Praying for Josiah Herring

To those of us who are burdened for Josiah Herring, we are setting aside Sat., April 25th at 2:00 p.m. est., to unify and meet in the Throne Room of Heaven to petition the God of Miracles to grant one to Josiah and the Herring/Stonacker families.

This is just a picture from Easter morning. I thought they looked so good, but I'm a little biased! LOL

Update on Josiah (the little boy with the brain tumor) Our prayers are needed!:

From Jason: Resurrection Sunday was never so special as it was this past weekend. Josiah Lee was present in the Sunday morning service at North Valley where we were reminded of the resurrecting power of our Saviour. I love how James says, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." That's the power of the resurrection that I want to know (Philippians 3:10). After service we had our annual Easter egg hunt in our backyard for the boys. It pained me to see Josiah try to run only to stop after a few wobbly strides and say, "Daddy, I just give up." Our little linebacker seems more like "tiny Tim" these days, but we are ever so grateful for each moment that we can enjoy with him.

This afternoon we received a phone call from the chief neurosurgeon at St. Lukes. He informed us that the neuropathologists at Johns Hopkins believe Josiah's tumor to be a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) not a central neuroblastoma (PNET). A glioblastoma multiforme is very cancerous and malignant. In fact, it is a grade 4 tumor, the highest grade of glial tumors that exist. The PNETs do not respond well to chemotherapy and radiation, but the response of the GBMs is even worse. GBMs are much more aggressive than PNETs, and almost impossible to treat surgically because the glial cells are hard to differentiate from brain tissue. Whereas some get cured and some survive treatment with PNETs, the glioblastoma multiforme is "essentially not curable under the best of circumstances" (direct quotes from the neurosurgeon).

The neuropathologists at Johns Hopkins explained that under the microscope PNETs are "small blue celled tumors." Sometimes a GBM can show some of the same characteristics of a PNET and appear to be a "small blue celled tumor." This was their explanation as to why they believe St. Lukes was wrong in their diagnosis. It would be one thing if Johns Hopkins had differentiated in the grade of the tumor. However, they changed the kind of tumor which is a major shift in diagnosis and will greatly affect the plan for treatment. Because this is such a radical change from the path report issued by St. Lukes, they are getting a second opinion from Duke University.

When I asked the doctor, "Why Duke University?" he informed me that there are three major icons in neuropathology in the nation: Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic and Duke University. The pathologist in Boise who diagnosed Josiah's tumor as a PNET worked for the Mayo Clinic and is considered to be one of the top ten pathologists in the country. They figured to look to Duke University for a second opinion to confirm who is right in what the neurosurgeon called "a developing controversy."

Because patients with glioblastoma multiforme tumors do not typically live beyond a year, the doctors are anxious to get two plans in place that will depend on the path report from Duke. Tomorrow at 2:00 PM, Suzie and I will meet with the chief neurosurgeon and the head oncologist at St. Lukes to discuss what our two separate courses of action should be. I did not believe that it was possible to hear news any worse than what we had already heard. I had hoped for a good report that said Josiah's tumor was not as malignant as they originally thought. The worst case scenario that I had imagined was a report that simply confirmed the findings of the original pathology report. Who would have thought that I would now be hoping that my son has a PNET?

Time is of the essence, and prayer is most imperative. As I venture farther into the garden with my Saviour, I feel the greatest urgency to "watch and pray."

"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24

Happy Easter!

Matt Kenseth #17 Race Car

We had some visitors at Rotary on Friday. The R&L truck brought the race car and truck! It was a special treat for employees and their families!

Praying for Josiah Herring

Please keep this little boy in your prayers. He is Josiah Herring, the son of Jason and Susie Herring and the grandson of Pastor Dean Herring. Bro. Dean used to Pastor Heritage Baptist Church in Glennville. Josiah has a brain tumor and the following is the latest update from his Dad. It just breaks my heart and makes me so thankful for my healthy children:

This evening we were finally met by the doctors. They informed us that they believe Josiah's tumor is a central neuroblastoma or PNET (Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor). This tumor is malignant and has to be aggressivley treated with surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation will be used after surgery, but chemo and radiation alone cannot stop this kind of tumor. It is very important that they are able to remove all of the tumor. It makes no difference in the final outcome if one-third or ninety percent of the tumor is removed. There is a 60 to 70 percent chance of recovery with full removal. Without a complete extraction, the chances fall to around 25 percent or less.

The problem the doctors face with full removal is where the tumor is located which is on Josiah's thalamus. The thalamus is the processing center for the brain and it controls many of the vital functions of the brain and body. Whereas some areas of the brain are more tolerant to surgery, the thalamus is highly sensitive because of the incredible complexity of the organ. This means that first, the odds are against us in being able to remove the entire tumor, and second, the risk is much higher in removing anything at all. The walls of the tumor share the same blood vessels with the brain which makes it very complicated to cut as close as possible. The doctors will not risk inflicting brain damage on Josiah in order to get the entire tumor. That would be life threatening itself, and at the least it would devastate his quality of life after the surgery.

Another problem is Josiah's age. He is on the border line for the age limit for radiation treatment. Regardless of how the surgery goes, he will have to undergo radiation and chemotherapy. How he responds to the treatment will also determine a great deal.

Josiah has been sleeping a great deal which has concerned the doctors. They believe it could be related to the tumor and its proximity to the thalamus and hypothalamus which control sleep functions. He will awake for small periods to eat, watch a movie, interact with family but he usually doesn't stay awake very long.

One of the pathology tests has shown up positive that should have shown negative. The hospital has sent the sample to a renowned physician at John Hopkins for further analysis. I did not get the impression that this could mean the doctors are wrong in the nature of the tumor being malignant. The feeling conveyed to me was that the tumor might have a different name but overall the same nature.

I am taking the time to write to you in detail because I want you to know how to pray. We have been on a roller coaster of optimism versus disturbing news and now we are faced with reality. The odds are not in our favor.

The night before Josiah was born I told God that Josiah belonged to Him. I prayed that God would use Him for His glory. After his birth I cradled him in my arms and repeated the same promise. It was easy to walk by faith in the plains of Palestine, but from the heights of Mt. Moriah I am faced with a sacrifice that I do not want to make. I am hedged in and I have nowhere to go.

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. ~ Job 3:25

Donations to help the Herring family can be sent to the church, CCBC, with the memo reading "Josiah Herring Fund":
CCBC
2539 S Five Mile Rd
Boise, ID 83709