Prayers for Rachel

Dear Faithful Prayer Warriors,

Thank you for your faithful prayers on behalf of our precious daughter. I hope you know how much that blesses us. We know that you have been praying but not fully understanding what you were praying for. Many of you know that Rachel has been suffering from migraine-like headaches since Christmas day; she has not had a day without headaches. I'll try to explain: We received her diagnosis on January 3, that she has a very rare brain malformation called Arnold Chiari I. The doctors believe that she has had this since she was born but for some reason the symptoms are just now becoming an issue. This was the cause for her hospitalization in February.

A Chiari Malformation means that the cerebella tonsils have moved out of the brain and are crowding the spinal cord. There is a lot of misinformation about chiari on the internet, our neurosurgeon very graciously explained that this is just how Rachel was made; it wasn't caused by genetics, or problems or exposures to harmful things during pregnancy. God made her this way for a reason...and I might add for His good purpose.

We feel blessed to have an incredible pediatric neurologist and pediatric neurosurgeon who take very good care of our daughter. Three weeks ago we traveled back for follow up brain scans and appointments with her doctors. After seeing the pediatric neurologist and pediatric neurosurgeon our family was sent home to pray through some tough decisions. We have prayerfully reached a decision that we want you to know about. Oh, it has been a decision that we didn't want to make, but we know that it is absolutely necessary. Rachel will have decompression brain surgery on Tuesday, December 15th (that was the plan originally but symptoms increased and her surgery was actually November 24th) unless the Great Physician intervenes between now and then. {My hands are shaking as I type this as this is a hard thing to wrap my heart and mind around}.

The anticipated surgery will involve making more room in her brain which will involve enlarging the opening of the posterior fossa of the skull and shaving off the backside of her c-1 vertebrae, if everything goes according to plan.This has certainly been the most agonizing and difficult decision we have ever made but amazingly His peace that passes all understanding is certainly surrounding our hearts and minds and we are thankful. We covet your prayers for our daughter. We know that she is really His child and He knows what is best for her and somehow He loves her even more than we do~which much be more than this heart of mine can begin to comprehend.

Specifically, we are pleading with the Lord to heal her completely so that surgery will not be necessary. But, if His will involves surgery, that His mighty hand would guide Dr. Roberts, that there would be absolutely no complications or problems, no spinal fluid leaks, no infections, for a full and speedy recovery time, that Rachel will continue to have full confidence and assurance in the One who knows her by name and takes great delight in her precious life, that the Lord's name would be known in this process, that her choking would be completely alleviated, and that she would be completely healed of her headaches (even though the doctor told us not to expect Rachel to be headache free after the surgery-we are believing God for this). Thank you for loving us and for your prayers. We are so blessed by you. Please, feel free to grab the Praying for Rachel button on my sidebar.