Michael, the youngest of the Farnum's
five children, had just celebrated
his fourth birthday, when increasingly
severe headaches and vomiting began.
After just one week their worst fears
were confirmed: Michael had a brain
tumor. Within hours Michael was admitted
to the Hospital for Sick Children
in Toronto and was put through two
weeks of tests - cat scans, MRI's,
Evoked Potential and blood tests to
prepare Michael for surgery. With
every test, the Farnum's turned to
God, praying that the results would
be favorable, and, God answered their
prayers. The surgery was successful
- the tumor was removed, with none
of the feared motor skills damage
and no apparent loss of function.
The Farnum's are very thankful to
neurosurgeon Dr. James Drake at Toronto's
Hospital for Sick Children for his
wonderful skills and caring.
A week
later came the pathologist's report
- CANCER - highly aggressive and extremely
rare.
The hospital's recommendation: 18
months of chemotherapy treatments,
with 6-8 weeks of radiology, and no
guarantee that Michael would survive
either the treatment or the cancer.
What was guaranteed however, that
as a result of the treatment, Michael
could look forward to malformation
of the spine, permanent hair loss,
loss of stature, sterility, reduced
intelligence, and a very high probability
of developing another cancer within
10 years of treatment, assuming that
he lived through the treatment.
The oncology staff
insisted that without their recommended
treatment the incidence of recurrence of
this type of cancer was 100%. The Farnum's
were faced with a terrible dilemma. How
could they put their beautiful son through
the horrors that had been described to them
- and what in heaven and earth was the alternative.
Not understanding that there was an alternative,
as none was offered, Bryan and his wife
reluctantly agreed to start Michael on the
recommended treatments. One course of chemotherapy
was begun.
From the outset
of Michael's illness Bryan prayed, he offered
his own life to God in exchange for Michael's.
At the same
time, one of Bryan's business associates
from Oregon, hearing of Michael's illness,
contacted Bryan and introduced the family
to Almine Barton, a spiritual healer, also
from Oregon. As it happened (or more to
the point, as God orchestrated it) Almine
would be in Toronto teaching a healing workshop
the following week, and arrangements were
made for Michael to meet with Almine, for
a healing. During the session, a number
of events took place. Bryan and his wife
were advised that it would be their faith
that would "cement" the healing
that Michael received, and Almine identified
Bryan as being a healer. Bryan, Cathy and
Michael were invited to Almine's workshop
the following day, and it was there that
they were introduced to alternative medicine.
The learning curve for
Bryan and Cathy was exponential. In the
following two weeks, they studied more about
alternative medicine than could ever be
imagined. Their prayers increased and their
faith in God was steadfast.
Michael was to start his
second course of chemotherapy the following
Monday, and Bryan and Cathy were very hesitant
to continue with the treatment. As it happened
Bryan had to fly to England on business,
and Cathy had to face the doctors alone.
She had asked for a meeting with the chief
oncologist at HSC, and prayed that God would
give her the strength to make the right
decision regarding treatment for Michael.
During their meeting Cathy asked "How
many other parents choose alternative treatments
for their children?" - the answer was:
"About half", and, "How do
those children do?" "About the
same" was the doctor's reply. God had
answered her prayers. In Cathy's mind, Michael
faced the same odds with or without chemo
and radiation. Michael is a happy and healthy 9 year old today, nearly 5 years
after his ordeal. When one asks Michael today who healed him, without hesitation his answer
is clear and simple" God and Jesus" with the gratitude only a child can have.
Michael was withdrawn
from the treatment program at HSC and began
an intensive one year program of diet and
supplements as discerned
by Bryan.
|
|
