Two Super Heroes

            And then, there’s the story that stops you in your tracks.

            Let me introduce you to Dale and Janet M.  They’re in their late 40’s, have been married 27 years, have three children, two grandchildren and love the Lord.  Remember this as you read their story. 

Janet and Dale

            One of their daughters got married in December 2012 and when queried as to when medical issues began, they agree that it was likely some time around the wedding that the first signs were noted.  There was some confusion and “just not being herself”.

            Janet is the patient; Dale is the care-giver.  As we’ve found to be the case frequently, Janet is not accustomed to the being the patient and she has a difficult time with this status. 

Dale has had heart problems all his life and Janet has been his care-giver.

            But, in July, 2013, this changed in a very serious way.  Janet was getting ready for work one day and her physical condition and manner concerned Dale enough to take her to the emergency room.  The visit progressed to a CAT scan.  When the doctor came back to the examination room he said, “Well, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Janet, you have a tumor the size of a lemon on top of your brain.”  And if that’s not enough, it is bleeding and the brain is beginning to swell! 

After another CAT scan later that night, the neurosurgeon came in to tell them that the tumor had herniated and she now had an uncal herniated tumor, caused by the bleeding.  This was actually a “good thing” as the other diagnosis would have been a brain stem herniation and she would probably have died that night.

So, to relieve the pressure building up inside her skull, the surgeons removed entire frontal portion of her skull from an inch above her eyebrows, to the top middle of her head and to her ears.  Within four days, she was off the ventilator, recognizing and talking to everyone she could and feeding herself.  You know the prayers were being lifted up!

A couple of nights later, Janet got out of bed to visit the restroom and she fell and the brain began bleeding again.  And again, within four days, she was up, walking around and feeding herself!  After 13 more days in the hospital, she went home with a diagnosis of a grade three (3) oligoastrocytoma (say that one a few times quickly!!).  And there was no way the neurosurgeon could perform surgery as Janet would not survive.

Within a couple of weeks the doctors had begun a radiation and chemo regime.  Janet and Dale had to drive back and forth from their home in Rome, GA for the first week, but were blessed to have a room here at the Hope Lodge by the second week.  As further testimony to the benefits of the lodge, they sincerely and honestly say they don’t know how they would have made it through all this without the lodge.  (Thank you American Cancer Society!).

The doctors tell Janet and Dale that the prognosis is terminal.  Janet and Dale are working overtime with God and believe a miraculous healing is coming.  If you are inclined to prayer, please lift them up!!

It is absolutely stupefying how wonderful Janet and Dale’s attitudes and countenance remain through all of this.  They are kind and friendly to all they meet, and full of humor.  They laugh, a lot!  And they are two of the sweetest individuals you could ever meet! 

And a lot of love...