Welcome!

Welcome to the Let's Help Walter blog! Here you will find a history of Walter and Shannon's dealings with his brain bleed and ensuing brain surgery. I have compiled this from the emails I have received from his family, and I hope it will help you to see how far he has come and some of the challenges he and his family still face. Walter and his sister Stacie have the ability to post here as well, so between the three of us we can keep this blog fairly current.

Let's continue to support Walter and his family in prayer as well as emotionally by writing, calling, and commenting to blog posts and financially by using the donate button at the top right-hand side of the blog (see the "Power in Numbers" pot on 4/27 for details).

Together we can make a difference!

Aaron

Update 4/22/08

I spoke with Walter today. He's been out of commision for the past few days, but he was back in action today. For that I am grateful.

Walter and Shannon's trip to the neurosurgeon in Atlanta was a bit of a disappointment as the neurosurgeon did not receive the necessary test results from Walter's neurologist office in Knoxville to make a firm analysis. At this point the neurologist is forwarding the necessary results to the neurosurgeon after which the neurosurgeon will review the results and make a recommendation. Let's pray that Walter does not need another surgery!

On the positive side, Walter has been added to Shannon's health insurance at Baptist! This is a really huge answer to prayer as it will allow him to continue to receive the medical attention he needs.

Still Walter and Shannon are very much struggling financially, and I know a lot of us feel helpless to make a difference for them in this situation, but if we work together we are *not* helpless. See the discussion topic "Power in Numbers" for details.

Let's continue to remember Walter and Shannon in our prayers daily. They need and deserve it!

Update 4/15/08

Walter and Shannon are making the drive from Greenback, TN to Atlanta, GA tomorrow for a long one-day trip to visit with the neurosurgeon who performed Walter's surgery last last year. The doctors in Knoxville are of the opinion that Walter will need another operation, but our hope and our prayer is that there is no need for this.Walter and Shannon face many challenges besides Walter's medical issues: finances, health insurance, taking care of the kids, etc. Let's continue to remember the entire family in our prayers daily and do all we can to support them in other ways.

Walter Ruh update 1-17-08

An email from Big Ray...

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers.
Walter Ruh had his follow-up with the surgeon in Atlanta yesterday. He said Walter Ruh was doing very well and as expected. One area of the incision is not healing as well as the doctor would like, but it should be better soon with continued cleaning.
Dr. Barrow stated Walter Ruh should now begin trying to do more activity. However, with this being the most traumatic surgery a person could have, he must use caution. Hopefully, he will be able to return to more normal activities within about 4 more weeks. Walter Ruh must be released by the neurologist in Knoxville before being able to drive. The seizures he had prior to surgery require a certain period of time without another one before driving can begin.
He is healing more each day and Dr. Barrow hoped he would see an even more dramatic improvement within the next 2-4 weeks. The headaches will most likely continue for some time. Remember, he just had major brain surgery 4 weeks ago.
Please continue praying for Shannon and the kids. This has been an extremely difficult time for them as well.
We love you all and look forward to greater news in the days ahead. God is so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray

Walter Ruh update

An email from Big Ray...

Hey, gang,
I have failed to send a recent update on Walter Ruh. I appreciate your prayers and ask that you please continue to remember him and his family.

He goes back to Atlanta on the 16th for a follow-up with the neurosurgeon. The 40 staples were removed last week and the stitches will eventually dissipate. There still are headaches and some days worse than others. However, we know these will eventually go away. He must continue to be very careful and take it easy.

Also, please pray for Shannon and the kids. She is working and having to get all of them to and from school and the after school activities. They surely have a plate full.

Again, we really cannot thank you enough for all of your calls, emails, cards, and especially the prayers. God has been so good to us. We only seek His guidance. We owe each of you a lot!

Love to all,
Big Ray

Update From Dad on Walter Ruh

An email from Stacie...

This is an email Dad sent out earlier today. Walter Ruh is home and resting. He said the trip home (4 hr drive) was hard on him. He took some medication and went to bed. Thank you again, everyone for your love, care, and prayers!
Stacie


HALLELUJAH!!!!!!
What an awesome God we serve! I could hardly wait to update you all. Walter Ruh's surgery lasted only 2 1/2 hours instead of 5 1/2. The bleed area was not as deep as first thought. The doctor was able to remove the old blood and correct the cavernous malformation. Even though he has 40 staples in his head and will still have a headache for a couple of weeks, he is coming home TODAY!
I cannot begin to tell you all how much the prayers were answered. We have received messages from people all over the country. The prayer network is amazing. God has truly blessed us and this will be a special Christmas remembered.
We can only thank you for your efforts and praise God for the results. Please continue praying that Walter Ruh will improve each day. His recovery time is expected to be about 2 months. Of course with you all praying, it will be sooner! Also, pray for Shannon and the family as they care for him. This has been a very difficult time for them.
We love you all and appreciate each one of you more than we could ever express.
God Bless!!!!!!
Big Ray and family

Hey, gang,
In my haste and excitement to send out the great report, I forgot to mention a HUGE answer to your prayers. There was absolutely NO paralysis or slurred speech after the surgery. As I had told you all last week, the doctor said this could happen, but it did not!
Again, what an awesome God we serve!
Big Ray

Walter Ruh's surgery (Pictures)

Pictures of Walter Ruh after his surgery sent in an email from Lou Herron, Walter's mom...

