UPDATE DAY #3

First off, I want to apologize to anyone who has called or text today. It's been an overwhelming day of doctors, nurses, visitors and so much information to contain! I will briefly give what was told today the best way I can and tomorrow will be visits from all Attending Doctors with their thoughts and plans after going over today's observations. And at the end, I wanted to share the spiritual part of the day which is just as, if not more, important than the doctors views today.

Neurosurgeon:
The mass is quite large and in the middle of the brain, meaning that the brain has actually capped over it. They also could see the optic track, which is connected to the back of the eye and normally shoots across straight into the back of the brain where it attaches, on the MRI they can clearly see it attached to the eye then rise up over the mass and comes across the top all the way to the back. These things tell him that he feels the tumor has been there quite some time, possibly during pregnancy and as Malaya's brain has developed and grown, so has this tumor. Because of her age and uncertainty of what type of tumor and not knowing where it is attached is why he has set her surgery for Tuesday and his plan is to go in "prepared" to remove all of it but was very clear that this very well might not be the case, once he goes in and sees anything at all that he questions her safety, he will only do biopsy of a piece but assured me that ANY area that was clear to be removed that he would take that opportunity to remove all he can! He wants to cover everything before anything is done and has full confidence in the teams that are coming in today to see her!

Opthalmologist
Did different tests on her eyes then had them dilated. His findings were, surprisingly to him after seeing the MRI for himself, that there are no signs of her vision and capability of following objects and light and being focused on objects or people! Amen and Amen!

Endocrine Specialist
Explained that TSH levels were elevated which shows over activity of the pituitary gland in which the mass is very close to. Could mean several different things, such as the gland itself is enlarged OR the thyroid glands are inactive causing the pituitary gland to over work. Other things to be considered after consulting with her attending doctor tomorrow before they visit us.

Oncologist
Explained that all her levels across the board were actually showing normal, which after looking at the MRI himself, was surprised that the TSH and White Blood Count were the only things elevated and actually, in his opinion, are slightly elevated, for example the WBC normal is 5,000 to 12-14,000 ... Malaya's was 20,000 which tells them yes something is going on and with babies in this situation, theirs could shoot up at any time if they were to come in contact with a virus, etc. But babies with tumors usually have a much more elevated count. Did not want to really discuss chemotherapy or radiation until there was a definite diagnosis, just because he doesn't want to put any more worries or concern on us than we already have. We understood and greatly appreciated it.

Malaya's well being today was woke up very chirpy and happy and kicking and playful. Where our her right eye has been the one of concern, her left eye showed similar signs. No one actually seemed very concerned when I brought it to their attention. Please pray for this little head cold she has ... She already has lost energy the past 3 weeks but the past 3 days have just zapped her so when she's having to fight to breathe because of her nose just makes her feel worse. And could be the result of right eye changes because of sinus pressure and such! So please pray for a healing there. We need her as healthy as possible for surgery! But overall, she has taken her milk very very well and they were very pleased to know that. They explained in their experience, babies are very fussy and tend to lose appetite! Malaya has never been a fussy baby and even though she has went through traumatizing things for any 7 month old, she just is not fussing at all. She does sleep alot and doesn't keep energy up to play but a few minutes but she has that beautiful smile that everyone has just fell in love with here! Outstanding hospital and workers so keep praying for them all here! It is working! I believe that God is sending exactly who we are praying for! Tomorrow I will have a list of each of their names so that you all can pray specifically for them :)

We Love You All So Very Very Much and again...I am so deeply sorry for those I have not text or called back! But I have literally been working throughout the day on this and just kept getting pulled off of it and my phone is here with over 40 messages I have not opened! I am so sorry and you are very important to me but I knew I had to get this to Lisa so that the word could get out much much quicker!

Special thanks to:
Brother Ben Young and his wife of Cornerstone
Brother Kerry Lee and Truman Peden
Brother Bill McCann
for making special trip down here yesterday and today to simply pray with us and pray over Malaya! We do not take it lightly the drive you made for just a short visit at a hospital 2 hours away! You have touched us so much! We love you all...

And very special thanks for Lisa Moses to be led to build this fb page and her blog! Thank you for allowing God to use you to spread this word in a much better way than Jeff and I could ever do with texting and calling!

