[Rous]

[Forest]

I saw Rachel again today and she is looking even more healthy, despite the painstaking fact of having 36 weights (each weighing in at 1 pound each) attached to her halo. At college today, I printed out all the messages from this group, as well as JFA and HL and she was elated to recieve them.

Thanks so much for your continued support. It is very much appreciated by me and my family and most importantly her and her family.

Thanks again. You're a great bunch of people.

~Forest

[Yavanie]

OHH! OHHH! Me! Me! I've been out of this loop for a few days and Rachael and you and her family and friends have been in my thoughts and prayers, and you can let her know that. Does TExas count as another country (we think so). I had a dear friend in junior high that had to have the halo thing from spinal surgery on a tumor in her neck. She actually got to be an inch taller for a a little while (much to her delight because she has always been more than a head shorter than her peers). anyway, much good wishes and prayers for you and your friend. I know how important it was to my friend to be surrounded by well wishers and friends - and how invaluable it was to her family for the moral support. Anyway, please keep us updated and I'll keep you all in my prayers!!!

[Forest]

Sorry for the late update. I'm been v.busy with RL and my computer has been on the blink. *sighs*

Rachel came home at the end of last week after her final operation which involved inserting a series of metal rods into her spine to straighten it. The halo has come off, as have the weights but she is still in a great deal of pain - though having her family around her helps her a lot.

All the messages for Rachel that have been posted here and at JFA and HL, as you know, I printed off at gave to her and she was astounded that there were so many people around the world that were thinking of her.

She asked me to send you all this message:

~*~

From Rachel - Thanks for your prayers. Prayer may seem small and insignificant, but put altogether it can produce a great result.

Thanks again.
Rachel

~*~


Many thanks from me too for your continued support. It is appreciated very highly.


Love and hugs
~Forest

[Rous]

I am glad she is doing well. I will continue to keep her in my prayers. Time will have the telling. Thank you for letting us help in this way. And tell her that it only seems small when viewed by the outside world. Those who know, know that prayer is the most powerful thing. It can move mountains.

[Forest]

Rachel had her scan yesterday. They were going to do this
today but have managed to swap with someone else. She was sedated which may have something to do with her fear of needles, but I don't really know. I do know that she was very worried about the scan.

However, the major concern is that she has lost the use of her legs.
Hopefully this will only be a temporary condition. The doctors kept her in last night to keep an eye on her and obviously treat according to the findings of the scan.

This is obviously another very worrying time for Rachel and her
family.

I know the family have appreciated all your kind thoughts and prayers especially over the last few weeks and hope you will be able to continue with your prayer support at this particular difficult moment.

Thank you again.

~Forest

[Rous]

Definately. I am glad she is doing as well as she is. We just lost a junior in a local high school to a brain tumor. She was diagnosed last week, and passed on just days later. I know it affects more than just the immediate family. I pray for them and Rachel's friends. Thank you for keeping us updated.

[Yavanie]

I was wondering how she was doing. She has been on my mind a lot lately (I sympathize in a really SMALL way, pulled a muscle in my lower back and can hardly move, sit or stand at the moment). Anyway, I am sure that after such a major surgery loss of feeling can't be too uncommon. I am sure it is quite troubling to her and her family. By a wry twist of fate in my own discomfort, I will continue to keep her in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for the update.