Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Uncommon

Common: Headaches, migraines, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, moodiness (I might get in trouble for this one), aggressive behavior (and this one), physician appointments, MRI, CT scans, emergency room visits, diagnosis, prognosis, and even tumors.

The Uncommon:

A Divine Appointment. We've been praying for an answer to migraines that Sarah has battled for the last couple of months. After a visit to a neurologist and a little vision trouble, Sarah decided to schedule an appointment with our optometrist. Not an optometrist who we bat our eyes at every six months, snag a box of contacts from, and never see again. An optometrist who God put in our life years ago, even before we ever visited her for an eye exam. Who knew that Dr. R. would be the first to discover abnormal pressure on Sarah's optic nerve. That was Friday.

Answered Prayer. With Dr. R.'s help, we scheduled a MRI on Monday morning at 11:15 to figure out exactly what was going on. We were operating under the old adage that "no news is good news", so we felt pretty good when 5:00 rolled around without any communication back from the neurologist. Five minutes later I learned that Sarah had a "mass" on her right frontal lobe. After weeks of prayer, though, we had an answer.

Crazy Peace. Sarah is a champ. My sister-in-law, Ang, describes Sarah's current state much better than I can. Please read. Granted, we have had our moments (and will have more), Sarah has been incredible. I called her at 5:15 on Monday to let her know about her mass. When I arrived at Lynlee's gymnastics practice at 5:45, I found Sarah giggling with another mom (who we love very much). Truth be told, I heard her before I saw her! Those who know Sarah know how that works. We followed doctors' orders, and headed to the ER.

Amazing Friends. We were greeted at the ER by three great friends (and pastors of Crosschurch Fayetteville). They were there before us... waiting on our arrival... ready to give us hugs, laughs, and smiles... ready to love us. More friends and family arrived. Before we were admitted, we had an entourage.

Diagnosis. After a couple of hours in the E.R. waiting room we got to hear Sarah's (tentative) diagnosis. Chances are, Sarah has a low grade astrocytoma. These are, typically, benign. This could all change, but that's what we know now. Very soon, we will take a trip to MD Anderson to have the "racquetball-size" tumor removed.

Here is what we know the future holds: an ordained day, followed by an ordained day, followed by an ordained day. In the backs of our minds, we definitely have expectations. Like many of you reading this, we have prayers that we lift up throughout the day. It's easy to get wrapped up in all the medical stuff. All the facts. We believe the power of prayer, faith, and trust are just as real.

Lift up the prayers of your heart. We definitely pray for the wisdom of medical staff, peace, comfort, healing... you name it.

If you can't think of anything else to pray, pray that we have MANY more opportunities to experience the uncommon as I have described above. That's when we feel the presence of God. Our prayer is that many of you experience it too.

Pat & Sarah

44 comments:

  1. Thanks for taking the time to update. We have been thinking of you all and praying ever since we heard she was in the ER. We are faithfully praying. Please let us know if you need anything.

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  2. Have been praying since the minute I heard and will continue until Sarah is completely healed! Love you guys and please know that I'm here to help however I can!

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  3. Wow. What wisdom & grace. We're praying for you constantly. We love you guys!

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  4. We have been praying since we heard last night. Pretty much all day and all night. Praying and believing for complete healing!

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  5. Thanks for the update. I opened my blinds at 8 on Monday morning and thought it was strange your vehicles were here. Then I saw you coming and going as often as I was on Monday and thought that was strange. We're glad to house sit, mail sit or whatever. Appreciate knowing how ya'll are doing!

    P.S. Is your tree still up? I would be glad to pack it up for you if that's helpful.

    Please also know we'll respect your privacy and will not be knocking on your door but we are thinking about you non-stop and I can't stop staring at your house!

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  6. High five, Patrick. This rocks.

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  7. wow pat dog! you are pretty awesome at this blogging thing. praying constantly for healing. it was soooo good to hear sarah laugh today....one of the best sounds i have ever heard. love and miss y'all tons....cannot wait to see y'all.
    kimberly

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  8. Sarah Scott told me to check your blog for an update, so I promise I am not blog stalking! You guys are amazing and we are praying for Sarah (and the rest of the fam) until Sarah is completely healed. We serve a BIG God who is ultimate Healer. Wow! Jesus shining through you guys is such a beautiful testimony to those around you. Please let us know if you need anything.

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  9. Praying for calmness in the midst of all this...I know you are strong Sarah. Positive thoughts are being sent your way. If there is anything you all need just ask (school or home). Go and get better. I will miss the M&M's (if I really NEED to I'll get Cory to open your door!) Pat thanks for keeping us updated!!
    Love you

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  10. awesome - thanks for the update. Matt and I are praying for you guys and your sweet family

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  11. Praying for you and your sweet family! If there is anything I can be of help to you with, gymnastics or babysitting, please do not hesitate.

