Wednesday Nate Update

Wes Oxford

7:26am Jan 23

Update: Yesterday and overnight have been very eventful. First off, regarding the MRIs and other scans and what we know for sure up to this point: Nate has a very active brain right now that is causing things to go on all over his body that the ICU doctors have been trying to find how to correct. The two main concerns right now in the eyes of Dallas are the constant seizures he has been having both seen and unseen and his blood pressure along with heart rate staying so high. As of right now, because things could change instantly throughout the day, both are finally being controlled they believe. To get both of those under control has been a huge fight. Nate has been put on multiple meds of extreme amounts to make that happen and though so far that has worked, the body can't keep getting that amount of meds just to stay within functioning range. Second thing, we know from the scans that Nate has a lot of excess water in the brain that is not being absorbed and circulated the way a normal central nervous system would do. The ventricles in his brain are very large right now. When looked at here in Dallas the reasoning is degradation from a source that can not be pinpointed. In other words, might be tumor that is not located, might be past treatments, might be the seizures, and might be that the brain is just plain wore out. The radiology findings here read very vague and general and not much can be learned from them. The great ICU department here in Dallas is trying desperately to help Nate get to Los Angeles because the oncologists and the brain team here have decided that he is not a candidate for anymore treatment or procedures that may or may not correct the situation. This is where Los Angeles and Drs Finlay and Brown come back in. We have been down some hopeless looking roads before with these doctors and so far they have done more than could have ever been expected. We would have definitely been sent home almost anywhere else and quite possibly everywhere else so words can't describe our gratitude to them. We also want to make this clear we do not feel negative toward any other hospital, institution, or doctor out there...so many people in Dallas, Ft Worth, New York, Duke, Seattle, and Denver have agreed to help him before and gave it their best effort and attention at one point or the other...Nate is a very complex case and not much has made sense over the years and the most logical thing to do was to just stop. We as his parents and his doctors in Los Angeles have without a doubt pushed this thing further than advised or the range of the normal range of comfort. The reason has always been because God has allowed Nate to stay very strong through all of this. No doubt that Nate in the world's eyes should have been dead a long time ago. Even his LA docs and me and Jackie are amazed at what God has blessed Nate with. Why? I don't know except to keep giving the praise to God.

Yesterday afternoon I overnighted the MRIs to Finlay and Brown. They have been talking extensively with the ICU doctors here in Dallas and the cooperation has been fantastic. LA will review the scans sometime today very thorough and include anyone that might help them further to decide whether or not there is a sliver of a chance that anything more can be done. As optimistic, out of the box, and cutting edge as they have been, Nate's best interest is always paramount and these doctors genuinely love him...we have literally spent hours and hours with them through the years and this is more than just doctor and patient. We as his parents and they as his doctors and friends will only proceed forward if it makes any kind of sense. We want God's will to shine here and this decision to be made with the wisdom HE has given all of us...both them and us...these are God fearing men and acknowledge that much more than just what they have done had kept Nate alive. Please pray for them, us as his parents, and for Nate. We want God's will to be done. If after careful consideration, thought, prayer, and research then the decision is no more then the ICU here will stabilize him and we go home on hospice...if the answer is yes, then Nate will be flown in Dallas Children's medical plane hooked to machines to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Nate will immediately begin the next step. This is a big couple of days and does not need to be taken lightly so when they make their decision may not be today. They are agreeing to one more chance to evaluate the situation and discuss with us in detail their decision and thoughts...that is more than we could be expected...they are truly doing this out of love. We will post more once we know more...please pray for all of us. Praise God for HE is in complete control and HE hears our prayers for wisdom. To HIM be all the glory...thank you God thank you Jesus!