May 17, 2008

Brief Hiatus

I'm heading out to San Diego for a few days. My brother is scheduled for brain surgery on Tuesday. Last November, he was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. We've been told this is a fairly common tumor, many times never even detected. His was discovered after some testing for a hearing problem. No matter what the doctors say, this is brain surgery and I plan to be there for Mark and my sister-in-law and their children. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.


Summer, 2005


It was nice growing up with someone like you
- someone to lean on,
someone to count on...
someone to tell on!
~Author Unknown


To the outside world we all grow old.
But not to brothers and sisters.
We know each other as we always were.
We know each other's hearts.
We share private family jokes.
We remember family feuds and secrets,
family griefs and joys.

We live outside the touch of time.
~Carla Ortega


Help your brother's boat across,
and your own will reach the shore.
~Hindu Proverb

If you want to know
how your girl will treat you after marriage,
just listen to her talking to her little brother.
~Sam Levenson


35 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:05 AM

    Thoughts and prayers on their way for your brother. Keep us informed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your brother, Lesley. I hope the surgery goes well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Will be thinking about you as you are spending time with your brother. Hope all goes well with him and that you can enjoy visit with family as well. I know you will feel much better being with him and I am sure he will feel better having his sis at his side.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Keeping your brother in my prayers, Les...I'm sure the surgery will go well,
    *hugs*
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Les, hello! I will absolutely be praying for Mark. I'm so glad you can go and be with him and his family. Hmmm ... I've just sat here for about two minutes hoping to think of something poignant to say but really I just hope for him that everything will be okay, truly okay. Safe travels to you. ♡

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous11:31 AM

    Les, I'll be praying for Mark and you and your family.

    Your pictures of the two of you are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sending lots of good thoughts your way, Les. Hang in there.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Will be thinking and praying for both of you. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  9. My thoughts and prayers are with your brother and family.

    Such great kid pictures you've posted :o)

    ReplyDelete
  10. My thoughts and prayers are with your brother and family. May the doctors have wisdom and you all feel peace during this stressful time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi! My name is Kay and I, too, had an acoustic neuroma. I have a blog (www.threecurlygirlies.blogspot.com) if you would like to contact me-if I can be of ANY help to you or your brother during this time, please feel free to contact me. Sometimes it helps to just talk to someone who has been there. Also, you can see what a GREAT life I have now, 12 years after surgery!
    I will be praying for your brother and all of your family during this time.
    Kay

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous6:08 PM

    Yeah, I guess the words brain and surgery don't sound too good together, do they? I will pray that your brother makes it out of surgery good and new!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous7:54 PM

    Those pictures brought back such wonderful memories to an old Dad! You four are so very special, and now with hubby and wives and kids and great grand kid, the joy spreads. Sorry to miss you and Chris when you two are down seeing Mark; I'll be down there on the 1st. Les, you are a great sister to and for them.

    Love,

    Dad

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous8:13 PM

    Love those precious pictures. Stay safe and well. My thoughts and prayers as always. Give our best wishes to your brother and his family. Talk to you soon. Much love.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'll be thinking of you and your brother too. I do hope it all goes well on Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of you with your brothers, Les. I sincerely hope that the surgery goes well. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Mark and the whole family.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Add my prayers and best wishes to all the others - for Mark and his family, for you and yours, too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thinking of you and your brother and his family. I hope the surgery goes as uneventfully as the doctors say.
    And those are fabulous photos, you were both adorable! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous9:43 AM

    Hi Les. Great pictures of us (forgot what I looked like with hair!!)

    I want to thank your friends for praying for me and the family. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the many who are praying for us. These are deep waters and although we do not know what the outcome will be, we do know that this trial has been designed by God to draw me closer to Him such that He receives all the glory.

    See you in San Diego!

    Love,
    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  20. My prayers are with you and your family, Les.

    I loved the photos. How come you had a life jacket on and he didn't? Do you recall what those sketches are behind the couch?

    ReplyDelete
  21. Les, of course I'll pray for your brother and you (and every one else in the family) for strength and healing and a smooth procedure. God is for us, who can be against us? XOXO

    The pictures are so wonderful, an indication of the relationship you two must share.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Will be thinking of you and Mark and hoping all goes as well as possible.

    ((Les and Mark))

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am thinking of you and brother. Hope everything goes smoothly today and in the coming days.

    ReplyDelete
  24. You and your brother are in my thoughts and prayers, Les.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you all for you kind words, thoughts and prayers. Mark is doing very well! The surgeon was able to remove the entire tumor and save the facial nerve. Unfortunately, the tumor encapsulated the auditory nerve, so he lost all hearing in his left ear. He's still in ICU, but is alert and moving around a little bit. Obviously, he has the world's worst headache, but the pain medication seems to be helping a little bit with that.

    Anyhow, we all appreciate the good thoughts. I'll try to post a bit more in the coming days. I head back home tomorrow morning.

    ReplyDelete
  26. That's GREAT news, Les! :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous9:45 AM

    Dear Lesley;

    This is blogging at it's finest. I love my brothers so much that this made me tear up.

    Prayers for your brother and you.

    Love;
    Gayla

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh Les, I am so happy to hear that they were able to get the whole thing while sparing the facial nerve...will continue to keep Mark and your family (and you!) in my prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm sorry about the loss of hearing in his ear, but I'm so happy everything else is going well. I've been checking for updates, so it's good to hear this news, and of course I continue to hold you all up in prayer.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Best wishes for your brother's quick recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm sorry about your brother and hope the surgery goes well. Those pictures of you guys as kids are just wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  32. My thoughts are with you...the photos of you two growing up are precious...

    ReplyDelete
  33. Brothers are indeed very special. I will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sending prayers and well wishes so your brother has a quick recovery!

    ReplyDelete
  35. That's too bad that he lost his hearing but I'm glad that otherwise the surgery went well. I wish him a speedy recovery.

    ReplyDelete

I may not answer your comments in a timely fashion, but I always answer. Check back soon!