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April 14, 2020
From "Rebecca"
She gave us a smile and a thumbs up just before leaving home a little after 5 this morming... She went into surgery just before 7:30
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From "Melda"
She is out. She is being taken for a scan. Surgeons have spoken to Rebecca and Travis. Will give an update later after Rebecca calls back.
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From "Cinda"
"It's all so sobering, over and over. But big step now completed. Please know we're all with you, even so far away. We will keep imploring and trusting our Great Physician.
Big hugs and grateful tears for having made it to here. One step at a time.
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From "Rebecca"
Surgery just finished and she is stable and just moved to PICU. Surgeon said it went well and he took as much of tumor as he could possibly get (most of it he thinks) but we'll have to see how next few days go with her recovery and how pathology comes back. Said she was way more sick than she appeared with spreading and brain disease happening in a lot of places. For sure chemo start in two weeks. Said we need to prepare ourselves that she is not the same child we left them with this morning but that hopefully in months or a year from now she will be back to normal. Lucky she had symptoms last week be things were very very bad.
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April 15, 2020
From "Rebecca"
Lauren had an MRI early this morning which showed that most of the tumor has been removed and the healing process is progressing very well. She is showing good response to physical stimuli and squeezes her hand appropriately. She is off the vent just now and breathing on her own. We are encouraged. Your prayers are working. Thank you.
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April 16, 2020
From "Melda"
All of your prayers are working!!! I understand she may move out of ICU to specialty care today.
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From "Lisa"
I wanted to share this video with you all. I pray it is encourageing and inspiring. I will follow up with a link to the same song done by the original artist lyrics in case that is helpful to some
Is He Worthy
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April 17, 2020
From "Rebecca this morning"
Neuro surgeon has come and says she doing great. Go home sometime this weekend. She’s having a lot of neck pain but I think it’s bc they got behind 8 ball with Tylenol overnight. She had it at midnight but then not again until 8am. Discontinuing Valium to see if she can be more awake and less dizzy. She can’t walk without help but they want her up more today. Pathology not back yet but they hope later today
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From "Melda"
Thank you all. Holding our breath re pathology, but a miracle that the surgeon removed all of the brain tumor and that she can come straight home without going to rehab facility. She was holding up very well during surgery allowing the surgeon to keep working.
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From "Cinda"
Wow, never imagined they'd be talking about her being able to go home this soon! She's incredible. Praying it will be in God's perfect timing.
Will continue to cover her, medical staff and all of you in prayer... and we continue to pray over that pathology report. But whatever it says, we know our God is greater!
Thank you, Melda, for keeping us updated. It means so much. We love you.
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From "Melda"
From Rebecca:
Today’s a tough one for her. She’s still really dizzy and can’t walk which is making her sad. And she’s right handed and right arm is swollen up and has a lot of weakness from the surgery. But surgeon says that will get better soon. But she just got a good pathology report. She has metastatic pilocytic astrocytoma. Which is the best news we could have gotten. Truly a miracle! They need full genetic profile pathology back in a couple weeks and another MRI and then start a more “kid friendly” chemo. She shouldn’t lose hair. ?. Now they are thinking go home possibly Sunday or Monday.
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From "Melda"
Praises going up!!
In wonder at so many issues that Lauren has been spared already! Praying for her walking to materialize soon, and for arm to heal. She’s truly an amazing girl who had an amazing doctor!
Praise and glory to our wonderful Lord! Our God is so good!!
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"FRIDAY UPDATE: "
Lauren graduated from ICU yesterday to a specialized care unit. Yesterday, she really had to fight hard to begin taking a few steps while we held her up. It was much more difficult than she expected. She’s eating well and trying to take less pain medication so she’s not as sleepy and dizzy. Walking and balance (and staying awake!) are her biggest challenges at the moment, so she’ll be working hard with PT this afternoon to hopefully regain some coordination and strength. For only being 3 days post op, she’s made remarkable progress! Her surgeon is hoping she may be good enough to send home later this weekend which would be record speed for a surgery of this magnitude. He thinks it will be safer for her to continue her recovery at home given Covid and also should be more motivating and comfortable in her home environment. Lauren agrees. She is growing tired of all these heroes doing such a phenomenal job checking on her all the time!
Fingers crossed we may hear today about her initial pathology results. We are very anxious to know what her diagnosis is and make a game-plan for next steps on how best to fight.
Much love to you all for your continued prayers and support!
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April 18, 2020
"SATURDAY UPDATE: "
Lauren’s making recovery strides each day. She’s still sleeping a lot but able to sit up in a chair and we have a better handle on managing her pain. Her surgeon has cleared her to go home this afternoon pending Physical Therapy’s approval that they can work her into daily sessions starting Monday. Normally kids that have her surgery go to an inpatient rehab facility for a couple weeks, but with Covid, it’s not an option. Lauren still has no balance and can’t walk yet but the doctor says not to worry she will regain her balance and coordination in due time. She’s trying so hard!
