MRI & Washington Post

Hi Friends

The story in the Post "Optimism Tinged With a Dose of Reality" was bit disappointing as the focus was mostly on the clinical side of things and not on our faith, the treasure Micah is right now or the miracle that he is alive. My title would have been
"Hope Lives- A Journey through the Valley".

The "pawing at his skull" as the Post reported was not viewed as self discovery to us but a true concern, which was one of the factors that lead us to pursue an appt with a neurologist. We had an appt set up with a neurologist per Dr Niu's recommendation for Jan 22 (a week after the tumor was found). I never dissmissed the idea of a brain tumor, but did feel I was been a bit paranoid. Luke & I would go to sleep praying that the Lord would help us and give the doctors wisdom to know what was going on with Micah.
"The stakes haven't changed for us," we are more secure in our faith, love and our mighty God now then we have ever been. God has comforted us greatly this year and grown us more in 12 months than in our entire 6 years of marriage. Micah's cancer will not be wasted in life or in death. He has brought great glory to God and his little life will continue to do so no matter what awaits...
His cancer is deadly and the statistics staggering. But our prayer for our little man is that he grow to serve this church and this community who has served and cared for him so well. And until a differently path is made clear this will be the aim and the hope of our prayers.
We will continue to strive to take one day at a time, living it to the fullest and seeking to glorify God in the process.
Our interview with Julia was laced with faith and thanksgiving for the wonderful people -you- who have served so well. We spoke of mom & dad staying with Micah every weekend so we could be with Braet and each other. Of Luke's parents taking Braet to give him a fun break, of Eva and Esther babysitting faithfully every week to care for Braet and others as well. Of the church bringing us meals for 6 months during treatment. That Micah's care page has been nearly 7,000 times, of emails, cards, pictures and gifts to our family.
The best part of this article was his beautiful smile with his wonderful Dadda who has selflessly served his family.

Micah will repeat his MRI but only of his spine in the next week. There is a spot they are concerned about near the back of his optical nerves. The spot of concern did not absorb the MRI dye which means the spot is not drawing blood from outside of the brain (a good thing) but they would like to further investigate it and see what is going on. It may be tissue just rearranging as the brain moves back into position. Tomorrow he will have a Spinal Tap to see if there are cancer cells in his spine. Again your prayers are coveted. There is no greater kindness and how kind you have been to us! We thank you so!
Tomorrow is never guaranteed for Micah or for any of us and during this Christmas we are enjoying our family and celebrating the miracle of Jesus being born to die to take away our sin and give us hope and a future. The grave is not the end! Praise the Lord!
All our Love!
Luke & Kriscinda Braet, Micah & Cianne

Washington Post Story
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/12/AR2006121201499.html

Waiting for the Results

Thanks for your prayers for our family, we are still waiting for the results and we are waiting in peace. We have had many ask how we are doing and we thank you for your concern for us as MRI time is always a temptation to be anxious. We are seeking not to put our hope in results but in the fact that the Lord is good, he has each day planned for us and hold us in his hands. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."Jer 29:11 We also wanted to let you know that the Washington Post is running a story on Micah tomorrow. Again thank you for your prayers and thoughts!
Love, Luke & Kriscinda Braeton, Micah & CC

PS There's a pic from our lastest family night where the kiddos acted out the Nativitty, what fun and they all looked so cute!

Prayer Request

Hi Friends!
All is well at the Davis household! CC just had her latest sono and the tech said her kidneys look great, so we will hear the official word from the Doc on Mon. But we were so grateful to the Lord. Also we would love to ask for your prayers- Micah is having an MRI at 7:30, Mon (12/11) morning and his pick line with come out then. MRI are always a source of temptation for our hearts so we would truly appreciate your prayers.
Right now he is going to Children's and will begin having a blood draw only once a month. We are so enjoying our little ones and the season. We have have had some great family nights together from painting gift bags to having our own manger scene (what a sight!)

