PRAYERS needed for Gabriel

Prayers for Gabriel



Ok - I know LOTS Of you are around the world - please share this with a LOT of people - we need as many prayers as we can get.




 Anyhow - below is the last post from Gabriel's mom - they are really in need of much needed prayers for strength and continued faith.  With ALL of this and still having a new-born at home - I know they are all exhausted.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers, and the doctors so that they can do what they need to do - its only a few short weeks away for his brain surgery.


I'm also attaching another picture of Gabe - you may have already seen it - but this is him, his perfect spirit - he is such a sweet little boy and that beautiful hair that will be shaved off.  


thanks for the support and please forward this to any prayer groups, chains, friends - etc.  The family needs them all.  As like Rebekah - I just can't go to the thought about "what if this doesn't work" - I can't imagine this little boy dying just yet.  I know God's put him here on this earth to make sure we all have faith - but its something that's hard to think about.


Thanks
Gail


So, our meeting at Children’s Hospital of Detroit did not go over very well. I am certain the surgeon is capable but it was definitely not a match for us… I didn’t like one of his procedures during surgery (many, many ways to do it) and we were not impressed with his communication. I know he’s very well known in the brain tumor world but with Chiari… not so sure. There are only a handful of expert world known surgeons that specialize in Chiari Malformation. The condition is rare and very misunderstood in many aspects. I have had to take a crash course in neurology and specifically decompression brain surgery. To the contrary, the U of M surgeon was highly impressive. After two consults with each… we chose Dr. Maher at U of M.

Gabriel’s brain surgery is scheduled for March 21st starting at 7:30 a.m. at Mott’s Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. We are currently working out the details.

I think every day is challenging for us… the anticipation of it all, fear of the unknown, constant second guessing if we’re doing the right thing and if we’ve picked the right doctor, envisioning the day, shaving his head, the pain he will endure, and the days to follow and so on… I think one of the hardest parts of it all is that this surgery may not work which could potentially require several more and possibly a spinal surgery. The doctor’s do not know if this surgery will shrink the syrinx in his spine. Sometimes it does… and sometimes it doesn’t. Even with the best possible scenario there is a very good chance this surgery will have to be repeated when he gets older and what is more overwhelming, is the fact that in a few more months we will be doing the same exact thing…Removing his spleen without knowing if it will help his blood condition and monthly transfusions. They call it a “blind splenectomy” we have no other alternative to this procedure at this time. He cannot continue to go on like this. The iron will eventually damage his liver and/or heart. I received this e-mail from the expert in Boston just the other day as I begged him for an alternative to a “blind spleen removal”;

“There is, unfortunately, no way to know if splenectomy would help. But, it seems clear that something has to be done, and among the options it is one of the least harmful. I would feel much more comfortable about removing it if it were large. The fact that it isn't makes me worry that it isn't responsible for most of the red cell destruction.”

Dr. Lux, Children’s Hospital of Boston

It may seem like I’m being a little negative and hopeless and maybe I am but this is reality. It is truly unbelievable when I think of what has transpired in the last 2 ½ years. When I think of his first year of life and there was nothing wrong with him to our knowledge… to this. He looked at his baby pictures today and I couldn’t help but think about that first year and how we didn’t know what was ahead… I would do it over and over for him though. There is something special about Gabriel… he’s no ordinary kid.

So, as we’re feeling overwhelmed with brain surgery, splenectomy, iron overload, toxic daily med’s and most important loosing Gabriel’s beautiful spirit… all we can do is take it one day at a time, make his life as normal as possible and beg God for wisdom, strength and to ultimately spare his life. I have an empty feeling in my stomach daily and I keep reminding myself that he’s okay… he’s here and nothing’s going to happen to him. But what if it does? I can’t go there and I just ask God to protect him. I remember being terrified at Spring Hill a couple years ago to jump off the plank and fly in the air on the zip cord. I just ran and did it without even thinking about it. The girls that were with me couldn’t believe I didn’t hesitate since I was afraid. That’s kinda how I’m feeling now… Running full force and jumping off the edge without even thinking. I don’t really have any other choice and when people ask me how I do it… that’s what I tell them. Maybe one day I’ll have a beautiful testimony, for now, I’m just surviving.

Another blood transfusion is around the corner. Thanks Alex for donating for Gabriel, one less risk for him! Thanks for reading, caring, praying and loving Gabe and our family. I appreciate your comments in his guestbook and everything else you do!
The Adler’s