Seven is Heaven!

More about Dr. Edwards

2010-10-22T09:08:00.001-07:00

http://neurosurgery.stanford.edu/pediatric/

Michael S.B. Edwards, MD
Lucile Packard Endowed Professor of Neurosurgery
Appointment by courtesy, Pediatrics
Co-Director Children's Brain Tumor Center
Vice Chair, Pediatric Neurosurgery

Treating Childhood Diseases of the Brain and Spine from Malignant Tumors to Head Trauma

Childhood malignancies of the central nervous system continue to be one of the most common cancers that afflict children. As director of Stanford's Pediatric Neurosurgery Program, Dr. Edwards has established an exceptional service and is recognized by his peers as one of the country's most respected pediatric neurosurgeons. Dr. Edwards specializes in the advanced microsurgical treatment of all forms of benign and malignant central nervous system tumors. These include: gliomas and medulloblastomas, brain stem gliomas, astrocytomas, pituitary tumors and pineal region tumors. Minimally invasive techniques are preferred, allowing for miniature exposures of the brain and spinal cord. Endoscopic neurosurgical techniques and advanced targeting methods such as intraoperative neuroimaging, brain mapping and monitoring are used to enhance tumor removal while minimizing risks to the patient. LPCH was also the first hospital in the nation to offer CyberKnife Radiosurgery for pediatric brain tumors, a non-invasive technique that utilizes high doses of precisely controlled radiation to treat brain and spine tumors. The clinical Neuro-Oncology Program headed by Paul G. Fisher, M.D. and Dr. Edwards offers state of the art treatment for newly diagnosed and recurrent CNS tumors. Many of these novel therapies are offered to patients through the enrollment into clinical trials including institutional protocols, as well as participation in the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).

Mapping Epilepsy in the Brain To Assist Surgery

Children with medically intractable epilepsy are jointly managed by Dr. Edwards and his team of specialists in cooperation with the pediatric epilepsy group, led by Donald Olson MD, based at the Stanford Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (SCEC) and LPCH. The new neuroimaging center dedicated to pediatric imaging uses the high field 3 Tesla MRI incorporating functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging and white matter tractography, along with magnetoencephalography (MEG), Phase II intracranial monitoring and functional mapping to study critical brain regions and their connections prior to surgery.

Head trauma is the leading cause of death in the United States in children over one year of age, and brain and spinal cord injury accounts for more than 80% of them. Pediatric brain injuries carry a high emotional, psychosocial and economic impact because these patients often have comparatively long hospital stays with demanding systemic complications from their injuries. Dr. Edwards and the pediatric team are highly trained to diagnose and treat all forms of neurologic trauma, as well.

In addition, the Multidisciplinary Prenatal Diagnostic Program at LPCH combines the expertise of Perinatology, Neonatology, Obstetrics, Genetics, in utero MRI Imaging, and Pediatric Neurosurgery to provide consultation and treatment to mothers and families who are diagnosed with an in utero CNS abnormality.

Both good articles:

http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2009/october/patient-edwards-1005.html

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2004/july7/med-edwards-77.html

Shandi Wagner & Dr. Michael Edwards, spinal cord tumor surgery, Lucile P...

2010-10-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Isabella's Diagnosis, Doctor, and Treatment

2010-10-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

Chiari 1 Malformation with Syrinx (cyst) aka Holocord Hydromyelia and Neurogenic Scoliosis

"Chiari I malformation is a condition in which the lower part of the brain, called the cerebellar tonsil, herniates down through the skull and into the spinal canal. The herniated tissue presses against the brainstem and blocks the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Depending on the extent of herniation, these malformations cause a variety of symptoms that range from mild to severe.

Chiari malformations may be present at birth (congenital) and are categorized into different types. Chiari type I malformation is the most common and mildest form that develops as the skull grows. Symptoms may not appear until early adulthood, causing severe headache, neck pain, and debilitating deficits." (http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-Chiari.htm)

The blockage caused leaking brain fluid aka syrinx that ran the length of her spine, expanding her spinal cord and as the pressure built it caused her scoliosis... the procedure has stopped the blockage and build up of syrinx (hydromyelia).