Thanks again for your prayers for our family, it is so appreciated!
Will write again as soon as we hear from the docs. Thanks!
Love
Luke & Kriscinda
Braeton, Micah & CC

Latest Low Down

The Latest Low Down Since Last Time!

Hello All!
Since we've last chatted...
-My Dad has undergone open heart surgery for a double bypass
-Cianne is 6 months old ---Oh how time does fly!
-Braet is preparing for pre-school -here with me
- And Micah is finished with potassium (he had been getting that though his pic line, iv the last few months)! Hip Hip Hooray! His levels are now coming back to normal so they are taking him off of it and we are praying that his potassium levels stay normal. * The new concern is that now that he doesn't need his pic line- how long can he keep it? The docs said they are fine with it in for now. They draw blood from this once every other week and it is alot of blood for a little guy, so I hope he can keep it for a while longer to make his blood draws easy.

Well that's about all. The kiddos are all growing so quickly-- too quickly! The doctors are talking about speech therapy for Micah (he is a little behind for his age) but we'll see what happens there- he is sure trying to repeat everything his big brother says- even telling on himself, "Momma, Micah's doing such & such." =)

Thanks for your continued care for our family! It is great to be back to kinda "normal" life. We have enjoyed the fall so much, making lots of memories! And now Luke is off to Key West for business this week. He hasn't had to travel in nearly a year, his bosses are fanstastic! So the kids and I are off to do some visting with Maw & Paw!

Happy Thanksgiving! And oh what we have to be thankful for! Life- Micah with us, what a miracle! Lots of love, friends, our Lord Jesus, his love, mercy & peace more real than ever before! How the list is endless!
Love to All,
Luke & Kriscinda, Braeton, Micah and Cianne

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;For you will not abandon my soul. You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps 16:9 & 11

Up Coming:
-Next MRI is scheduled for Dec 13 at 10am. Please pray for peace (it is always an added temptation to be anxious with the MRI) and that there would be no returning of the tumor.

PS
For the Baby Dedication on Nov 19th we are changing the location of the "Open House" due to space. Jay & Abby Price have graciously offered their place at 416 Belle Grove Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Time: 1:30-5:30

****Side note *** Please feel no obligation to bring a gift for Micah & CC- our kiddos don't need a thing, just your company! However if you would like to give something please check out Children's "Wish List" or the attachment. http://www.dcchildrens.com/dcchildrens/volunteering/toy.aspx

The Latest Low Down Since Last Time

The Latest Low Down Since Last Time!
Hello All! Since we've last chatted... -My Dad has undergone open heart surgery for a double bypass -Cianne is 6 months old ---Oh how time does fly! -Braet is preparing for pre-school -here with me - And Micah is finished with potassium (he had been getting that though his pic line, iv the last few months)! Hip Hip Hooray! His levels are now coming back to normal so they are taking him off of it and we are praying that his potassium levels stay normal. * The new concern is that now that he doesn't need his pic line- how long can he keep it? The docs said they are fine with it in for now. They draw blood from this once every other week and it is alot of blood for a little guy, so I hope he can keep it for a while longer to make his blood draws easy. Well that's about all. The kiddos are all growing so quickly-- too quickly! The doctors are talking about speech therapy for Micah (he is a little behind for his age) but we'll see what happens there- he is sure trying to repeat everything his big brother says- even telling on himself, "Momma, Micah's doing such & such." =) Thanks for your continued care for our family! It is great to be back to kinda "normal" life. We have enjoyed the fall so much, making lots of memories! And now Luke is off to Key West for business this week. He hasn't had to travel in nearly a year, his bosses are fanstastic! So the kids and I are off to do some visting with Maw & Paw! Happy Thanksgiving! And oh what we have to be thankful for! Life- Micah with us, what a miracle! Lots of love, friends, our Lord Jesus, his love, mercy & peace more real than ever before! How the list is endless!
Love to All, Luke & Kriscinda, Braeton, Micah and Cianne

