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Bertram Faithful,

I just read this on a travel website I follow. This is a posting regarding MarkS from Wisconsin who posts on this board regularly. I met Mark through the B31 website, he and his wife are great folks.

Please keep Mark and his family in your prayers.

Here is the message posted by a friend of Mark’s on the tripadvisor board.

“I just got about as bad a call as I could get...
Mark (F4B) asked me to post this and beg, plead for prayers...his 7 year old daughter Mara is at this moment in an ambulence on her way to Milwaukee Childrens Hospital. Earlier this afternoon an MRI revealed a tumor in her brain stem that the docters say is inoperable. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting her, she's the cutest, sweetest little girl you could know...and the light of Mark and Lehanns life. PLEASE....the power of prayer can do amazing things, and theres never been a more urgent need. I asked Mark to keep me posted as it's possible...”

All I know is what I’ve copied from the other website. Please keep them in your prayers.

DanielM

What awful news! Mark, all our thoughts and prayers are with you, your wife and little girl. Words won't do it, so I won't try. Be strong my friend, your family needs you more than ever right now.
Daniel, thank you for letting us know. Walter

Mark,
Be hopeful, miracles happen everyday in the medical world.
Your family and your little girl are in our thoughts.
Ray

Mark,
Your friends from Tx are here for ya'll. Let us know if there's anything we can do. Please don't hesitate to call us.
The Cranstons.

mark
my prayers are with you and your family, and yes miracles do happen

We will keep your daughter and family in prayer.

Al

Absolutely

Prayers for your daughter and family Mark, and you as well.

Mark, we will pray for you family.

Russ& Barbara

Mark,
You need something, you have my number. If I can come up and do anything, call.

The wife, and I and the church prayer group have you covered.

Bruce and Shirley

She will be in my prayers.

Mark,
You have our prayers.

Ditto, it worked for me.

UV

Daniel, thanks for caring enough to post this request.

Mark, I want you to know that Mara will be lifted up in prayer by 75-80 men in our morning bible study. God bless you, Mara and your entire family.

Tommy

Prayers from the island.

Worked for my dad. Brain tumor also. Mark you should look up Massachusetts General Hospital.....they did what nobody thought was possible...In addition, we saw an 8 year old with a tumor behind one of her eyes and it was surgically removed and she did great....Angels on the work I must say.

Daniel thanks for letting us know. Mark my family and I have been praying for her and hope the power of God comes through on this...

Hang tuff Mark, you and your family are in our hearts and on our minds. The power of positive thinking is amazing...

Hang tuff Mark. Our prayers are with you and the family.

____________________________________________
25SF 254-1792

My hopes and prayers go out to your daughter, you and your family.
Carl

Somehow I knew this would be here, thanks Danny!

We made it through the first hurrdle today as a shunt needed to be placed in her head to relieve the pressure built up by the tumor which is blocking the return of crainial fluid to the body.

Now we need to address the tumor which is not operable as it is in the brain stem. I was truely moved by the sentiment here and just want you all to know that my wife Lehann and I do appreciate the thoughts and prayers.

This is one of those special little girls that was smarter than her dad by age 3. She is a beautiful despite her dads less than average mug and holds a bright future once we get past this bump in the road. She would make friends with each and every one of you in about 30 seconds.

I must tell you all I have never been this affraid in my life. Please keep the warm thoughts and prayers coming!

Thank you my Bertram brothers!
Mark

Wishing Mark and his family our best wishes.

caren and i will certainly add you to our prayers.

Mark,

Mara, you and your whole family are in my thoughts and prayers. If you do decide to pursue Mass General or any other hospitals in the NE area, let me know and I will do whatever I can to help.

Dug

Worked for me too.......

Chin up, always.

Mark...

My wife and I are remembering you and your family in our hearts and prayers. Nothing any of us here can say can relieve the heartache a parent feels for a sick child.. words seem so inadequate, but know that there are a bunch of us out here who all are sending your family all the strength and energy we can muster. There is power in numbers, and the numbers of people supporting you are growing.

We all pray for a positive outcome for you all.

Mark....
You and your family are in all of our prayers.

Thinking only positive things for your family Mark. Hang tough

Mark, prayers sent for your daughter & family bro.

DQ

Hang in there Mark! We are all praying for your family!

Mark- She's in our thoughts. Hang in there.