See the link below for the surgical procedure to correct the condition:

Isabella's principle opperation: Decompressive occipital craniectomy, C1 laminectomy, duraplasty

http://catalog.nucleusinc.com/generateexhibit.php?ID=22362&TC=&A=2"

Isabella's "Super Genius" Neurosurgeon: Dr. Michael Edwards, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

http://www.zoominfo.com/search#search/profile/person?personId=16203432&targetid=profile

Dear Daughter

2010-10-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

Make your own photo album

Kari Jobe - Revelation Song

2010-03-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

2009-12-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

Hi, I'm Cute!

2009-01-10T23:31:00.000-08:00

Braden Waltrip

2009-01-10T23:30:00.000-08:00

Our sweet boy! A lot confused about what time it is but never-the-less very cute!

Gottcha Day 12/30/'08

2009-01-10T23:28:00.000-08:00

Jada-Grace and her "lil' bra'er"

2009-01-10T23:27:00.000-08:00

A Very Proud Big Sis!

Happy Birthday PaPa

2009-01-10T23:02:00.000-08:00

Napoleon Joe

2008-11-11T23:26:00.000-08:00

Danny on Halloween

2008-11-11T23:17:00.000-08:00

Our New Boy!

2008-07-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, well I know that I haven't posted for a while but the wait was worth it! This is a short video of our new baby boy that we are adopting from South Korea. His birth name is Do Joon Shin and he is Jada-Grace's biological half brother. Please keep us in your prayers we are anxious for his arrival. Blessings everyone!

Swim With the Dolphins!

2007-08-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Isn't he cute! Not to mention Danny. I love the Hawaiian language so I thought it would be fun to translate our names. Danny in Hawaiian is "Kani" or Daniel is "Kaniela".

In Hawaiian, Joey's name is "Ioei". Joseph is "Ioekipi" and Joe is "Ioe" or "Koe".
Kenzie, we teasingly call Ki-Ki! Her Hawaiian name is "Kenikie".

Sean, Joey, Sarah, Kenzie, and Jillaine (clockwise from bottom left)
Sarah or as we affectionately call her Sarahbelle. In Hawaiian her name is "Kala".

Isabella's Hawaiian name is "Ikepela" or Bella as we sometimes call her is "Pela".
Joey, Jillaine, and Sean . Jillaine is "Iilaine" and Jill is"Kila". Sean is "Kana".

Isabella and Danny
The Stars of the show... Na' Noa and Kohele!

Dolphin Quest is a program offered at a few locations that educates while providing a fun interactive experience in the water with the dolphins. I have always wanted to do this and am so glad we finally did. It is kind of pricy but well worth it if you can fit it into your vacation budget. We had so much fun!

I found the Hawaiian names on www.alohafriendsluau.com.

Jill's 20 year reunion!

2007-08-05T22:50:00.000-07:00

Charmin, Patty, Jill, Kristan, and Pam
The Waltrips and the Walsh Family. Jill and Lisa went to high school and were college roomates together.
The Wendel family. Heidi and Jill were best friends in high school.

They graduated from Harbor High School in Santa Cruz. Go Pirates!

Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum

2007-06-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is an old one room school house just as seen on Little House and the Prairie. The kids thought it was fun to dress up and draw on the realistic chalk slates the kids would use back then. It was fun to see all of the history, there were many things that showed how important Christian faith was in our education and society. The hymnal on the piano was open to a song about Jesus. Everything from the moral codes, rules for the teachers, and a teacher's prayer are displayed and you can take home copies of many of them. I will write all or some excerpts from them below:

Flag Salute used until 1892

I give my head,

I give my hand,

I give my heart

To my country

One God, one country, and one flag.

The "Moral Code For School Children" reads IN GOD WE TRUST at the top of the document. It then reads IF I WANT TO BE A HAPPY, USEFUL CITIZEN I MUST HAVE: and then there are several different virtues listed, I will list them all and elaborate on 2:

Courage and Hope, Wisdom, Industry and Good Habits, Knowledge and Usefulness, Truth and Honesty, Healthfulness and Cleanliness, Helpfulness and Unselfishness, Charity, Humility and Reverence, Faith and Responsibility.

