Please add the 11-year old nephew of Robert Martin, Nathan Schmitz, to your daily thoughts and prayers. He has been diagnosed with a brain tumor (don’t know if its malignant or not) and will be on the way to Atlanta to meet with a pediatric neurosurgeon. Please remember, Nathan and his family (Robert’s sister and brother-in-law) in your daily thoughts and prayers. May God be with Nathan and his family.
Update 11/7/2008:
Subject: Message from Leigh Ann-Nathan
First, let us say thank you! Thank you! Thank you to all! We can not possibly say thank you enough for your prayers for our family, and for getting the word out to your friends and family so quickly so they can be praying too. The love and support we feel is overwhelming and humbling. If this is the first time you are hearing about Nathan getting diagnosed with a brain tumor this past Monday we apologize for catching you off guard, but ask that you please join with those already praying for him.
Our visit in Atlanta on Tuesday went extremely well. God definitely went before us to make our path straight and to guide us. We met with Dr. Boydston and felt very comfortable with him. We were able to converse comfortably with him, and appreciated the way he conversed with Nathan and the time he took to explain the operation/recovery to Nathan. The surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, 11-12-08, at 8:00 AM at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta with an expected 5 to 7 day stay afterwards. As far as diagnosing the tumor, Dr. Boydston would not even speculate as to what it might be because he said it could be any one of a list of things that tend to show up in that part of the brain (cerebellum) and only the pathology reports after the operation would be able to confirm the exact kind of tumor. Those findings would in turn determine the type of follow-up treatment needed.
I want to tell you these next couple of things to offer praise and testimony to the Greatness and Sovereignty of God. God’s hand has actually been in this even before Nathan was born. My older brother Terry, who is PA Anesthetist and used to work in Atlanta at Scottish Rite and Northside Hospitals years ago, has worked in the operating room with Dr. Boydston and knows him personally and professionally. Terry had nothing, but the highest regards concerning Dr. Boydstons surgical abilities/practices. Terry called the office before we arrived, but wasn’t able to talk with Dr. Boydston. After our appointment Dr. Boydston went right out and called Terry and spoke with him about meeting with us. Is that not amazing? And of course we’ve heard from a couple of you who have personally been involved with Dr. Boydston or know someone who has from a patient/Dr. perspective and you have had nothing but good things to say as well. We take all this as God’s confirmation that we are in the right place and with the right Dr. as far as the surgery goes.
The other thing we are so thankful for is the fact that it we have been able to get Nathan to this point in a rather short time frame. Dr. Boydston even questioned how we were able to get a CT Scan done so quickly with really only a symptom of vomiting with an occasional headache. He said usually the symptoms had to progress to problems with severe headaches, coordination, etc. before people thought of the head and it was amazing that we were already seeing him. Well, we serve an Amazing God!! Oh, and the reason for the vomiting is the tumor is located in the vomiting center of the brain and the pressure on that area causes Nathan to throw up.
The things we would like you to pray for are:
1) Nathan to feel well over these days before his surgery so we can have some good family time before his surgery. Yesterday he vomited a number of times throughout the day, slept a lot, and just really didn’t feel good. He has been sleeping all day today as well. Oh, I think there was some question as to whether Nathan knew about the seriousness of his situation. He does know as best as his 11 year old mind can comprehend. Pray that God will comfort him, strengthen him, and ease any fears he has.
2) For God to lead Mark and I as we make a plan for our other children during the time Nathan is in the hospital. We want their days to be as normal as possible. As most of you know I homeschool so I need to have the time and the attention span to get their lessons together so where ever they stay they will be able stay busy and to get some of their school work done.
3) We would not waiver in our trust in God and His love for us and His presence with us during the long road we know is ahead of us. We would rely on Him to be our Strength and our Calm during all this. We would continually look for His Hand in the midst of this so that we will be able to give Him praise for all He’s done, all He’s doing, and all He’s going to do. That fear would not take root in any of us and cause us to miss the joy and blessings God has for us during this time.
4) All of our family and all of you will be drawn closer to God through this experience.
Again thank you so much. Words can not express our appreciation. I know this is long, but please forward to those you know that need to be updated. At some point we may do a blog at caringbridge.org so that you can check on updates at your convenience.
With love,
Leigh Ann and Mark
Nathan, Noah, Chandler and Jacob
