UPDATE

Hello Everyone,

As we get closer and closer to 2010 I just wanted to take a few minutes to update everyone on the last week.

We had a great Christmas, quite and fun, lots of family and friends. Ben has been battling a head cold the last week or so and it was settling in his chest, or so we thought. We have been doing breathing treatments all week because he was working hard to breath. This week in clinic we came in for blood work and to check his breathing. We had x-rays and lots of people come and check him out. They ended up admitting him yesterday for observation, respiratory evaluation, and an MRI. So after everything this is what we know...

Ben's tumor is growing again, and it has closed off his third ventricle in his brain, causing a back-up CNS fluid and extra pressure. As a result the doctors feel we need to relieve the pressure surgically. So on Monday Ben will be having surgery to open up his third ventricle, allowing the fluid to circulate again and hopefully relieve some of his systems (mainly the respiratory difficulty). It will be a few days recovery and then we will be able to do radiation again. The type of surgery he will be having is called a Ventriculotomy.

We don't have quite all the details yet, but we will most likely stay inpatient, the surgery will be midday Monday and hopefully Ben will be feeling much better by Wednesday!

So keep us in you prayers. Its nice being up here on 4 West we have made a lot of good friends in the cancer community this year and having them around is helpful. Please remember that these kids are always in need of blood and platelets. And right now there is a shortage here in LA and in TX - people are literally waiting DAYS for blood products. So please stop by your local blood center and donate today - you could be saving a child like Ben!! SO to our anonymous O- donor we say thank you for donating Ben didn't have to wait long for his blood today!!!

I'll try and update over the next few days to keep you all in the loop. And there will for sure be an update Monday night to let you all know how it goes.

Much Love
The Sarrat Family