Merry Merry Christmas!

I apologize for the delay on my explanation, first of all.  I went to Birmingham to meet with my surgeon at UAB. After a couple of hours of Q&A and an informal tour of almost every floor at the Kirkland Clinic, I am having surgery January 3rd.

A mis-communication of the urgency of my case is to blame I believe; however, my surgeon told me he could operate now or two weeks for now, it was my call. He told me there was no guarantee a hold for two weeks would make a difference. I decided that in that case I want this Christmas with my family at home and my church family to be the best possible, not with me recovering after a surgery. Thank you all for your prayers & sweet, sweet words. The prayers are giving me strength and guidance I assure you. My actions are not of my own accord!

Here's the science behind the procedure for you brains out there (I'm a nerd, no shame). Back in 2004 when I had my tumor and cyst removed, I mentioned I contracted an infection. This infection left abrasions in the ventricles (canal-like things) in my head. Brain fluid flows through these, but mine has a rough go of it due to my abrasions that act as tiny obstructions. I have a shunt in the top left side of head to help this. Now with my new symptoms and the new scans, my surgeon believes placing another shunt in the back right side of my head will help his flow and thereby diminishing the fluid within my spinal cord.

Now, I want to apologize in advance a little. I ask for your prayers - prayer to our Almighty God works! The apology is for my reply to your comments. I read them and I LOVE and APPRECIATE them all! I apologize because I do not reply to each or many of them. It doesn't mean I am not seeing and cherishing them. Maybe I'm stubborn (surprise!), it is though my intention to continue to live everyday to the fullest. I totally believe I can wake up any day now without any symptoms, physically healed. God can do that if He chooses! No matter what though, I have a new job that I love and appreciate, I am graduating from Athens State University this semester, I have a church I adore participating in specifically the Salem Springs Youth Group (you students rock), and certainly not the least, I have tons of family that I want to give all I have to! Nothing this world (Satan himself) can throw at me will change this.

I pray you ALL have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! And do not forget the reason for this celebration. It's Jesus Christ. The Savior of this world. Over two thousand years ago, God came to this earth in the form of a baby boy, grew to be a man that lived a perfect and sinless life, and then He gave his life for you. AMAZING GRACE! If that doesn't make you set down your hot cocoa (or Sundrop) and sing Glory! well...holler at me and we will talk :)

I love you and thank you all!