Valerie Grace
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Our youngest daughter, Valerie Grace was diagnosed with a brain tumor on January 31st 2005. She was perfectly healthy prior, with no symptoms until 2 days before her MRI. She had surgery at Shands Hospital on February 7th, 2005. The surgery was done by two great neurosurgeons, Dr. David Pincus and Dr. Arthur "Jay" Ulm III.
At last check, the tumor (which had grown all the way back) appears to be shrinking.. We were told that Valerie's left optic nerve was removed during surgery and that she was blind in that eye. She is now two years old and is now seeing out of both eyes!!! Other than the 3 weeks she has been in the hospital since 2005 - she has had days filled with laughter and joy.

The type of tumor she had partially removed was a Pilomyxoid variant of a low grade Pilocytic Astrocytoma (JPA) in the optic chiasm/ hypothalamic area; a rare tumor that is only seen in very young children. There is no known curative treatment. There is research being done at Johns Hopkins and at Shands Hospital (where they are growing Valerie's tumor that was removed).

God has taught us so much through this that we wanted to share with others our experience.We truly rejoice in all that He has done and are thankful that He has shown us His mercyand His peace! Feel free to read about our journey.

 

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These all had faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them a far off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had the opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:13-16


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