On Our Knees

Today's blog is going to be short and to the point.  There are too many details to report and frankly they change with the hour yet don't change what you really need to know.  Phil needs prayer and lots of it.

As I am typing this he is undergoing surgery to diagnose the cause of this horrible infection in his brain.  Since I last posted, the infection in and around his eye has worsened and it looks like we are dealing with a particularly "wicked" fungal infection (to quote Dr. Kossman).  He and the 3 or 4 other specialists who've been consulted in this case are very concerned about the infection because it is extremely difficult to eradicate short of surgical debridement.

Debridement means going in and cleaning things out and since we're talking about the brain, well, you can grasp the gravity of the situation.  As of today Phil has lost the vision in his left eye and there is reason to worry about the right eye as well.  Fungal infections can spread quickly so information needs to be gathered quickly as well so the appropriate therapies can be continued or started.  

The goal for today's surgery is diagnosis, not therapy or cure.  That much has been made clear to us.  Having said that, our hopes for today are for an uncomplicated surgical course, sufficient biopsies that will lead to productive treatment and no further surprises or obstacles.

The kids and I are surrounded by family and good friends, including Jeff Breland, and feel the love and prayers that have been pouring in.  Phil is in excellent hands and Dr. Kossman has brought in the county's finest specialists in ENT oncology and neurosurgery.  The rest, as ever, is in God's hands.