimal.

Keith's brother, his wife and our niece are coming on Thursday. Please pray that God will grant them safe travels.

Keith's parents left for home this morning. Please pray that they will make it safely home to Tennessee. It has been wonderful to have so much help. Pray for us as we adjust to being on our own with Lincoln.

Speaking of Lincoln, he is doing really well. He is still not very interested in breastfeeding, but other than that he is a good baby. For the most part, he only cries when he is hungry. At night he eats and then usually goes right back to sleep. Though he sleeps a lot, we do get to see his eyes every now and then. We call him the "one eyed pirate" because often looks around with one eye open and one eye closed.

The next few weeks are going to be hard as we wait to start the treatment process. Once you know something is wrong, you want to start fixing it right away. It is frustrating to have to wait. Pray that our spirits will remain hopeful. It is my prayer that God will plant a hedge around us and protect us from satan's attacks. Pray that God will grant us with the tools that we need to make it through this time of waiting. Pray that we will use this time to enjoy Lincoln.

The neurosurgeon agreed with the neuroradiologist, so Keith will have the gamma knife procedure done sometime in June. The two doctors have to check their schedules and make sure that the machine is available before they can set a date. We were really hoping that Keith could have the procedure done June 7th, but the neurosurgeon isn't available that day. Pray that their schedules will coincide and the machine will be available as soon as possible.

Keith met with the neuroradiologist today. He wants to use the gamma knife to target the spot on Keith's brain. The neuroradiologist wants the opinion of the neurosurgeon, so Keith has an appointment with the neurosurgeon tomorrow. The neurosurgeon will make the final call on whether to do surgery or use the gamma knife for the spot on the brain. Once the spot on the brain has been treated, Keith will start chemo. Though no date has been determined yet, it will probably start in early June.

Please pray that God will bless the doctors with the knowledge and wisdom that they need as they treat Keith. Pray that Keith's body will react well to the treatment and that God will remove the cancer from Keith's body. Pray that Keith will feel well enough to work in the meantime. The doctor gave him some new pain medicine to try. Pray that the medicine will not make him overly drowsy or nauseous.

Lincoln's Visit to the Doctor

Lincoln had a good report. The doctor said that his coloring looked better. All that sunbathing by the window paid off. : ) He has also gained weight. We will go back next week for a two week check up.

We've decided that Lincoln is "living the good life." It's not often that the doctor tells you to get some sun and eat as much as you can.

On another note, Keith is going to Baylor to meet with several doctors today. He hasn't been feeling well. Please pray that he will feel better this afternoon.

Keith is currently at work trying to figure out the pratical side of this. As you know, insurance stuff is always a mess. His petition for short term disability was denied because he hasn't worked for the company for a year, and the previous treatment that he had is considered a preexisting condition. He started working there June 6th. We think he might be able to resubmit the petition once he has worked there a year. According to the person he spoke to this morning, we don't think it would be considered a preexisting condition if we could make it to June 6th.

Please pray that we can get the answers that we need. Pray that there will be a simple solution to this. It is just one more thing to worry about. I feel like we are already at the end of our rope.

Trip to M.D. Anderson

I talked to Keith briefly today. It looks like the trial at M.D. Anderson is probably not going to be our best option. This trial is focusing on brain tumors. Keith has other areas of concern as well, so we will continue searching for other treatment options.

Keith has an appointment with the neurosurgeon and the neuroradiologist on Thursday. He will also meet with his oncologist. All of these doctors are located at Baylor. Please pray that they will present some viable treatment options. Also pray that Keith and his mom will be able to absorb the information that is discussed.

On a lighter note, Lincoln is looking better. His bilirubin level has already gone down some. He is doing really well with the bottle. He will go to the doctor on Thursday for a follow up.

The Latest on Lincoln

We took Lincoln to the doctor today. He has jaundice. We are supposed to expose him to as much indirect sunlight as possible between now and tomorrow. We will take him back to get another blood test done tomorrow around noon. He has also lost too much weight, so we are going to start using formula as well as breast milk. Please pray that Lincoln's bilirubin level will be better tomorrow. I really don't want to put him back in the hospital.

Keith will be going to Houston with my parents today. Please pray that they will have a safe trip. He had to take some pain medicine last night for the first time in a while. (Thankfully, God blessed him with very little pain the past few days.) Please pray that God will lessen the pain once again on Tuesday, so that he will be clear headed as he speaks to the doctor at M.D. Anderson. Keith is going to fly home Tuesday night, so we would also appreciate you praying for a safe return.

Hopefully Keith will get to meet with the doctors at Baylor this week as well. Please pray that God will bless us with wisdom as we make decisions regarding Keith's treatment. It is my prayer that God will make it clear to us which road we should take.

We are continuing to adjust to having little Lincoln around. He is such a wonderful blessing! We have been blessed to have my parents and now Keith's parents around to help. Please pray that Lincoln will get the eating thing down.

Home Sweet Home

We've almost been home for 24 hours. Life is pretty good. Lincoln seems to be a good baby. We are still working on the breastfeeding business, but that is to be expected. He loves to be swaddled! He is tolerating Max (our dog) pretty well. If we would let him, I think Max would lick Lincoln for hours. I am doing well. I am so glad to be out of the hospital and away from the blood pressure cuff. That was one of the most annoying things about the whole experience.