Update on Walter Ruh, 12/14 and 12/15/07

An email from Stacie...

12-14-07

I talked with Dad just a little while ago and he gave me an update on Walter Ruh. He is in EXTREME pain and has requested not to see anyone. Dad said his whole face is really swollen and his right eye is swollen shut. The doctor's went in on his right side. They are having difficulty understanding Walter, so his speech has been effected. He did wiggle his toes and his hand. So that is great news. We really won't know the after effects for several days. He is pretty sedated right now. They are keeping him in ICU again tonight and will determine tomorrow if he will go on to a private room. When I saw him last night after they brought him in from recovery, he did not look so good. He was very pale and very swollen. The surgery only took 2 1/2 hours instead of 5 hours and the doctor was very pleased. They did not have to go in to his brain tissue as deep as they had thought and they were able to scrape out the bleeding and sto p it. We want to PRAISE GOD for all He has done for Walter Ruh through this! There were a lot of people praying for him and I thank God for watching over him and protecting him!!

12-15-07

Dad just called me, so I thought I would go ahead and give everyone an update for today. Walter Ruh is doing VERY WELL this morning. Physical Therapy came and walked him down the hall...YEA!! He is not paralyzed and his speech is more understandable today! Isn't it amazing how GOD took care of him??? He is still in EXTREME pain, but is feeling better as each day passes. They think he might get to go home Monday. We are all pleased at his progress!! Thanks for keeping Walter Ruh in your thoughts and prayers!


Stacie

Update on Walter Ruh

An email from Stacie...

Walter Ruh is having surgery next Thursday (Dec. 13th) in Atlanta at Emory. The risks are great, but the doctor said the risks would be even greater if he DID NOT have the surgery. It would continue to only get worse. Please continue to pray for him. We are all very concerned, but we know that God is in control and will take care of him. We want to thank you all for your prayers, thoughts, cards, and phone calls. We have such amazing friends and family.
We love you!

The Herron Family

Update on Walter Ruh

An email from Stacie...

I had lunch with Walter Ruh today and talked with him about his trip to Atlanta yesterday afternoon to the Neurosurgeon. He seemed to be pleased with the outcome. They are referring him to the best Neurosurgeon in the country (at Emory in Atlanta) who specializes in his type of brain bleed. The Gamma Knife Procedure is out of the question but the route to go is surgery. The bleed is next to a major artery, but the doctor felt they could perform the surgery with success. PRAISE GOD!! Of course the Neurosurgeon said there are still risks involved. He said he could have a major stroke which could lead to paralysis, but still felt they could perform the surgery. They are setting up the appointment this week to see the doctor at Emory, but I don't know when it is scheduled at this time. Because this is the second time this has bled, it puts him in a different category. Meaning, something has to be done, because it will continue to happen if it is not stopped. Walter Ruh feels that he will probably end up having surgery before Christmas. He is still in a lot of pain and until they get this fixed he cannot drive or work. Please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers and let them know that GOD WILL PROVIDE!! Thank you again for thoughts and prayers!!

Stacie

At Peace

An email from Stacie...

I just wanted to send out a quick email to let you know that my Grandmother passed away this evening. She is at rest and is now at home with her Lord and Savior. Thank you for your encouraging words and most of all your prayers during this time.

Walter Ruh went to Atlanta this afternoon and was pleased with the outcome. They are referring him to the best doctor in the country (at Emory in Atlanta) who specializes in his type of brain bleed. The Gamma Knife Procedure is out of the question but the route to go is surgery. But we found out that the risks are not as threatening as the doctor at UT Hospital made it out to be. The bleed is next to an artery, but the doctor felt they could perform the surgery with success. PRAISE GOD!! They are setting up the appointment to see the doctor at Emory, but I don't know when it is scheduled at this time. Thank you again for thoughts and prayers!!

Please PRAY!!!

An email from Stacie...