Charity ~ I must love-I must love God, who created not only this earth but also all men of all races, nations and creeds, who are my brothers. I must love my parents, my home, my neighbors, my country and be loyal to all these.

Faith and Responsibility ~ I must do all these things because I am accountable to God and humanity for how I live and how I can help my fellows and for the extent to which my fellows may trust and depend upon me.

Most of the other virtues deal in some sort of way with establishing good character and making proper choices by avoiding evil and doing good.

The Copyright is by Collier's, The National Weekly. Although I cannot read the date clearly it appears to be in 1935.

The following is a Teacher's Prayer:

I want to teach my students how

To live this life on earth

To face its struggles and its strife

And to improve their worth

Not just the lesson in a book

Or how the rivers flow

But how to choose the proper path

Wherever they may go

To understand eternal truth

And know the right from wrong

And gather all the beauty of

A flower and a song

For if I help the world to grow

In wisdom and in grace

Then I shall feel that I have won

And I have filled my place

And so I ask Your guidance, God

That I may do my part

For character and confidence

And happiness of heart

I hope this blesses you as it did me. Wow! to have teachers be able to pray in school. We are so thankful to God that we can have our kids in a Christian school. Join us in praying for kids who are not learning about the truth of God in their homes and schools.

Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum ~ continued

2007-06-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

The above left is a list of the "Punishments" facing boys and girls if they did not follow school rules. Here they go:

Boys and Girls Playing Together = 4 Lashes

Fighting at School = 5 Lashes

Quareling at School = 5 Lashes

Gambleing or Betting at School = 4 Lashes

Playing at Cards at School = 10 Lashes

Climbing for Every Foot Over Three Feet Up a Tree = 1 Lash

Telling Lies = 7 Lashes

Telling Tales Out of School = 8 Lashes

Giving Each Other Ill Names = 3 Lashes

Swaring at School = 8 Lashes

For Misbehaving to Girls = 10 Lashes

For Drinking Spiritous Liquors at School = 8 Lashes

Making Swings and Swinging on Them = 7 Lashes

For Waring Long Finger Nails = 2 Lashes

Misbehaving to Persons on the Road = 4 Lashes

For Going to Girls Play Places = 3 Lashes

For Going to Boys Play Places = 3 Lashes

Coming to School With Dirty Faces and Hands = 2 Lashes

For Calling Each Other Liars = 4 Lashes

For Wrestling at School = 4 Lashes

For Weting Each Other Washing at Playtime = 2 Lashes

Scuffling at School = 4 Lashes

For Going and Playing about the Mill or Creek = 6 Lashes

For Going about the Barn or doing any Mischief about the Place = 7 Lashes

The above right is the student's daily schedule. It reads:

Program

For Term beginning Sept. 14, 1908, and ending May 7, 1909

9 a.m. Roll call
Quotations
Talks on morals and manners, etc.

9:05 a.m. Arithmetic, Grades 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.

9:45 a.m. 1st and 2nd grades dismissed for recess; at 10:10 3rd and 4th.

10:40 a.m. General Recess.

11 a.m. Penmanship or drawing all Grades.

11:15 a.m. Reading 1st and 2d grades
Grammer grades 3,4,6,7,8,9.

1 p.m. Reading grades 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9 and History grades 6,7,8,9.

2 p.m. 1st 2d and 3rd grades dismissed. Geography grades 4,6,7,8,9 or Philosophy
grades 7,8,9.

2:40 p.m. General Recess.

3 p.m. Reading grades 1,2
Spelling grades 3,4,6,7,8,9.

3:45 p.m. Bookkeeping or Civil government grades 8 and 9.

Fridays same til 1:35

1:35 p.m. Music and Declamation all Grades

*Arcade School District daily program for the school year 1908-09. Hazel Hammack was the teacher. Notice the program included a grade 9.

