#teamjonahgoodall

Photo Credit: Amy Murgatroyd Photography

Having not posted in almost 18 months we're reactivating this blog to update on Jonah's journey.   We'll use this to provide periodic updates for those that are interested.  There is a subscribe by email box to the right that we'd suggest using - we don't know if you're following or not so feel no obligation to subscribe.

A couple of months ago an endoscopy resulted in Jonah being diagnosed with EoE (a food allergy caused inflammatory condition of the esophagus).  Since then we've been pursuing a 6 food elimination diet as a family to try to determine what was causing it.   Over the last few weeks he's started eating less, showing more lethargy and vomiting more frequently.   Eating and drinking however resulted in improvements, so we focused on getting him to eat and drink more.
This week he started complaining of headaches, became even more lethargic and then on Wednesday afternoon (7/22) Stephanie witnessed some gibberish from our normally articulate Jonah.  That resulted in the amazing doctors at our pediatrician deciding to move up a precautionary MRI that had been scheduled for August.  Late in the afternoon at Northwest Community Hospital Jonah underwent an MRI that uncovered a 6 centimeter tumor at the back of the brain. We were immediately transferred downtown to the care of Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago's Pediatric Neurology department.

A further MRI on Friday confirmed that tumors have spread to the spinal column in addition to other parts of the brain identified in the first MRI.  Around 3:30pm yesterday Jonah entered surgery to remove the primary tumor.  To make a long story short - after 8 hours in surgery we now know that the cancer is more pervasive than initially suspected from the MRI.   During surgery there was some material swelling in the brain and he had an epidural hematoma identified in a post surgery CT scan which required him to go back into surgery again to have it removed.   He is now in PICU where he is being taken off sedation but remains on intubation as a precaution under their watch.   Today we anticipate being a quieter day of rest and recovery with the most potential action being a post surgery MRI and removing him from intubation based upon how he reacts when he wakes up.

We'll try to keep this updated as we can.   We've got an amazing support network of family and close friends that are rallying beyond our wildest expectations.  Thank you to everyone.

- The Goodalls

Philippians 4:6-7 …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.