Spiritual Moments of the Day

The morning started a little dark and defeated with worry, doubt and fear after meeting with the neurosurgeon. So after his team left the room, there was such a heaviness in the room and over myself and mother, that I couldn't even think straight and hardly breathe. I know there are many of you who can relate to this feeling of helplessness and out of control that you literally are going in circles, accomplishing nothing and I picked my phone up and seen I had over 20 messages waiting to be read and anxiety hit me with what do I say when I am not even clear myself of how to grasp all of this, about that time the phone rang and it was a pastor from a church north of Birmingham, whom had a member there that shared with the church an email he had received from Jeff (he was someone jeff met thru business and had confidence in his prayers) and the church united in prayer and he felt led to call the hospital this morning and offer anything at all that we might need and asked to pray before we hung up. His prayer was perfect timing just like God always is! In his prayer, he reminded me to speak to the tumor! I knew in the bible, it teaches us that we have been given the power, through the blood of Jesus Christ, to speak against evil spirits that come against us and even though I had been speaking against things, I had not actually spoke straight to the tumor itself to be removed. So needless to say, as soon as we hung up the phone I knew I could not get back on my phone and talk or text anybody, much less make it through whatever this day had to hold without having an encounter with God and I don't mean a little prayer either ... I mean a deep down, soul cleansing, spirit filled, demon fighting kind of encounter with God! And that is exactly what we had! Satan fought me so hard at the beginning that I couldn't even find the words to say! Have you ever been so overwhelmed with your mind that your heart is wanting to cry out but the words were not there? It's very frustrating but I am hear to tell you that you can speak to that spirit of confusion and doubt to leave and command it to stop tormenting you! The mind is a devils playground but the key is that although satan likes to play there, he cannot read your mind and thoughts! The only thing he has to go on is words spoken out loud! That's why it's so important to be cautious of what we say because if we are speaking negative and doubtful things on this situation, we are giving him all permission to take those words and run with them to setup his next trick or scheme! So I just started speaking for those things to leave and claiming that I am a child of God and by the power he had invested in me through His precious precious son Jesus Christ, I command you spirit of doubt confusion worry and fear to leave. You are not welcomed or wanted here. I speak to this tumor to be removed! You evil work of satan has been revealed and brought to light so you will not finish the plan of the evil one because My God is a Mighty God and she belongs to Him and My Prayer Partners are Mighty Prayer Warriors and with us all You are defeated! I speak death on this tumor that there is NO life in it anymore! And the word of God says, whatever so be bound on earth shall be bound in heaven; whatsoever be loosened on earth shall be loosened in heaven so we bind you satan and we bind every evil working spirit you have attacking my sweet baby girl and we loosen every sweet fruit of the spirit to fill this room and our hearts, mind, soul and spirits! Let your presence God fall so heavily in this room that every doctor and nurse that walk in, no matter what kind of day they've had...it is left at the door and your holiness surrounds them as they examine and test Malaya. That their minds be filled with clarity and discernment so that their decisions are of You God, not of them! We apply the blood again over Malaya, from the top of her precious head to the bottom of her little feet! All negative words of doubt confusion fear and worry being spoken, intentional and unintentional ... I call them void and null and they are under our feet! We ask to fill us with positive thinking and an extra ounce of faith and courage today! Today is the beginning of a journey that is held in Your Hands and beg for whatever you see fit to prepare us for what's ahead! I praise you for yesterday and how you moved mightily in peoples lives and God if that is Malaya's purpose on this earth then show me how you want to reach to your people! God you have seen all the testimonies and even though it is very hard for me to fight self-pity and anger, I am so very thankful for being a part of You having your will be done in all these people, even the ones I don't even know! As hard as it is to say this, I stand before you with my precious Malaya and I remind myself of your precious son, whom you loved so very much and watched being crucified and allowed his death on the cross because you loved me more, because you loved Malaya more, because you loved that person who gave their life to you today after reading our prayer of her situation, because of all these persevering prayer warriors that have rose over this situation so God let Your Will Be Done in whoever is touched by Malaya's life directly and indirectly! This has knocked the life out of me but You've known all along God ... You've known all along!!! So I shall take comfort in that and pray your plan follow through for Malaya and everyone You have been trying to reach and they have been running from You! But I am a mother and I ask, no I beg of You to protect Malaya through it all. I love you so very much! Thank you for everything!! Bless all your wonderful people in little town of Belmont that has showed such a compassion for others & has unselfishly devoted prayer after prayer after prayer! Lord, you see each and every one of them ... From the oldest elders in churches to the precious little ones at Mrs Marlo's who made signs of scriptures and encouraging words yesterday ... Bless them ten fold God! Meet their needs in their life God! They will never know how their prayers and even their texts of sharing their own personal experience in this kind of situation has lifted us and literally has pushed through each hour in the spirit rim to be of sound mind and body by the end of each day!

Ingrid C. Wood