Fighting for Cody's mind and body's restoration

Dear Family and Friends,

There are no words to fully describe our emotions to the events of the past week and a half. We have cried from the depths of our souls.... and have been blessed with renewed strength and peace. Just when we think we have gone through the worst of this....there seems to be something new and even more profound around the corner. We went from fighting cancer to fighting to get Cody's mind and body restored.

June 27, Cody, all of the sudden was unable to talk. What did come out of his mouth was garbled. He was trying to communicate, but could not. Within a couple of days, he could not talk at all. We have had a CAT scan, then a couple of MRI's to check neurologically what the problem might be. Nothing on the tests give us answers as to the cause.... he had some fluids on his brain and there is some inflammation in the veins in his brain....but they do not know why. The inflammation is not in an area of the brain that would normally affect speech.

The neurosurgeon put a shunt in to alleviate any fluid pressure thinking this could resolve the problem....to give it a couple of days.(that was done 7/3) There was no change. All of the doctors are stumped. A neurologist, neurosurgeon, Oncologist's, Infection Disease Doctor are all scratching there heads. There is no immediate answer. They gave him steroids to minimize the inflammation and antibiotics to ward of any potential infections and decreased pain medication considerably as to not mask anything neurological. Because he had no improvement, it was decided to do a biopsy of brain tissue to expedite answers to the cause so it could be treated more effectively more quickly. That was done 7/7. Surgery went well. It appears there are no tumors in his brain. Thankful for that. They will test for cancer cells..so we pray there are none.

As of this afternoon there were no positive cultures of bacteria or infections on his brain. However, some culture testing takes days, some take weeks. They are testing everything under the sun. In the process of elimination, knowing what it isn't, we can also eliminate some of the drugs.

The doctors spoke of a similar case. A patient was in this state for 2 months, then all of the sudden regained what was lost. That is hopeful information....so we will hang on to that. We will also hang on to God's miracles...and that Cody is a fighter.

All of his vital signs and counts (blood, platelet etc.) are good. He looks good..........when he opens his eyes, we can see him in there.....he hears us.....sometimes he gives us a glimmer of a response We read to him, include him in conversations, play soothing music, exercise his arms and legs, massage his body (he seems to like that a lot), allow only positive attitudes and positive things to be said around him. He listens and responds to exercising his body....so like I said, he is there...things go in, things just don't go out.

Will update you with progress. Thank you for your fervent prayers for complete restoration of Cody's body and mind.

The Days