We spent Thanksgiving in Birmingham with Dad and Carol. It was a great time, and it was good to spend more than a few minutes with them.

Things with the tumor seem to be coming to a head (pun intended; I just can't help it). While we were there, he had what both he and Carol said was his worst day to date, as far as headaches go. It was so bad that he had to cancel the Sunday School class he was slated to teach on Sunday, as he couldn't muster the energy to finish his preparations. He's got pain medicine, which helps sometimes, but it didn't seem to get it done, this time.

They did find a suitable treatment, which is a huge answer to many people's prayers. There was the option to open up his skull and remove the tumor. There was also an option to use a Gamma knife (radiation treatment). Neither of those seemed like the right thing. For one, Dad didn't want his skull sliced open and his brain tissue rearranged to get to this tumor.

So, he and Carol began to look for other types of treatments around the country. The found a doctor in Pittsburgh who's developed a process for the removal of this type of tumor by essentially picking the patient's nose. They use pretty much the same technology that you'd see in an arthroscopy, make a small cut in the lining that separates the sinuses from the brain cavity, and pull out the tumor.

Apparently, this is less risky, and more effective, than the other two options. Further, the doctor, has performed the procedure more than 800 times, which means that he's probably pretty good at it.

So pray for these things:

• Relief from the headache symptoms in the short term.
• Encouragement for both Dad and Carol as they work together to manage Dad's pain.
• That God would work out funding for the procedure. Dad and Carol got a letter from their insurance company that said the surgery may not be covered. It seems absurd, given that this procedure is less risky, and more effective, than the alternative surgical option.

That's all. The surgery is set for December 17th, with a battery of tests for Dad the Friday before. They'll stay in Pittsburgh for 10-14 days after the surgery so the doctors can monitor Dad's recovery.