This is not how I wanted to start this blog off, but I feel I must get some of this out. I found myself several times during last night going down to Ava’s room to hold her in my arms while she slept peacefully, crying silently, thanking God for giving me such a gorgeous healthy baby, and praying as hard as I could making deals with God.
Two of my best friends found out yesterday that their beautiful son, who is not even 2 years old, has a tumor in the middle of his brain. As if this news wasn’t devastating enough, they have learned that he will have to undergo a series of surgeries to remove the tumor safely. As I attempt to imagine the roller coaster of emotions Brande and Randy must be feeling, my heart aches for all of them and I realize that I am completely helpless in soothing their pain. The only thing I can think of to do is to beg anyone who reads this to pray …
Please pray that the tumor is not cancerous … pray that God will lay his healing hand on Bennett … pray that God will guide the doctors who are helping Bennett … pray that his parents and family will feel God’s love, their faith will not waver, and God will give them the strength to just get through each day one at a time as each new challenge comes to them in this journey. I have a strong faith that God has a plan for Bennett and that he did not intend to give Bennett, and that beautiful one-dimple-smile, to this world for such a short amount of time and that he will pull Bennett through this safely smiling his big beautiful smile.
Please share this story with as many of your friends of faith as you can. Until next time … this has been a very sad real housewife in Houston moment.
SAMEDAY UPDATE FROM BRANDE AND RANDY:
God's little soldier!
Prayers have been answered. Thank you everyone for all of your support. He came through the surgery with 2 holes, drained the fluid, took a preliminary biopsy that came back benign!!!!! We get the final results Wednesday, and then we will schedule the surgery for removal. God answered our prayers. Thank you father.
DECEMBER 29, 2011 – UPDATE FROM BRANDE AND RANDY:
He was diagnosed with fluid on his brain via CT Scan on December 14th. We went into Texas Children’s Hospital and they took us by ambulance to their main campus in the medical center ER. We were then placed in the ICU unit for the next 4 days. He had brain surgery (they went in and created an alternate route for the fluid, and took a biopsy of the tumor that was causing the blockage)….The tumor came back as Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma. Grade 1. (If we never would have noticed something was wrong….he would have eventually slipped into a coma in the next few months sometime)….my heart just stops thinking of this…..
Ok back to what it is…Grade 1, Which means it is benign, which is a good thing. However, the tumor’s placement in between the Pineal gland and Tectal Gland is not.
There are only 2 cases reported in the US yearly of these types of tumors. So his is VERY rare. They are unsure what the best course of action is for treatment since they have no idea what it will do in its location…but they feel strongly that surgery is not the best option given its current location in the center of his brain. So…..
Due to his age, we cannot do radiation, due to the location we cannot do surgery….so….this leaves chemo.
They are leaning towards chemo…however, since this is so rare they would like to observe it, as long as it is is not hurting him…which it no longer is since they removed the fluid… as long as it doesn’t grow any larger, it won’t effect any of the glands it is next to or the surround brain matter.
So, for now- we wait.
We brought him into the ER tonight due to a brain fluid drainage coming through the brain incision. They were able to do another CT Scan to
See that it was just a fluid buildup. and that his brain was working fine. So, they re-sealed him and sent us home. After many tears.I am trusting that Bennett is in the best hands in the US at this hospital.They know what they are doing and I place all my faith in God’s hands to lead us through this.
Thank you all again for all of your support and I promise to keep you all posted!
I passed it on through my facebook! Love you girl!!
Much love, thoughts, prayers, hugs, blessings, positive energy, and MORE PRAYERS are being sent to the Nesters!!!!!! Praying for Bennet’s total healing in Jesus most precious name!!!!
I read this story on my FB page. Just wanted you to know I just prayed for The Nester family and their baby boy! When two or more pray, God is with you. He will take care of your baby! Also, KSBJ has a great website where you can post your prayer and have Many more people pray for your baby!!!!
God Bless You!!!!!
Wendi Hughes
Prayers said for precious Bennett’s complete recovery and for a peace that passes all understanding for his parents. He is held tightly in God’s loving arms.