As most of you know, my brother has been in the hospital with a brain bleed called a cavernous malformation. Today, we received some disappointing news from the hospital in Atlanta regarding the Gamma Knife procedure we thought they were going to do in order to stop the bleeding. They CAN'T do the procedure. Because of where the bleed is and because it is a cavernous malformation, the procedure would not work. The only alternative to stop the bleeding is surgery. My Dad said the Neurosurgeon from UT Hospital told Walter Ruh that the surgery would paralyze him. I am completely devastated to say the least.

Then we received a phone call late Saturday from my Grandfather in Morehead City, NC that my Grandmother is extremely ill. She is in the hospital with pneumonia. I just got off the phone with my Dad and the doctor's said the pneumonia is alot worse than they thought. She is non-responsive and incoherent. They are giving her antibiotics and pain medication and she is on oxygen. Dad said her breathing is very labored. This is my Mom's mother. My mother, her sister, and my Dad went down to NC yesterday and will be there until further notice. My Grandfather asked my Dad to take him to the funeral home today at 2:30 to make funeral arrangements. It does not sound good.

I know this is alot to take in, but I ask that you please remember my family in your thoughts and prayers right now. I know it says in the Bible
(1 Corinthians 10:13) that God will not give us more than we can bear, but with every temptation He will also provide a way out. We can trust God not to expect us to endure beyond our ability. God knows what we are capable of bearing even more than I do. We have to trust Him, and He will bring us through the refining process so that we can emerge as pure gold.

PLEASE PRAY!!! THANK YOU!!!

STACIE

Update on Walter Ruh

An email from Big Ray...

The house doctor at UT Hospital is trying to coordinate with Walter Ruh's neurologist and the neurosurgeon about the necessary steps to get the Gamma Knife surgery proceeding. Please pray that this will happen soon as he is still in a lot of pain and, obviously, the bleeding is continuing. The house doctor and neurologist are of the opinion this should be done ASAP. He will not be released until this decision is made.

All tests on his heart have been OK and this is no longer an issue.

Please pray for guidance and communication of the doctors. We appreciate all of your prayers and thoughts.

Thanks,

Big Ray

Update on Walter Ruh

An email to me from Stacie...

First off, thank you EVERYONE for all the phone calls, emails, and prayers!!! We LOVE you all so much. We are so thankful for our great friends and family.

Here is the latest on Walter Ruh. The neurosurgeon came in tonight and said that Walter Ruh has a cavernous malformation and because of where it is located on his brain (too deep) they WILL NOT do surgery. Instead, they are recommending something called Gamma Knife Surgery/Radiation. Which is a non-invasive neurosurgical procedure that uses powerful doses of radiation to target and treat diseased brain tissue while leaving surrounding tissue intact. I have found some information on both issues and have enclosed it as an attachment so you can read it.

They are going to do some more testing on him tomorrow, because Dr. Ingrahm said the Cavernous Malformation should not have caused him to pass out and make his blood pressure go up and pulse rate stay below 50. He believes something else must be going on. So he has ordered more testing. I believe an EKG and some other things.

We will keep you updated as we hear any information from the doctors. Thanks again for all the prayers...we have felt them!!

Stacie

Please Pray for My Brother

An email I received from Stacie Herron, Walter's sister...

Dear Friends and Family,

Just a quick note to please ask for everyone to keep Walter Ruh in your thoughts and prayers. He is in ICU right now at UT Hospital and in serious condition. He has a bleed on his brain the size a bit bigger than a golf ball. Last night around 8 o'clock he passed out twice, was very disoriented, and confused. Shannon had trouble getting him up and called 911. When the ambulance came they had trouble stabilizing him. When they finally stabilized him, they took him onto Blount Memorial Hospital. As many of you know, Walter Ruh has had trouble with migraines and last year the neurologist found a bleed on his brain about the size of a pea. But they felt it would go away. They decided not to do surgery then because of the chance it could cause paralysis on one side. The doctor's now believe he would probably now need surgery. The nuerosurgeon has not come in yet, so we are still waiting. We will have some decisions to make so please keep Shannon and Mom and Dad in your thoughts and prayers also. I will try to keep you updated as I find out any information. He is in a lot of pain and they can't get the pain stopped in his head.

Thank you and we love you!!
Stacie (and The Herron Family)

Urgent Prayer Request from Walter's Dad

An email I received from "Big Ray" Herron, Walter's father...

Would you please add our son, Walter Herron, to the prayer chain.
He collapsed at home last night and had to be rushed to Blount Memorial Hospital. It was discovered that he has a very large "brain bleed" and then had to be transferred to UT hospital. He is currently in the surgical ICU in serious condition. It is not known for certain at this time, but it appears he most likely will have to have surgery. We ask that the church family please pray for him and his family. I will update you as we learn more later today.
Thank you,
Big Ray