Z Corley Family in Florida

Just got confirmation that I’ll be taking Alexandria to a neurologist appointment this afternoon, so they can turn off her VNS device in preparation for her MRI later tonight.

The MRI will be a standard 30-minute brain scan, and will allow the doctors to see what has happened since September, when her last MRI showed a spherical-shaped mass in the left hemisphere of her brain.

We are very excited about this MRI especially because:

1. We’ve felt led by God to pray for supernatural healing over the last month, and …
2. The recent SPECT scan results showed the doctors almost the opposite of what they were expecting to see …

Thank you for your support and encouragement as our family continues to simply walk the road that God lays out in front of us.
… and we’ll update this site when we hear more!

This is more than just an Easter video. I just previewed this online and was so encouraged and strengthened by the message. I hope it inspires you, too:

HAPPY EASTER!

- Andy

p.s. We are still trying to work out scheduling for Alexandria’s next MRI at Arnold-Palmer Hospital (this seems to be a very busy time right now). Please pray for coordination between our neurologists’ offices, MRI techs, and general scheduling obstacles. And please join us in asking Father to show clear direction from this MRI — either to show indisputable evidence of His healing hand at work, or to indicate that brain surgery is our next step …

p.p.s. Also, as you consider what God is doing — and as He brings Scripture to mind — will you please use the comment box below to share those specific passages with us? Thank you so much!

Alex's EEG at Arnold-Palmer Hospital (2/16/2010) ... click above for more hospital pics.

Everything is going good with Alex’s tests here at Arnold Palmer Hospital. Alex doesn’t like all the probes and electrode gel in her hair, but she’s found plenty of TV shows that she likes.

Alex’s neurologist Dr. Davis has been by twice to check up on us and explain a few things — and his associate Kay, too. And Alex’s neurosurgeon Dr. Pattisapu‘s partner Dr. Johnson has also stopped by to familiarize herself with Alex and the challenges that we’re considering here.

The best news that we’ve heard so far is that the monitoring is showing that all five of Alex’s seizures last night were originating from the exact same area — right where the pingpong-ball-sized mass is located in her brain.

So the plan is to stay a little longer tomorrow (Wednesday) after the 48-hour EEG and do a fresh MRI of Alex’s brain. Then Dr. Davis will schedule an outpatient “neoro-psych” evaluation, where Alex will be asked all kinds of questions to get a good base-line of what cognitive skills she has right now, to compare with what might be “lost” after surgery.

This is of course very sobering, but it’s good to see all the doctors taking a very measured approach to the surgery option … studying to see what strengths and weaknesses Alex has now (weaknesses including seizures every day) … so we can work toward an outcome that will benefit her most. For example, it would be acceptable for Alex to end up with a few speech issues to work through after surgery if the surgery completely stops the seizures!

So that’s the kind of thing that we’re considering right now as we look forward to the day when Alex will be able to run and play — and even one day drive a car! … without seizures. So we thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers on our behalf!

Dr. Ron Davis of Pediatric Neurology, PA

I know, it’s been a long time. So here’s a quick update on what’s going on with Alex.

We talked to Alexandria’s doctors last month and found out that their new, advanced brain-scanning and monitoring equipment had not yet been installed at Arnold-Palmer Hospital. So that’s the main hold-up. But we weren’t too disappointed with that news because it has given us some time to just enjoy the holidays.

So for now, we’re just waiting for Alex’s next appointment in a couple weeks to find out what new time-line Dr. Davis and Dr. Pattisapu would like to follow. And in the meantime, Alex will continue taking her anti-seizure medication three times a day — and we pray that the seizures remain mostly under control.

Both of Alex’s appointments last week went very well. One was with the neurosurgeon Dr. Pattisapu, and the other was with her pediatric neurologist Dr. Davis. And both specialists are very confident that the best thing for Alex is to move forward with the more invasive testing in a couple months.

So right now we are preparing Alex for that time by changing Alex’s medicines & dosages around to better control her seizures. And so far, the changes seem to be working.

Then, in about a month we will meet again with Dr. Davis to begin planning for the procedure that they are calling an “fMRI with grid” … meaning “functional MRI” (an MRI to watch for specific patterns related to motor function), while applying a “grid” of sensors directly on the surface of her brain.

And that testing will give MUCH more detail and accuracy as to exactly what is happening with Alex’s seizures … and whether the mass that they found in her brain is causing the seizures and/or if it can be surgically removed.

Scary stuff when you start talking about brain surgery on a 10-year-old daughter! But it is in God’s hands, and Kristi and I are both resting in the understanding that SO MANY things have come together supernaturally to get us to this decision point right now.

And we know that all the doors are wide open right now for us to simply walk through … of course with many, many prayers for Alex’s safety and specialized care.