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  12. My mother was given 5 months to live, her cancer metastasized to her lungs. The doctors in SC told her to just live out the rest of her life and enjoy it. She still wanted to fight so she went to MD Anderson for one last shot at beating her cancer. Almost two years later she is still with us and her cancer is still in remission. The doctors and staff in Houston are amazing and they treated my mom's cancer when everyone else had given up. You will be in wonderful hands. I will keep you all in my prayers. “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

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  13. Sarah,
    I have only met you once @ William's gymnastics (my daughter is in the class after your daughter's) but I immediately thought you seemed like a very neat person!
    I am praying for your complete healing! Your positive attitude & faith will carry you through this!!

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  14. Pat and Sarah,
    MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY.KEEP US ALL POSTED AND TAKE CARE WE ALL HAVE THE BEST THING GOING FOR US AND THAT IS THE POWER OF PRAYER AND THE HELP OF GOD.HANG IN THERE

    lOVE YA AUNT ROSE

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  15. I stumbled across this page while blog hopping. I hardly ever comment on a stranger's blog, but this time is different. My husband was diagnosed with an astrocytoma four and a half years ago. Your story sounds so familiar, right down to the symptoms Sarah was having. It was a life-changing experience for both of us, particularly for him. We'll pray for you, and please don't hesitate to ask us questions about our story if it will help you at all.

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  16. I am lifting you all up in prayer. I love you through the ever abundant love of our Savior.

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  17. I linked to you from Jennifer Francis' blog. As I read, I just kept thinking...MD Anderson...MD Anderson....MD Anderson. When I read that it is where you're headed, the hair on my arms stood up. Praise God. You will be in the best hands there are to be in. My daddy was treated there and it is an amazing place. I will absolutely be praying for you and your sweet family.

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  18. I don't know you, but am good friends with the Shackletts....and my daughter knows you through her step Mom (Jill Langham). Our family will be praying for Sarah's complete healing and your travels as you go to MD Anderson.

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  19. Hi from Derek's mom. Please know that not only is your beautiful family in my prayers, but am putting you on my church prayer list also.
    Bonnie (Shacklett) Adams

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  20. We know Sarah from her high school days at Shiloh. Our 6 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January 2010 and was treated in Houston. By GOD's amazing grace he is doing great now! The same peace that you are writing about is what we felt every step of the way. Lean hard into Him. It is a wild ride, but one full of unexpected blessings! Praying for you all! Donnie and Amy Grigg

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  21. Just know that God has wrapped his arms around you and your family, squeezing you with his love. We are praying for all of you. I love you girl!

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  22. I found you through Jennifer Francis' blog. I may not know you, but our Heavenly Father is the same.

    Sara and each of you will be prayed for by our family. (Already have been before I typed this!) Your faith and outlook is amazing and I pray God will use this to bring others to Him.

    Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite verse...I'm sure you know it. :)

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  23. My sister also had an astrocytoma. We had a wonderful doctor in Little Rock, at UAMS, named Dr. Yasergil. He was the only one in the country that would operate on my sister, and he is the best! I will be praying for you and your family!

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  24. Thanks for the update, Pat. We will continue to pray for you all. God has set you apart for something...only He knows what. But I pray you will continue to look to Him, and Him alone, for the answers.
    We love you guys! Praying hard.
    the Ellises

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  25. Pat and Sarah--I don't know you, and have actually never been to this blog, but I saw the post Jennifer Francis (who I don't know either) wrote about praying for Sarah, and I wanted to let you know she is permanantly in my prayers until she is healed. I will also pass along this prayer request to family and friends. God Bless you and your family. -Kendall Thornburgh, Pittsburgh PA

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  26. I am a friend of Angela's and I am praying for your family!

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  27. Hello, just found your blog and wanted to say you are in my prayers. I think we have a lot in common- I am a cancer survivor, mom of 2 and a speech pathologist! My family lives in NWA and I read Kelly's blog.
    God Bless. I will bookmark your blog.
    Michele

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  28. Hi there-

    I read Kelly's blog and usually don't click on the links she post, but for whatever reason I did tonight. My 29 year-old brother had a seizure that lead to a diagnosis of a brain tumor on Nov. 16, 2010. After his surgery, pathology reported that his tumor was a grade 4 astrocytoma (glioblastoma). My family has searched HIGH and LOW to find the best doctors in the nation. I know this is an overwhelming time, but I want to share some advice I got at the beginning of my journey: breath, love, and pray. God WILL lead to you the right doctors. Listen to him and take your time. He lead my brother to UCLA.