Mark
Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers
God bless you and yours.
Chris

stephanie and i will say a prayer along with our group sunday morning.these things have a way of working out for the good .look to the lord for a happy future.

Mark,
You and your family are in our thoughts...my son had a smiliar diagnosis at the age of three...he is now 11...life has a way kicking you in the balls..good friends and family help in the toughest of times...Childrens Hospital in Boston has the most amazing Doctors...My sons neurologist is heaven sent and if you want his email or cell I can get that for you..Hang in there you are not alone...BH

Mark-

Tough diagnosis. Hang tough. Though I don't pray often I will in this case...... ask lots of questions to keep the Dr's on their toes.

Mark

Our prayers are with you.

Hang tough. There is some great care out there today. Like the guys said try Boston, but also don't rule out Duke University. They have done wonders for my nephew who has an agressive brain tumor. Without them he probably would not be here today.

Mark and Family,

You and your family are in our prayers.

Bruce D.

Prayers are with you and your family.

Mark

You and your family are in our prayers.

Mark,

I don't post very often, although I do read this board several times a day.

I say this because I want you to know that there are a lot of us (lurkers) in your corner.

I have you, your family and especially your daughter on my mind, in my heart and as the focus of my prayers.

You & your little girl have more friends than you know.

Rit

My wife and I cannot imagine the thoughts and feelings you must be going through. We have you and your daughter in our prayers.

Hi all and I can't tell you how awesome you all are!!!


Today we got the news that we may be able to go home. As with almost every hospital things move way slower than one would like but that news perked Mara up for sure. She had a fair night last night with a good amount of sleep and only a little pain from the shunt surgeory




Our oncologists tell us this is going to be difficult as the glioma tumor is a problem for us. As I have decide from the begining there is only one direction we are travleing and this toward victory. We will start radiation therapy in a week or so. the doctors like the a full week after the shunt surgeory before we start radiation.




On a very bright note Mara pinned her dad down about the kitty she has been asking for for a while and of course we will be kitty shopping in the next days.

I am also going to be exploring all and any options and I really appreciate all of your thoughts. It is being thrown into something you now nothing about and expected to make a life and death decision. I will bereferencing this post in the coming days.


Thank you all again for support, my world is a bit full right now but know this we all thank you for the warm wishes. Please keep them coming!




Mark

Mark:

You and your wife, and of course Mara, are in my thoughts and prayers -- as Dug said, if you end up in the Northeast and I can do anything, please let me know -- I have two empty guest rooms!

There are many of us on this board that have personally experienced the power of prayer and positive thinking, myself included, therefore, keep believing and don't accept anything but the best treatment for your daughter. Ask questions and push for service - while I was undergoing treatment I remembered 5 two letter words one of my baseball coaches used to tell us "If it is to be, it is up to me." remember that everytime someone says they can't or won't do something for her!

Tom

Similar experiences. Accept nothing as it is. Ask questions. Get second and third opinions. Trust your gut more than the doctors. Do your homework and become an expert on the subject. Question every single thing they do, read every prescription, check every pill, Google every doctor. I always remember the words my daughter who is presently a doctor at Duke University Hospital, said to me about doctors..."Remember Dad, someone always graduates last in Medical school".
You are your Daughter's advocate and protector. I have caught too many errors, wrong medications/prescriptions/dosages to be overly trusting. Be strong my friend, your family has never needed you more. Ask for anything you need and one of us will be there for you. Walter

I go to mass most every morning she will be in our prayer book God bless her

Mark - I echo what Walter is saying.

My youngest son has a Traechostomy for the first 18 months of his life. My wife has researched everything to the fullest extent and we question everything. Make sure to research the hospital. We chose to go out of state (actually out of country at the time) to Cincinnati Childrens.

We do not (fortunately) have any experience with pediatric oncology.

Read, research and ask lots of questions.

Hang in there!

Ian.

Mark,
Your daughter and family our in our prays.

Just a quick couple of picks of good times. The new kitty and the family.

Hey Mark, thanks for those, y'all are all in our prayers. And by the way, those orange tabby cats are lucky, I know.

UV

Mark,

Thanks for sharing your family with us. You've got beautiful girls in your family, and I know you are thankful that Mara got her Mom's good looks at not yours! :) As promised, at my Bible study yesterday morning a room full of men lifted up Mara and your family in prayer. God bless you all.

Mark,
God bless you , your wife and most of all your daughter. May Gods Grace see her through this. Our prayers are for you.
Matt