From Gail: I want to first apologize for the huge gaps in my updating all of you who have so generously given such incredible support encouragement,financially and physically since this chapter started 2 years ago.It was never that I wasn't acutely aware of how much your support has meant to Z's recovery.The challenges that Z has faced in the past year have been overwhelming and it seemed each time we would metaphorically" come up for air" we would be knocked down with another hit . Z's drive and demeanor never waivered but my own reserves fell short.Once again I am humbled everyday to be his mother. Eleven years ago I was watching my gifted son play his final season of collegiate soccer, it was unimaginable that he would one day have to relearn how to walk. Z is determined (that stubbornness serves him well) to retrain his body and his brain and without all of you he would not have had the opportunities he has had.Thank you feels so inadequate for what your support has meant to me as his mom.You all are genuinely an answer to prayers.

Hi everyone,
Wanted to give a brief update on Z's status and latest health news.
After getting good news of a "no tumor" biopsy result in February, Z has continued to work hard on his recovery, however the past few weeks have been very rough.
His left sided weakness and vision have been worsening and it has resulted in a state of almost complete exhaustion for Z, which climaxed in a gran mal seizure last weekend- his first in almost 8 months.
He was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and the seizure definitely amplified his symptoms and worsening physical state. Docs believe that dehydration and exhaustion likely caused the seizure, but his condition was at a point that they did not feel comfortable discharging him home. Instead, his team of Neuro doctors and therapists at Johns Hopkins pushed to have him admitted directly to their inpatient neuro rehabilitation unit so that he could get the attention and intensive therapy that he truly needs. It is a phenomenal program with some of the top docs and therapists in the country, and they are actively working together to help Z regain his strength, while also continuing to solve the puzzle of "why" this is happening. There are different theories circulating in the absence of tumor cells about a possible neoplastic syndrome, or an un-identified autoimmune response, but the frustrating bottom line is that some of the smartest neuro doctors in the world cannot explain the mystery of Z's condition. We were told that undiscovered antibodies are found every four months in the complicated neuro-immunology field, and it's possible that there is something completely unstudied happening with Z's brain. In some ways, the mystery offers hope that they will be able to solve the puzzle, as opposed to some of the disheartening diagnoses that they believed were happening all along. Doctors are encouraged and awed by the resilience of Z's brain and body- he is truly amazing![...]

The results of Z's latest biopsy showed that there are no active tumor cells, certainly the news we all have been praying for. We now are focusing efforts to clear Z's brain of the swelling and necrosis that are a result of his radiation treatments.  In December, Z suddenly lost peripheral vision in both eyes, and his right eye still remains badly blurred from the lesions in his brain. [...]

Thanks to everyone for the support over the past week. Z is home from the hospital and recovering well from his biopsy.  He arrived home last Thursday night, but took an unfortunate spill on Friday and hit his head pretty hard. His doctors readmitted him to make sure it hadn’t caused a bleed in his brain, which was a very high risk after the surgery. Luckily, his scans all came back clear and he is back home again regaining strength.  He is still struggling with his vision and balance, and although Z rarely complains, his headaches post-operatively have been extremely painful. The initial biopsy results were promising and showed only radiation damage without tumor, but the official reports will come back next week. Z said he is grateful for all the prayers, notes and well wishes from everyone. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and hopefully there will be good news to share next week![...]

Thanks for all the support today. Z is out of the biopsy and doing well! He woke up without a lot of pain, ate Thai food for dinner and is already making us laugh...he is a trooper![...]

Please keep Z and his neurosurgeon Dr. Elias in your thoughts and prayers this morning. UVA's team is doing a precision needle biopsy of the lesion in Z's brain. Praying for a smooth procedure without any complications!
We will post when z is out later tonight.[...]

Sorry for the long delay in updates, everyone. The holidays really were busy
and enjoyable for Z, and we are all hopeful that 2013 will bring good things.[...]

On Monday, Brannon returned to UVA for his first MRI since the enhancement on his brain was discovered in August. The MRI revealed an amazing reduction in the size of the tumor (an estimated 40-50% reduction) but it also detected a brain bleed. Although the Doctors determined that the bleed was several weeks old and probably not caused by his infusions, the bleed automatically disqualified Z from the clinical trial he was partaking in. While it is frustrating that Z can't continue on the regimen that seemed to be working so well, his doctors have prescribed a similar oral chemo which will follow the same infusion schedule.[...]

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you all for your amazing show of support for last weekend’s fundraiser, and for your kind words since my diagnosis. Your generosity was overwhelming and I don’t know if I can fully express how grateful I am for your contributions. This tumor has been a challenge, but I feel blessed by the people in my life. I go to UVA tomorrow for treatment and my first MRI since August. Please pray for a favorable scan! Thanks again for all the support.[...]