All Praise to Him!!!

We received the absolute best news possible today.  Benjamin's tumor was removed completely!  The doctor said that it literally peeled right off of the nerve, that would be the sciatic nerve, yes a very important one!

PRAISE HIM!!

It could have been growing from inside the nerve, but no, it was on the outside.  The surgery was short, could have been much longer.  Benjamin tolerated the anesthesia very well.  We were on the road home before noon, could have been there over night.  The tumor is GONE.

PRAISE HIM!!

We still await the biopsy report, but the doctor really feels that it is a benign tumor.  Regardless, the tumor is GONE, so any possible follow up will be minimal.  Did I tell you?  It's GONE!!!!

PRAISE HIM!!

So, here are some pictures of the day.  Before:

And after:

Got the wheelchair treatment:

Learning how to use crutches properly:

Going HOME!

Snuggled in and very happy to be home:

Siblings at service :)

We are very thankful to our good friends that kept our other four kiddos overnight last night and were ready to keep them a second night if need be!

The Red Plate treatment:

 (Benjamin's stomach has been a bit woosy, so just a light dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese.)

Benjamin has done so well with all of this.  He has been laid back and not anxious.  He was a STAR patient today, so mature and polite with the staff.  He has not been a complainer or demanding.  He has just gone with the flow.  He'll be on crutches for two weeks with the knee immobilizer, then we'll head back to STL for his follow-up appointment.  We'll get the biopsy report at that time and hopefully he'll be good to go.

We cannot begin to express our thankfulness to the many people that have been praying for Benjamin and our family.  We are truly overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of support.  People we don't even know have been praying, we've been on numerous prayer chains.  We believe with all of our hearts that God was in this, that His hand guided the surgeon (love B's doctor!), that He heard the prayers of everyone.

A friend emailed these verses to me as we waited at the hospital this morning:
Lamentations 3:22-26, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

His hand has sustained us, it has guided us, He has been good to us.  We give all praise and glory to Him!!

PRAISE HIM!!