In the name of Jesus, we declare health for Bennett. He is a child of God and he will survive this! I pray that God give the entire Nester family strength like a buffalo, peace in knowing he is our healer, eternal faith knowing he is our Heavenly Father and lots of Love to flow through the family so that Bennett can get through this like a champ! We ask you Lord to take complete control of the hands of the surgeons performing Bennett’s surgeries and that you fill them with your knowledge and wisdom to carefully remove this tumor with no complications what so ever. Lord send your Heavenly Warring Angels to Bennett to watch over him Day and Night and protect him at all times. We bind all physical and spiritual attacks against the Nester family and send it back 7 fold, in the Name of our powerfull and Glorious Lord Jesus! Jesus gave his life for Bennett’s life and no evil shall claim it as what is done is done. God Bless you all!
Thank you for sharing this! My husband is being treated for Stage IV lung cancer, and and I know ONLY because of GOD above and the Prayer Warriors that have rallied for him, he contines to heal, when he only had 6 months….
I will pass this on throught FB and hope that it reaches ALL over and we can all come together in Prayer to lift this family up and many wishes for peace.
XO Lyndie Charnock
Lifting the Nester family up in prayer!!! Praying that God will take all the hurt and pain away from this precious little child of God! Praying that God will give Brande and Randy the strength that they need in this time of need. May God bless this family lord! In Christ name we ALL pray, Amen!! My heart aches for you Nester family.Having an 8 year old daughter of my own, I can not even pretend to imagine what you must be feeling. But God is good and will pull this little man through!!! God bless you and your family.
Prayed this morning when I first read Shelby’s post. Prayed again when I missed my little man thru this day and just sent another prayer into the hands of the mighty Lord. I will continue to pray for God’s presence thru this battle. Take up His shield!
1 Samuel 25:6
Say to Him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
Saying, praying and believing!
Prayers and Thoughts for baby Bennett. Love you all.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time of need. I have passed this on in hopes that more prayers will be coming your way. May God bless you and your family. Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy every moment.
Praying for them!
Think positive… love to you and your family. I send you my heart, I pray that little boy will be safe in God’s hands and make a speedy recovery
Sending prayers to U-all and little Benette that all will come out well and keeping him in our Good Lords hands… Stay strong and have faith to keep on going… God Bless each and everyone of U in Jesus name we pray…
Continued prayers for the Nester family. I have tears in my eyes as I type, and realize this could happen to any of us. Randy & Brande have always showed so much love for their son & my heart aches for them. Brande and I were pregnant at the same time, and I have always enjoyed reading posts about sweet Bennett. Let the good news continue, much love to the family.
Our baby has a rare heart condition and we just experienced the emotional ups and downs of living with a medical miracle. We are praying for Benette in Texas tonight!!!
I pray so hard for this little soldier last night. I am so happy to read the news this morning. I will continue to pray as well!
Continued prayers for Bennett & your family, all the way from CT.
God Bless
Just received this from a mutual friend…Praise the LORD for favorable results from Bennett’s surgery! May God continue to heal and remove what ever is not supposed to be in his little brain! Praying for complete healing and wisdom for his parents and doctors!
I just came across your blog post as I was searching ‘brain tumor’ because my son also has one. He was diagnosed this May at 8 months old. Our family is sending Bennetts family all our thoughts and positive energy! I truly DO know what you are going through. Please feel free to contact me if you feel I could be of any help, I know I have found great support in some people I only know threw the internet (there aren’t to many of us pediatric brain tumor families out there) I also want to pass on that there are some wonderful yahoo support groups for pediatric brain tumor support. Some members have been at this for many years and provide great insight. ‘PLGA’, ‘pediatric brain tumor’ and others may be helpful. Our loves and prayers are with you.
Kerri
Kerrilee617 @ hotmail dot com
In mid-October, we lost my sister-in-law as a result of a brain tumor. She had been in the hospital for what we thought would be treatment fir a relatively minor problem.
In a period of two days we went from learning that Kristina had a brain tumor to planning her funeral. We all have a chance to Share in your son overcoming his brain tumor, and pray that he will overcome this and live a successful life. Our prayers for his recovery is our Christmas gift to you. His overcoming this setback in his life will be his Christmas gift to us.
Peace be with you!
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Nester Family….we have several friends in common and I recently came across this blog and felt compelled to read and pray for sweet little Bennett. I too had a benign brain tumor since birth but was not aware of it until I was 30. It wasn’t until it grew so large that it was causing me problems that I realized it was there. But brain surgery (I’ve had at least 10 to remove mine) is scary no matter what. I am still recovering from my most recent and hopefully last in November 2010. I pray that Bennett doesn’t have any residual effects from his surgery and that he grows to be a healthy, happy boy. My prayers for him will continue. God Bless the Nester family!