We got her initial pathology results yesterday and it was the BEST possible outcome of all the things it could have been. She has a version of Pilocytic Astrocytoma which is awesome news because normally those are low grade and have high statistics for treatment and life expectancy. Her version metastasized (very rare and odd) so she will have chemo for about 12-14 months. We will know better the treatment options in ten days when additional pathology is complete. The doctors believe they got all of her primary tumor and her neuro oncologist thinks the other lesions should respond well to chemo. It’s hugely positive news because the other possibilities with the metastasis situation were very grave and not recoverable. We are thrilled and so thankful. A little more than a year from now, she should be back to her old self!
Thank you ALL for the love, support and prayers during this very tough time for our family. It’s been great to hear from so many and wonderful to reconnect with old friends, too. We are convinced the thousands of prayers, rosaries and religious services of all faiths offered for Lauren helped her get the best results possible this week. God has a special plan for her and her story is just beginning! It’s also inspiring to see how many friends following her journey have renewed their faith alongside our ordeal.
Special thanks to the healthcare heroes who saved our daughter’s life this week and to those that will treat her on the next phase of her healing journey. I have no idea how they handle what they do in ordinary times much less with a global pandemic on top of it. Much respect and eternal gratitude!
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April 23, 2020
"THURSDAY UPDATE: "
What a difference a week makes! 9 days post op—- Lauren had follow up appointments today with all her doctors at the hospital. She’s doing very well with her recovery! One day at a time...Feeling a little better and stronger every day. Fighting hard to regain her balance and coordination. Fighting even harder emotionally to process everything that has just happened and what is about to happen next on her journey. Even the bravest of young heroes get scared before battle. Lots of talk about the importance of faith and trust and believing in a purpose bigger than yourself.
Thank you all for your continued prayers for our sweet warrior girl
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April 24, 2020
From "Melda"
Rebecca posted a Lauren update on FB late last night. Lauren is emotionally fragile facing the upcoming surgery to have a port placed and chemo after that. Love you all more than you know. Stay safe and be well
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From "Barbara"
Thank you for the update! We learned from Danny's battle with cancer and chemo that the port was so much easier on Danny when they administer the chemo or any new IV. "Stay Strong " little Superstar! With God, your amazing parents and this Huge Loving Family and all your wonderful Friends behind you , you will get through this fight!! We love you!
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From "Cinda"
Of course. It is taking the strongest among us a while to process all of this. Can't imagine facing a year+ of chemo, much less being 10 years old facing it. Overwhelming. Appreciate having insight into directing our prayers for her. Love and cyber hugs all around.
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From "Melda"
Not yet. Probably after they get the genetic report back. Shooting for mid-May to start chemo schedule thru July, 2021. Supposedly, she will be well enough to attend classes throughout treatment. Nausea is an expected side effect and they can give her something to counter that. She is having difficulty staying strong thinking about what lies ahead. She will be ok, it is just taking a while.
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From "Melda"
I think it is not knowing what to expect re surgery for the port. Once it is done and she sees the benefit, it will be better. She is terrified of IVs since she has had so many and bad experiences.
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From "Lisa"
Oh our hearts go out for her so!
Lord have mercy, help Lauren to know that You are right there with her. Closer to her than even her parents holding her hand. Thank You so much for the love of parents that so often reflect the way You love is. Help her to know that when she is weak, You are strong and that is what makes #Laurenreallystrong. Encourage her heart and let her sense You right there when she needs it the most.
Please help help her family too Lord, comfort them as only You can.
Lord we also ask You to give us ears to hear Your Spirit so we can know when and how to pray for each member of this family. We need Your wisdom and we need Your insight. Encourage their faith to really believe that You are working even the most terrible circumstances for good because Your are Good and Your are Love!
Bless this family and keep them, hold them and carry them close to Your heart. Let them KNOW that they (each one) is LOVED by You and that You are an ever present HELP in times of
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From "Melda"
Lisa, thank you for the beautiful prayer. Praise and thanksgiving for all the blessings we receive, for our family and for our prayer warriors!
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May 02, 2020
"Melda"
Lauren and Leah going for a boat ride yesterday afternoon. Not even three weeks post surgery! Glory and praise to God!
Love all Lauren's prayer warriors!
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From "Melda"
Lauren started feeling much better after the dizziness subsided and her balance issues resolved. She slept in her own bed upstairs Wednesday night and has been "back" in school since Tuesday. Still waiting on genetic testing report before going for another MRI and starting chemo.
THANK YOU for your love and prayers!
Love you lots!
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From "Cinda"
Thank you for this wonderful picture! And especially the amazing news. It truly is miraculous considering we knew it COULD have taken years to get to this point. Continues to bring tears to my eyes. God has been so loving and good to us all! And Lauren is so inspiring and strong! Love those smiles!!
Love to all!
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From "Barbara"
It all brought me to tears also seeing this picture! She is truly a tough, strong young superstar! Yes we have all seen many miracles surrounding Lauren and all the prayers are a true testament that prayers work!