*"History of the Arcade School District" by James R. Cowen, 1990

Sutter's Fort in Sacramento, CA

2007-06-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

Because Isabella is going to be in the 4th grade next year we decided to take a weekend field trip to Old Town Sacramento. For those of you who don't know, 4th grade is California history year at her school. The kids learn all about the Spanish explorers, the missionaries, the Native American Indians, and the Gold Rush days. They have a state report as well as many other projects they must complete relating to California's history.

These are pictures we took of the kids at Sutter's Fort. John Sutter was one of California's earliest settlers and he built this small town where people lived or stayed during their travels. It was and still is surrounded by a huge wall to protect the people from attacks by the Native Americans at the time. Later in the school year the 4th graders will take an overnight camping field trip to Sutter's Mill which is the location where gold was first discovered.

There are many other places of interest to visit and fun things to do in Old Town Sacramento. It was a fun trip. We stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotel which was great, especially when we usually have to book 2 rooms for a family of 6. The suites come with 2 rooms with a pull out couch and 2 double beds. It was perfect for a family, and it includes a free full breakfast daily during your stay. It was within walking distance of most of the things we did. We did have to drive to Sutter's Fort which was less then 10 minutes away. Sean and I would like to venture back without kids sometime. We'd like to stay at the Delta King Hotel which is a converted old southern riverboat. It is right in town but was too pricey and we would have had to get more then one room for all of us. I got most of my information from the Sacramento City Visitor's Bureau web site which had links to the Old Town web site as well as others (http://www.sacramentocvb.org/). I'll be posting pictures of our other weekend adventures soon!

Wedded Bliss!

2007-06-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

(below) Jillaine, Isabella, and Grammy Judy and (right) Joey

(above) Gary, Tess, Sean, Nick (Waltrip family) and (below right) Shirlie Parker and son, Sean

(above) Isabella and Papa Bob

(left)Isabella Rose and Jillaine

(below)
Jillaine, Sean, and Pastor Dave Johnston

(below)Bobbie and Angela

(below)
Joey, Dustin, Judy, Isabella, Bob, Jillaine, Bessie, Brandon (Brassfield family)

(below) Sean and Jillaine

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Sean and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary this past Monday June 18th. As I was updating today I ran across these snap shots that my Father in Law, Gary, gave us a disc of after our wedding. They bring back beautiful memories of our celebration with friends and family. My grandmother has since passed away and I treasure the pictures that I have with her. My beautiful sisters, Angela and Bobbie, continue to be wonderful blessings that my brothers were sharp enough to hold on to. The sisters that I always wished for growing up.

Senior Pastor Dave Johnston of CCSC did not yet hold that title. He was still the Youth Pastor at Calvary Chapel in San Jose. He, in fact, informed us the evening before our wedding (June 17th) that Calvary Chapel Santa Cruz would have its first meeting at the Vet's Hall on July 17th. The first Sunday after our return from our honeymoon. How God has blessed us and that fellowship in the years that have passed. We are truely thankful to be a part of it.

Joey and Isabella were just babies. Joey would have been turning 4 and Isabella turning 2 in the month of August following our wedding. What cute, lovely, sweet little blessings they were and continue to be. Sean became a husband and a father in the same day which coincidently was Father's Day. And now how our family has grown by 2 more beautiful blessings!

We have shared so many wonderful memories with our parents and families and I pray that the Lord continues to bless our time together with them.

I am so grateful to be married to such a wonderful, God loving, prayerful, considerate man. He is a treasured gift from the Lord!

Monterey, California

2007-06-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get them to sit still for a cute picture so I told them to make funny faces. It just proves that they listen and obey selectively!

The Friday before Father's Day we made the drive to Monterey for a quick overnight getaway. We stopped with my parents on our way down and enjoyed lunch at the Sea Harvest restaurant in Moss Landing. We stayed at the Portola Plaza Monterey Hotel. It was nice and very convenient to the warf. A bit noisy though with our room next to a main road and above the pool.

On Friday the kids went swimming for a little while before we went shopping and walking down on Fisherman's Warf. We ate at an Italian restaurant called Isabella's which was fun for my own little Isabella. Danny was so exhausted from swimming that he fell asleep and missed the entire meal. As we were exiting the restaurant he reached over and grabbed a handful of dessert off of the display tray! Silly boy!