    God Bless,
    kayleywille at gmail dot com

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  29. Hi Pat and Sarah - I just found your blog through Kelly's Korner. I don't always click on the prayer requests links, but when I read that you've just been diagnosed with a brain tumor...well I had to come stop by and leave a little note.

    See, this past summer I was also diagnosed with a brain tumor. I had been having strange symptoms for months, and no doctor had been able to make any sense of it. One thought I was making it all up. But eventually I had an MRI and they found a "golfball sized tumor" in my brain. A few days later I had surgery, and a few days after that I was back home. I went to Miami Childrens (I'm 18 now, but was 17 at the time) and it was FANTASTIC. The hospital was great, my neurosurgen and nurses were so awesome.

    My healing process has been long, but it's been good. The tumor was found to be benign (praise God!!) and I only go back for checks every so often for the next 10 years. I am praying the same will be true for you.

    If you would like to contact me or read about my journey with what I'm sure you understand is very surprising and unexpected news, please email me or check our my story on my blog.

    http://onegirl-itjusttakesone.blogspot.com

    I will be praying for you, Sarah, and your entire family. I specifically pray for crazy peace from God to get you through these days.

    OneGirl

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  30. You all are amazing. Praying for you in Houston.

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  31. Sarah...although I have never met you in person I feel that you too are apart of our close family. I am Steve's sister Amy and grew up knowing Pat and the whole Fries family as our very own. I am so sorry to hear about this and I will be praying for you and your family. Pat is an awesome person and after reading your blogs I know that he is an awesome husband and of course a wonderful dad to your kiddos...If you guys need anything at all please don't hesitate to ask like I said before we are like family and you have become apart of us as well. Please keep us posted and best of luck on your journey to Dallas and may God heal all things and bless you and your family even more.
    amy

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  32. Found your blog through Kelly's Korner, and am praying for you. My family lives in Houston near MDA, where my mom received AMAZING treatment for breast cancer 2 years ago. If we can help while you are in Houston, PLEASE email. tdodds (at) post (dot) harvard (dot) edu. God bless you and your family.

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  33. Sweet Sarah and family--Prayers are being sent your way from South Arkansas. May God place His healing hand upon you. Love and prayers, Meredith Price

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  34. Visiting via Kelly'S Korner - My father had the exact same symptoms and diagnosis that I read in your post. He went in for brain surgery (he thinks it's cool to tell people he had that now) the tumor was benign and the surgery and recovery were nothing like we had anticipated - it went fantastic! That was about 15 years ago and he is still doing great. He goes in for a check now and then but was a blessing that doctors can treat things like this and so quickly. I know how scary it is but please know that there are many who have done this and with God's help have come through it with flying colors! Prayers being sent your way.

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  35. Pat and Sara.... I don't know you, but I live in Russellville and know Matt and Angela. I heard about your situation and love your attitude in this post! Especially the part about each day being ordained!!!! Our God is faithful and I am praying for you both and your family!!!! I want to share an amazing testimony from my blog just a couple of months ago.... http://capturingtheclaytons.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-great-is-our-god-and-kiss-chase.html

    I can't wait to share about the miracle God is going to perform in your life!

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  36. We are praying for you. Travis was over-come with emotion when I told him what was going on. Immediately, as a husband and father, he asked about Pat.

    We love you all dearly. I know you will come through this with flying colors and Gods Grace will be apparent in your store (as it already is.)

    Love,
    Boni

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  37. Coming over from Kelly's Korner. I will be praying.

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  38. Sarah,
    I have been thinking about you non stop. Jeff and I both have been thinking of you and your family. We are continuing to keep you in our thoughts and prayers. I miss running into you. :( Just continue being that sweet and shiny person that you always have been.

    Love,
    Jamie, Jeff and Parker

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  39. Sarah,
    Wow. I just heard about all that has been going on with you (someone that I used to work with at Harp told me and directed me to your blog). I just wanted to tell you that I am starting to pray for you and will continue to do so. I'm praying for continued peace, comfort, and laughter to cover you through the rest of your journey. I know God is bigger and wildly more capable of anything that we can even imagine. And I know he is smiling over your faith and hope in Him right now. I'll continue to check for updates so I can specifically pray over you and your family.

    Much love,
    Jessica Pierce

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  40. I came over from jennifer's blog. Just wanted to let you know that my family will include you and yours on our prayers list.

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  41. Continuing to pray for Sara. Wishing you all many blessings to come. NeCol

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