Lincoln is enjoying being spoiled by his Meme and Pops. Keith's parents will be driving down tomorrow. Please pray for a safe trip for them. The trek from Tennessee to Texas is a long one. I think the prize at the end of the journey will be worth it to them though.

Keith has an appointment Tuesday with a doctor at M.D. Anderson thanks to a friend at church. The doctor is doing a trial similar to the one that Dr. Mennel described to us at our last appointment. Unlike the trial at Baylor, this trial WILL take patients with brain tumors. We are so thankful for the opportunity to be able to meet with this docor so quickly! Please pray that doors will be opened if this is God's will.

Lincoln wasn't very happy about having to get oxygen.



"Take me to my MOOOOMMM!!!"








But later he got to go home and was quite content.

He is doing great. Now if we could just get him to sleep for more than thirty minutes at a time. We aren't sure who he looks like yet, pray that he gets his mother's looks.

- Keith

LINCOLN CHRISTOPHER MCCORD is here!!! He was born yesterday May 18, 2006 at 5:34pm. He weighed 8 pounds even and was 19 inches long. He had some intial problems with his breathing, but now he is doing great. He may come home today, but if not today, then tomorrow. We will posts some images as soon as we can ( I accidentally left the camera at the hospital ).

- Keith

Keith talked to the oncologist. We did not get the news that we were hoping for. The radiologist said that there is a growth on Keith's brain. Dr. Mennel is going to meet further with the neurosurgeon and the neuroradiologist. He is looking into another trial that Keith might qualify for. We are supposed to call the doctor back once Lincoln is born.

-Please pray for all of the doctors who are involved in Keith's case. Pray that they will have wisdom. Pray that God will bring them the knowledge that they need in order to provide him the best care.
-Pray that we will continue to have hope despite this discouraging news.
-Pray that the delivery will go well, and that Lincoln will be healthy. Please pray that we can take time to enjoy this wonderful gift that God has blessed us with.
-Pray for safe travels for my parents and Keith's parents.

The Latest

We met with the oncologist this morning. He was hopeful, which was very encouraging to Keith and me. Though he glanced at Keith's scans, he wants to review them with a radiologist and a neuroradiologist before making any treatment recommendations. There is a questionable area in Keith's brain. Dr. Mennel does not feel that it is melanoma, but the radiologist will know for sure. The treatment options are much more promising if the melanoma is not in his brain. We are supposed to call at 10 tomorrow to see what the radiologists think. Please, please, please pray that the spots that showed up on the MRI are nothing!

We have decided to go ahead and have Lincoln early. We will go in at midnight tomorrow, and I will start taking pills. The doctor will come in Thursday morning and get things started. Please pray that the delivery goes as smoothly as possible. Also pray that Keith will not need to take his pain medicine because it makes him very tired.

We really appreciate your prayers! Our God is faithful, and He is taking care of us. We went into the appointment today fearing the worst, but we left the appointment with a sense of hope. We actually got some sleep last night too, which is a feat in itself. : )

Baby Lincoln

I went to the doctor this morning. Lincoln is doing fine. I am 2-3 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. (It's amazing what stress can do to move things along.) My doctor said that she is willing to take him early. She has an opening on Thursday. We are on the list. Tomorrow's news will help us in making a decision as to whether or not we want to be induced.

Please pray for wisdom. We want to make the best possible choice. Everything seems to be moving so quickly. We are both extremely overwhelmed with everything that is going on. We are also going to ask Keith's oncologist about saving the cord blood. It is costly, but if there is any way that it could save Keith's life, it is well worth the cost. Pray that we get good advice.

I am overwhelmed with the number of people who have responded in such a short amount of time through e-mail or the blog. Thank you for your prayers! I know that God has heard your cries. It is a great comfort to know that so many people are lifting us up to Him!

Keith's Cancer is Back

Keith had a CT scan on Friday, and his cancer is back. The scan showed that the cancer is in his spleen, liver and hip bone. He is going to have an MRI and a bone scan today. We will meet with the oncologist on Tuesday. The prognosis is not good as you can probably imagine.

We are begging for your prayers! We know that God can heal Keith completely. We are praying that the scans that Keith does today will be clean of any cancer. If this is not God's will, we are praying that God will reveal a treatment option.

I am going to try to be very specific about our prayer requests. Right now, we need you to pray for the following things:
-Keith's scans- We are praying that they will show no cancer, and that this will enable us to share our faith with the doctors.
-Stephanie's doctor's appointment- Pray that Lincoln is still doing okay. I know that all this stress can't be good for him. I am also going to talk to the doctor about the possibility of taking him early.
-the oncologist appointment on Tuesday- First and foremost, we are praying that he will be able to offer hope. Both of us are scared that he will just send us home with no treatment options. Pray for Dr. Mennal to have wisdom and that God will grant him the knowledge to help Keith in the best way possible.
-restful sleep-Neither one of us are sleeping very well right now.
-Please pray that Keith will remain hopeful about his future.

I think that is all for now. I am going to do my best to update as often as possible.

A Little Too Comfortable

Well, I just got back from the doctor. I haven't made any progress. I think Lincoln is a little too comfortable in there. I told him that I promise to hold him once he's out, but he seems to prefer where he is currently. Oh well, at least one of us is comfortable.

Tomorrow is our field day at school. Hopefully it won't be too hot! I'm planning on doing a lot of sitting. Maybe I should participate in the events after all and get this show on the road. : )