We found out a little more about the cause of the seizure. The tumor regrew, faster than the doctors expected. This is also the reason he was having a harder and harder time speaking the past couple of weeks – because the tumor was getting bigger.

Tomorrow morning (Wednesday morning) they’re going to do surgery to remove the cancer again. If the surgery goes well then many of his recent symptoms, including his difficulty in speaking clearly, will probably subside. He will then have to restart chemo therapy and continue the radiation.

But there is also a chance that it may not go well, but instead cause more damage to his brain. The doctor speculated that he is two-thirds sure that the surgery will go as planned.

Please pray that his surgery would go well and that we’d have much more time with him when he’s healthy. Pray even that there wouldn’t be a tumor when the doctors start the surgery. Today he said that he is really looking forward to going home (meaning his real home, heaven) but he wants to be here for us, his family.

It’s really encouraging to see my dad and mom not distraught over this. The worst-case scenario health-wise (dying) would bring about the best thing that my dad has ever experienced: being with his Savior. For my mom, as she says, it would be only an interruption in their relationship with each other if he died, not an end. There’s real sadness (for all of us) but I’m heartened that they see the reality of heaven.

Philippians 1:21-24

-Ben

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Hi everyone this is Stephen Altrogge (friend and pastor of the Murphy’s). Larissa asked me to update the blog for them.

Last night Steve had another seizure and had to be life flighted down to the hospital in Pittsburgh. The doctors believe that the seizure was caused by swelling in Steve’s brain.

Right now Steve is unable to speak, but is lucid and can understand everything happening around him.

The doctors are considering surgery to relieve some of the pressure on the brain. There are risks associated with the surgery [not exactly sure what], and because of this, the family will need to make some decisions regarding the best way forward.

Please be praying for the Murphy family and for Steve. We serve a God who cares so deeply about Steve that He sent His precious Son to die in Steve’s place. If God would do such an incredibly loving thing, He’ll take care of the Murphy’s and hear our prayers. So let’s pray.

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we found ourselves in the er again today, exactly four weeks after we were there with steve. ian had a seizure this morning and after several tests and prescriptions, he is back home sleeping. we aren’t sure what caused it but there don’t seem to be any huge side effects- his speech in particular seems to be ok. it’s the first he’s ever had.

please pray for ian that god would spare him from further seizures and that the effects from this one would be minimal. please also pray for comfort and rest for him.

thank you

larissa

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Steve has begun his chemo and radiation treatments and is experiencing side effects. Please pray for strength for him and Mary.

Ian wanted me to report that he is doing well and asked for prayer for his memory and initiation.

Thank you,

Larissa

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I speak for Mary and I when I say that we weren’t shocked by this new trial. Grieved, but not shocked. We should expect sufferings to multiply. Our entire christian experience is marked by suffering- some more severe than others – and our suffering is magnified by our knowledge of the glory that waits for us beyond this earth.

I’ve been struck many times over the past two weeks by Steve and Ian. Father and son. Two recipients of severe affliction. No one knows Ian’s sufferings now as well as his father. Steve now shares in the sufferings of his son.

We aren’t afraid of death, but we don’t want Steve to leave. Not yet. We believe that god could heal steve, and god could heal Ian. But he might not. There is no promise in the bible that he will or that he has to. And we have to be ok with that.

larissa

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My dad gets to come home this afternoon – he’s really excited to get home and out of the hospital! The neurosurgeon saw him this morning and was pleased with his recovery so far. The next step is out-patient therapy to regain strength in his right arm. Every day his arm is getting stronger. He will also have to get chemotherapy and radiation treatment at some point, but we don’t know when that will start. 

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Not a real specific update. we will hopefully find out a timeframe today of when he can come home and begin therapy.

thank you all for your prayers

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We were able to all go down to the hospital today to spend time with Steve and celebrate Devon’s birthday. Steve is very tired and it is hard for him to stay awake for long periods of time. I don’t know if this was already mentioned, but he has been moved out of the ICU and onto a step-down unit.

Thank you all for praying. Again, we are asking for no visitors, as Steve is so tired. By the time the nine of us crowd into a room, it’s stimulation enough for Steve (and the rest of us!;)

Thank you. And please continue to pray for Ian as he walks through this with his dad.

Larissa

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This afternoon they let my dad wake up to talk to us. He is alert, oriented and talking! He is really really tired and cannot move his right hand very well. His speech is slightly slurred, either from the medication or the injury. We don’t know exactly what kind of tumor it is yet, so when the results come back the doctors will know what to do next. There are still pieces of the tumor left inside, so they still have to work on getting it out, probably by chemotherapy and radiation. 

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