A miracle for Michael

“Impossible situations can become possible miracles.” — Robert H. Schuller


Not all things can be explained. Some of life's questions are easy and there is a definitive answer with reasoning behind it. Like 2 plus 2 equals 4.

It is the big questions that are hardest to understand. Those questions that simply ask, "Why?"

There are sometimes no answers to that question.

Garrison firefighter Michael Wachsmuth has been diagnosed with fibrillary astrocytoma. A malignant brain tumor.

I will not attempt to explain what it is. Rather I pulled a quote from the Mayo Clinic website and put it here. Just Google it if you want more information.

Astrocytomas originate from cells called astrocytes and are most commonly found in the main part of the brain, the cerebrum. People can develop astrocytomas at any age, though they are more common in adults. Astrocytomas in the base of the brain are more common in young people.

Mayo Clinic is highly experienced in treating astrocytomas. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is ranked No. 1 in Neurology and Neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/glioma/astrocytomas.html?wt.srch=1&wt.mc_id=Yahoo&keyword=minnesota_brain_tumor_astrocytoma&campaign=mcr_neurosurgery&state=minnesota&OVRAW=astrocytoma&OVKEY=astrocytoma&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=3274130013&OVKWID=32084089013

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrocytoma

I rode along with Bruce Breun, Mike Schneider and Jason Stiernagle, some of the Garrison firefighters, yesterday as they went to visit their firefighting brother. When we arrived, Laura, Michael mother gave us the news. The diagnosis was malignant brain tumor and the prognosis is grim. She asked us to be positive when we talked with her son. A request that was easy to understand.

She said Michael is unable to move from the neck down and still had a breathing tube in his throat. He can move his head slightly to say yes or no. He can blink his eyes and he can smile. He is anxious to get the tube out of his mouth so he can at least mouth words. Right now, since he cannot move his arms, he cannot use sign language. Communication is difficult for him at this point.

But when those firefighters walked into his room in the ICU unit on Mary Brigh at the Mayo Clinic, I could have sworn Michael's face was glowing. Seeing him talk with his brothers was a wonderful thing.

He smiled a lot yesterday morning. He complained only a little. He was hungry and wanted to eat real food. And he wanted that tube out of his mouth more than anything.

He gets along quite well with his nurse, Erin. I think he has a crush on her. I think it will be much easier for him to flirt with her when he does get that tube out. For to see him smile can turn any body's heart upside down.

Erin said she enjoys working with Michael. That he is a sweetheart and a fighter.

And that he is. He is a fighter.

He needs to keep on fighting. He needs to regain his strength. He needs to be able to breath on his own.

Michael's astrocytoma is a grade 4 and is inoperable. His hope for survival clings to a thread of a chance for radiation to shrink the tumors and stop the spreading. To begin any treatment, he needs to get off the ventilator and breath on his own.

Please pray for Michael to fight. Please pray for Michael to be able to breath on his own so that he can begin treatment.

What is needed now is a miracle for Michael.

Peace.

“Miracles happen to those who believe in them.” — Bernard Berenson