Update from Kathy about Kevin Winter's health situation

[Robert Williamson]

It has been a while since I posted the last update on Kevin's situation as Kevin wanted to make a decision as to what he was going to follow as treatment.  As I explained in my last update, the doctors in France had found a cancerous tumor on Kevin's brain that was impossible to operate on.  They wanted to start radiation and chemotherapy but Kevin really longed to have a second opinion. Since St. Louis is Kevin's American base, we were able to obtain an appointment with a very famous oncologist and neurologist at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Kevin was finally able to make the trip to the USA after the doctors in France arranged his medication so that he could travel.  In France they told him it would be another two weeks before they could start his treatments.

When Kevin arrived in St. Louis on Friday morning, he went right to the hospital for his appointment.  The doctors immediately hospitalized him and did the tests again which he had had in France.  However, they did it immediately and by this morning, Saturday, all the test results were back.

The doctor met with Kevin this morning, Saturday, and they spoke to him for a long time about his situation.  Basically their findings were that Kevin has a glioma tumor on his brain that is very aggressive, the same thing which the doctors in France told him.  However, the difference is that here in the US they can operate on this tumor.  It is a very delicate and fragile operation but they are doing it all the time.  They told Kevin that if he does not treat this aggressively he will only have about 9 weeks to live. 

Kevin has decided to go ahead with the operation which will take place on Wednesday or Thursday next week.  He is at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and his doctor's name, the one who is doing this MRI guided operation, this doctor's name is Dr. Kim.  He is originally from Korea and has lived most his life in the US.  His specialty is this glioma tumor and people come from all over the country to be treated by him.

Kevin told the doctor, that his whole life, all he has ever wanted to do was to serve his Father in Heaven-so if this operation can help him to continue to do that-he will go ahead. 

I'm sure we all agree that what Kevin needs the most right now are prayers for the success of this delicate operation and subsequent treatments.  I know that so many of you have been praying for so long now-but we are sending out a request for a deluge of prayers that can assist Kevin in fighting this difficult situation.  As always, Kevin is so grateful for all of your love and prayers and concern. 

We are all grateful from the bottom of our hearts.

Kathy