On Saturday morning, Sean's parents drove down from Hollister and met us for breakfast and the remainder of the day. We just goofed off at the warf again and got gelato and coffee before we drove home. It was a nice getaway and a fun Father's Day trip.

On Sunday we went to church and stayed for the Agape feast afterward. It made for a quiet and peacful Father's Day for Sean.

Joey's 5th Grade Promotion

2007-06-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

Grammy and Joey

REALITY CHECK! I am a parent of a Jr. High School student!

..... Sorry, I almost fainted. I don't know if I will ever feel comfortable with this process of the kids growing up. LOL!

Joey's 5th grade class had their promotion ceremony on June 11th. It was very special. Their teacher said a few nice things about his class and his first year teaching full time. The class performed a few songs and we clapped loudly. After there was a reception in the courtyard just outside of the school chapel. They served sweets and punch and the kids took lots of pictures with their friends and signed yearbooks.

Danny's Pre-school Graduation

2007-06-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

On June 8th Danny graduated from Pre-school to attend Kindergarten next year. He is sooo excited! He will be attending "big boy" school with his older brother and sister.

The ceremony was cute with about 21 kids being promoted. They all sat crossed legged in the shade and wore the little red felt grad caps. They waited for their name to be called (alphabetically so that puts us almost last) and then walked up a little bridge, shook hands as they received thier diploma and paused for a squinty picture before passing over the bridge and into their future. Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa Gary, Papa, and Grammy were all present for the celebration.

Long time no see...

2007-06-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

Thompson Valley Ranch - Quincy, CA

100% Natural Grassfed Beef

*see our link*

Well, I clearly have some catching up to do so be patient!

We have had a couple of very busy months. May was all about preparing for the CCSC Married Couples Retreat that my parents let us host at their ranch in Quincy, Calfornia. It truely is a beautiful place and this year we had beautiful weather. Praise God! We missed some friends that have joined us in previous years (Belleza, Bjorkman, and Witte's), it wasn't the same without you. But, we made many new friends and had a blessed weekend again! The kids had fun and got very dirty catching the biggest bullfrogs I have personally ever seen. Yuck! Unfortunately I don't have a picture to post on that...

Mt. Hermon Christian Conference Center Fathers and Sons Camp

2007-04-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

Sean and Joey returned from camp yesterday and had a blast. The theme was MOUNTAIN MEN and they did mt. men stuff...

Joey learned to target shoot with a BB gun...
On Sunday morning they shot off rockets, that some of the campers had made, at a local high school field...
And they learned that if you lick a Banana Slug your tongue will go numb...Yuck!

They went on nature hikes, played water polo, ping-pong, and the best of all...ate S'MORES! Plans are already in the works to go again next year.

Happy Easter Sunday!

2007-04-23T12:27:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful family brunch with Papa and Grammy at Chaminade. Isabella's dress was mine when I was her age. Grammy saved a bunch of clothes and we've been going through them recently.

Tae Kwon Do and Little Dragons

2007-04-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Last month Joey and Isabella took their Green belt test and passed it! They were so excited. This means they now are in the advance TaeKwonDo class and can even help with the younger kids classes.

Danny is a Little Dragon and yesterday he took his green belt test too. There were 36 students testing for belts, it was so crowded. He did a great job getting 9 out of 10 on all his scores! He gets his belt in a couple of weeks but he keeps asking if it came in the mail yet.

Poor puppy...

2007-03-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

I just had to put up a picture of him. Isn't he cute? This was taken a month ago. He is a little bigger, about 30 pounds now, and really fluffy. I would have taken one today but he just isn't feeling up for it. You see...he had a visit with the vet today and didn't come home a "whole man". He is just exhausted and has been sleeping for hours. Poor fella. We love you Sawyer!

2007-03-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

Well, we have finally decided to join the masses and blog. Ours is a family blog where you will mainly be reading posts from Jillaine and Sean but I wouldn't be surprised if the kids didn't get involved eventually. Please keep comments family friendly and be patient with us as we are beginners...