Outside the World According to Me...

...things that really matter are going on. I got news that gives me a bit of hope. My brother went and had an MRI today. This MRI is, as I understand it, akin to the functional MRI that they performed right before his surgery for his brain tumor that grew back yet again after a few years of inactivity. He's been getting an experimental treatment that has great prospects for killing the tumor. Theoretically... of course, God is sovereign and we are not all-powerful, so whether or not that actually occurs is a whole other matter. So, now that you are somewhat caught up, here is the situation: He had a typical MRI, and the tumor was larger. Red alert! That is cause for alarm. So they took a functional-esque MRI this morning to examine the pathways that feed the tumor, to see if it is actually growing. Good news! It's not actually growing. There is less blood flowing to the tumor than there was before. The drug might be working! I can't stress to you enough how much that means to me. Every time I think of burying my brother within the next few years, I just can't see - I feel like I am suddently transported onto the edge of a steep precipice and stricken with a heavy case of vertigo. I can't imagine life without him, really. Theoretically, yes, but not at this time. And not because of this cancer. My dad firmly believes that the miracle that is my brother's beautiful son came about to fulfill a role that my father won't be able to - to take care of my brother for the rest of his life. Daddy, in his optimism, pegs it that my brother will live at least another 30 years - that is his great hope. My dad is 56 now, so... do the math. My nephew should be able to pick up when my dad can't do it anymore. Lord, I hope my dad is right. Today's results give me hope that he is.