Yay for Leah too being such a great loving sister!
#Laurenstrong!!
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From "Lisa"
Thank You Lord what great things You have done!
We look forward to seeing many more miracles through Lauren and this beautiful family that belongs to You!!!
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May 07, 2020
From "Rebecca"
“Blessings don’t always come in the packages we expect.” A long time family friend sent that message this morning and it resonated with us all day. Today was a long one with Lauren getting many sedated MRIs before her treatment begins on Tuesday. The blessing is her metastasis doesn’t appear to have increased from what she had right after her surgery. It’s very good news, though we still held out hope that the spreading would all magically disappear now that the main tumor was gone. Not the package we all hoped for, but a blessing nonetheless. 🙏
Before her scans this morning, we got to visit with her neurosurgeon, Dr. Samer Elbabaa to thank him for everything he did to help Lauren. We love him. There really aren’t words to properly express the depths of our gratitude. Thank you, Dr. Elbabaa!!!
Bay Hill Jewelers had a healthcare heroes contest the week Lauren had her surgery to recognize a special local healthcare worker who demonstrates hope, heroics, compassion and self sacrifice during the Covid-19 crisis. Our nomination about Dr. Elbabba’s heroic efforts to save Lauren won their contest. As their winner, we presented him with a bangle bracelet inscribed with “91 > 19” as a reminder that Psalm 91 is greater than Covid 19. Inside is also inscribed with the scripture “No Harm Shall Come To You”. Thanks Bay Hill Jewelers for the beautiful, thoughtful gift and inspiring our community to recognize so many unsung healthcare heroes. 🧡
We thought it was such a beautiful idea that we also recognized Lauren’s neuro oncologist, Dr. Amy Smith, with a similar bracelet today. Dr. Smith will fight hard to keep her going and make sure she fights the rest of this cancer off once and for all.
Wish we could give every single hero in the hospital the recognition they deserve at this time. 🧡
Today is National Nurses Day and there are so many amazing nurses that have helped us on our recent journey. Thank you, nurses!!! It takes a VERY special person to be a nurse and we’re forever grateful for them, too.
💕
Upon returning home tonight, Lauren’s 7 best friends all chipped in on a very generous gift intended to help her pass the hours having her treatment each week in the hospital. Her BFF’s are sooooo very thoughtful! A Nintendo Switch Lite in her favorite color!! She loves it and can’t wait to play all the games! These girls are one tight family. Beautiful souls each and every one.
🤗
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May 08, 2020
From "Melda"
If you read Rebecca's FB post yesterday, she referenced something she received from an old family friend yesterday morning ... wanted to share with all of you. Don't forget to turn the sound on...
God Whispers
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From "Cinda"
Thank you for sharing this beautiful video. Appreciated Rebecca's FB update and her pictures.
?Prayers will continue, especially as Lauren starts chemo next week. ?
How frequent will her schedule be?
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From "Melda"
Tuesday morning she will have a port surgically placed and have her first chemo in the afternoon. After that she will have chemo every Tuesday afternoon for 10 weeks then will have a two-week break time have blood work and MRIs. Then she continues with another 10 weeks of chemo and 2 week "break" for tests. Eventually the schedule will be reduced and she will have 4 weeks on, 2 weeks "off" until July 2021. Of course, things could change. Her MRIs yesterday were no better or worse than what we had expected. Thank you all for continued prayers!
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From "Melda"
As a side note, the neurosurgeon has taken a real personal interest in Lauren. His has a daughter who is one week older than Lauren.
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From "Cinda"
He sounds like such a wonderful person in addition to being an amazing surgeon. Having someone like this on the team has to be so comforting. Love hearing this.. So grateful!
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May 12, 2020
From "Melda"
Update: Lauren is doing ok. She's out of surgery and just arrived at oncology center. Seems like they are running an hour or two behind.
Rebecca saids, Chemo underway and she’s doing much better. Anesthesia wearing off
They are leaving the hospital just now. Will know more how it went tonight.
Rebecca posted an update on FB... haven't spoken with her yet. If there is any additional info, I'll send a note. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Love you all.
🧡
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From "Rebecca (FB)"
Thinking Positive! Gorgeous sunrise to bless us this morning as we kicked off the next phase of Lauren’s battle. Big day today - Port surgery and 1st chemo accomplished. 1 down. 41 more to go...
Brutal day but not nearly as bad as what she’s already been through. She thinks her Covid test was the worst part of her day. Not really true, but that’s the part from early in the day she remembers. Thanks for your continued prayers!!
🙏
🧡
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From "Melda"
Just spoke with Rebecca. Was an extremely long day, but is one day closer to being done. Lauren will have chemo for a 12-week cycle initially and then she will have 8 six-week cycles and that should take her to July of next year. The chemo is weaker drugs for a longer time period, but should be easier for her to tolerate. Will let you know more as time goes on.
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