A Crisis Situation!

Many of you have probably heard of the recent crisis that has arisen in the Goll family household. In recent weeks, our battle with cancer has greatly intensified. Michal Ann was admitted for 12 days of treatment in March at the Oasis of Hope Cancer Treatment Hospital followed by 5 days in May. I also was admitted for a week in March to buoy up my immune system as well in my personal fight with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

In March we became aware that the cancer with Michal Ann had progressed from the liver to the right lung and that the doctors were closely watching other areas of concern. It was felt in May though that progress was being made as things appeared to be in check (not growing). But upon her return home the second week of May, it became obvious that something was just not right. Michal Ann began to have headaches that would just not lift. This progressed to her being very tired and somewhat "detached and disoriented" at times. Other symptoms started appearing. It was thought for a while that she might be having a bad reaction to one of her chemo pills that she was taking. But the headaches persisted.

Our doctor in Nashville, TN then attempted to get a CT head scan approved through our insurance company – but we were unsuccessful in our attempt. So we kept observing and monitoring closely her condition. A little over week ago other complications began to manifest and we had to take action. Our personal physician told me to take Michal Ann to the ER room and request that they give her CT scan to the head. So off we went to the emergency room at the hospital.

To our shock we were told that she had at least two tumors in her brain – one rather large - and a great deal of swelling. They gave her some steroids to ease the swelling and reduce the pain and we got home around 1:30 am. It was a long and difficult night. The next day we talked and prayed with our doctor and investigated various options. It became obvious that we were dealing with a crisis and we needed to act swiftly.

After taking consultation with various doctors, we knew that our next step was to get an appointment with a neurosurgeon but that there were no openings – so we had to make another "end around play". The next option was to take my wife the next day to ER at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville and demand to see a neurosurgeon. So this is exactly what we did.

Last Friday morning I took my dear wife into ER for the second time in three days. By God's grace we found favor and the top neurosurgeon at Vanderbilt Hospital came and saw my wife. His diagnosis to us was not the most positive and after having an MRI, he put her on even stronger steroids and sent us home – hoping that the swelling in her brain would subside and the pain would abate. A plan of attack was agreed upon and an appointment was set for the following Tuesday, June 5th. That Friday for me was the hardest day of my life – I was exhausted, my emotions were frayed and I was in need myself. I sent out a little e-mail to a few people and prayer began to arise.

The pain in Michal Ann's head subsided and she began to think more clearly and be more herself. That brings us to our visit Tuesday.

Present Diagnosis for Michal Ann

We met Tuesday again with the top neurosurgeon. He told us that there are three tumors. One is the size of a golf ball located at the left front of the brain. The second one is the size of a baseball and located at the back of the head. Both of these growths are at the surface of the brain and therefore make them operable. The third tumor, about the size of a marble, is on the right front of the head. The smallest tumor will not be removed at this time as the doctors do not want to operate on both the right and left front of the brain in one setting. This smaller tumor might be treated through radiation a couple of weeks after surgery.

The plan right now is for Michal Ann to have "markers put on her head" on Thursday afternoon, June 7th and another MRI done that evening. Then she will enter the hospital on Friday morning at 6:30 am followed by major surgery beginning at 8:30am. Without complications the surgery will last into the afternoon. She would then be put into ICU and be hospitalized for 3 – 5 days barring any complications. Recovery at home could be up to 6 weeks. Radiation will possibly begin around two weeks after the surgery.

There is much we do not know. But we have to trust the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understandings. We can and we do trust the Lord!

Because we are asked many questions and there are many wonderful people who care so very much around the nation(s), let me simply categorically address some of the issues one by one.