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;For you will not abandon my soul. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps 16:9 & 11 Up

Coming: -Next MRI is scheduled for Dec 13 at 10am. Please pray for peace (it is always an added temptation to be anxious with the MRI) and that there would be no returning of the tumor.
PS For the Baby Dedication on Nov 19th we are changing the location of the "Open House" due to space. Jay & Abby Price have graciously offered their place at 416 Belle Grove Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Time: 1:30-5:30 ****Side note *** Please feel no obligation to bring a gift for Micah & CC- our kiddos don't need a thing, just your company! However if you would like to give something please check out Children's "Wish List" or the attachment. http://www.dcchildrens.com/dcchildrens/volunteering/toy.aspx

Baby Dedication

Hi Friends!
Just wanted to let you all know about Micah & Cianne's Baby Dedication and open the invite you to all. As we are traveling this road with you and you have meant so much. November 19th, 11:30 am at Covenant Life Church. Love to All, Luke & Kriscinda, Braeton, Micah, Cianne Micah Eric & Cianne Dawn on Sunday, November 19, 11:30 am at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. We will be having an open house after the service with light hor´dourves.Please feel free to join us! 19923 Spur Hill, Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 240-683-6303 Behold children are a gift from the Lord. PS 127:3

Low Dose Chemo

Hey All,
We are through the first 21 days of chemo with minimal side effects. Thank the Lord! This week Micah started his new regimen which is milder than the meds he was on for the first 3 weeks. His counts are even above 5000 ~this is the very first time in 10 months that his counts have been this high! We had lots of check ups this week and all of them went well... except for Luke's "unplanned" visit... You guys just know how much we love the ER and we can't seem to stay away... (are we "High Risk" yet?!) So since we missed it so much, Luke and I decided to go visit Thurs night at about 8pm. Fun date night! Luke was taking out the trash and went to push the bags down, it was then that he was cut by a sweet potato can. Blood dripping through the house...Okay, I think you got it. Off to Shady Grove... A few mins. of the football game, a great nurse, an hour & 1/2 later with 4 stitches and a nice big bandage, we came home and crashed! =) But the kiddos appts. went well....Cianne had her first appt. for hydronephrosis, the docs say it is very mild and as of right now they just want to repeat the sonogram and monitor her progress. Micah had blood draws and a regular check-up at Children's, the doctors were all very pleased with how well he's doing. So are we!! We've been pretty busy lately, enjoying some fun treats! We had the privilege of sharing and thanking the awesome volunteers at Children's at their annual Volunteers Appreciation Banquet. Braet even sang (with the other kids on stage)! The fam also went to a Caps game, compliments of Olie the Goaly (his son has Autism and he donates lots of tickets to Children's) and Braet got to ride on the Zamboni!! We have so been enjoying the fall and our family! We love being back at church and of course being home together! One other great update....for those of you who know my dad, he had a stage 3 brain tumor in 2001 and here we are 5 years later- looking good! Dad (Chris Miller) also had a doc appt this week. The doc looked over his MRI and said, "Do you know what a blessed man you are? You have come a long way from when we first began. Your brain is doing some healing." How great is the Lord?! His mercies know no end! Thanks All! Thanks for all your prayers, they mean so much, you guys are great!
Much Love & Appreciation
Luke & Kriscinda, Braeton, Micah & Cianne

Charles Spurgeon "Prayer is the forefunner of mercy. Turn to sacred history, and you will find that scarcely ever did a great mercy come to this world unheralded by supplication. You have found this true in your own personal experinece. God has given you many an unsolicited favour, but still great prayer has always been the prelude of great mercy with you...Prayer is thus connected with the blessing to show us the value of it. If we had the blessings without asking for them, we should think them common things; but prayer makes our mercies more precious than diamonds. The things we ask for are precious, but do not realize their preciousness until we have sought for them earnestly."