Update on Michael Burris

October 15, 2008

I want to apologize to our friends that read this website for not updating as often as I should. Your prayers and encouragement have been very important to Nancy and me especially in light of recent events in my health. Please keep praying!

On September 17, I had a seizure while driving home from Wednesday evening church. I could feel something happening so I pulled off to the side of the road into a gas station parking lot. (Thank you, Jesus!) The last thing I remembered was thinking that I was going to be all alone and no one would know that I was there. When I had regained conscious a few minutes later, I realized that my fear was unfounded because there were many people including an ambulance, fire truck and police officers in attendance. I was taken to a local hospital and released a few hours later. I realized that accordance to Missouri driving regulations that I will be not be able to drive for six months after having the seizure. The doctor increased my medication but I have had additional episodes of seizures. I understand that God has this trial under control. I know now more than ever that I am God’s beloved child with His protective watchful eyes over me.

Nancy, I love you! Thank you for all the added responsibilities you have taken on without complaint. I have found out how very comforting my wife is during the recent events of our lives.

We thank everyone who has watched Caleb when I needed Nancy so much. I so appreciate the family and friends who’ve taken me to doctor’s offices, to meals so I could have fellowship or just to run errands. Thank you so very much!

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to publically thank my new friends at the Stained Glass Theatre for giving me the honor of reviving a gift that God gave me over twenty five years ago, on stage theatre. Would Bernie, Mark, Gail, Pat, Cheryl, Bob and Asa please take a bow? Your newly found friendship has meant so much to me as you included me in your most recent production- “Pap’s Place”. I appreciate all those who came see the production and the kind comments and cards that you have sent me.

Jesus, thank you for the peace you have given me in one of the biggest storms of my life.

Philippians 4:4-9 (New King James Version)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Michael

An Update on Michael Burris
August 18, 2008

Good Morning!

I am so blessed to be posting this update myself today! God has done a great work in my body again. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ! As many of you know on July 29, 2008 I had major brain surgery to remove a growth on the left frontal lobe of my brain. The tumor was the size of a marble. The first sign that the surgery was a success was that I could talk in the recovery room. The mass was near my speech center.  The tumor was Glioblastoma Multiforme, a terminal brain cancer. This is same kind of cancer that God delivered me from  (see story on this website) after the first surgery on September 14, 2006.

The morning after the surgery on July 30, I could hear my neurosurgeon call my oncologist as he described my surgery as “Mr. Burris had quite the day yesterday!” I was glad to hear those words. I need to correct my doctor. Jesus gave me the victory. He is my Healer and I praise Him for the talents of the doctors, surgical team and nurses that he placed me with to minster to my physical needs. He has given me victory over terminal brain cancer for the second time in 22 months. Thank you again.

Please pray for Nancy and me as we seek and await God’s plans for our medical path. We have a MRI on September 3, 2008 to check my healing and progression of any cancer. We believe that there will not be any cancer and are praying the following verse to let God we believe  his promise listed in Philippians 1:6. I also think of you when I pray this scripture.

Philippians 1:3-10 (New International Version)
 3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
 9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

Pray for me as I continue to recover. I have been asked by my doctor to do very little until the September 3 office visit when we view the MRI.

Thank you again for all your prayers and expressions of kindness!

Michael

08/01/08-Update on Michael

Michael came home from the hospital yesterday and is doing quite well.  Of course he gets a little fatigued throughout the day and will probably spend much of the next week in bed. The pathology on the tumor came back and it was definitely Glioblastoma Multiforme.  There had been some talk of  the tumor possibly being a result of radiation, but that was not the case.  The doctors will have to discuss his further treatment plan as they are in “uncharted territory” in as much as the Avastin that he had been taking hasn’t really been used for Glio patients in the past.  But for now we are just concentrating on letting him heal from the surgery and regain his stamina.  Thank you all for your many prayers. We truly do appreciate them.  

Also, just as an added note, Michael’s new scar is a perfect 7.  He kinda likes that. 
God bless you, Nancy Burris

07/29/08 - UPDATE

Michael’s surgery this morning went very well.  The neurosurgeon was able to remove the entire tumor, which was about the size of a marble.  He also “shaved” a small margin all the way around in hopes of getting as many of the cellular cancer cells as possible.  A quick study of the tumor showed that it was, in fact, a recurrence of Glioblastoma Multiforme - the same cancer as his original tumor.  The fantastic news is that as of now there seems to be no negative effects from the surgery.  The two greatest concerns  the physicians had were 1)excessive bleeding because of the “chemo” drugs he has been taking and 2) damage to the speech center of his brain.  However, their concerns have pretty much been put to rest.  Michael was able to answer questions and verbalized everything quite well as soon as the anesthetics were out of his system.  Also, an MRI taken several hours after surgery showed no bleeding whatsoever. Praise the Lord!  When I left him this evening he was resting comfortably and looking forward to eating “real food” tomorrow.   On a personal note, I want to thank all of you who have encouraged, supported and prayed for my husband.  We both appreciate it more than these few words can say.  God bless you all and I will update again soon.  In His love, Nancy Burris

Michael Burris Needs Your Prayers! - UPDATE July 22, 2008

Update on Michael Burris' Health

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for Nancy and I during the past month concerning a spot found in our June MRI.

 I recently had another MRI and it shows the the spot doubled in size in one month. It is cancer. My doctor's are advising me to have another brain surgery and we are at peace with that suggestion. The cancer is about the size of a dime and would be easy to remove at time.

Our hope is not in the doctors but in God and Jesus! God has taken cancer out of my body before and we will trust him to do so again. We will hold fast to the healing promises of the Word of God. God has placed me into the hands of awesome and talented surgerical team. I am excited about the opportunity to continue the ministry God has given us after the surgery is completed.

The surgery will be on July 29, 2008 in Columbia, MO. My wife, Nancy, will make posts about my health on a frequent basis on this site. 

Once again, thank you for all your prayers! (And keep on praying!)

Michael

Psalm 107:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

 20 He sent out his word and healed them,
      snatching them from the door of death.

UPDATE - JUNE 30, 2008

Hello! It has been awhile since I posted anything about our story on this website. On April 23, 2007, I was so excited to report that God had taken away the cancer in my brain.  I have had six different MRI’s that documented that the cancer was gone.

On June 18, 2008, we were expectantly looking for the same result but were surprised. The MRI showed an area of change in the frontal lobe of my brain. The spot was 8mm by 9mm. The surgeon who read the results said it could be one of two things. First, this area of change could be the result of a chemotherapy drug that I have been taking since April of 2007. This could be an area of bleeding. The second possibility could be that it is reoccurrence of glioblastoma multiforme, a fast growing cancer that there is no known cure for. (The doctor thinks that this is probably cancer.) This is the same cancer that God delivered me from in on April 23, 2007. 

I am confident that He will deliver me from cancer again! Please pray for my family and me as we expectantly wait for a second MRI that will be done on July 16. I believe that MRI will be clear of any problem areas whatsoever.

Here are the scriptures I am standing on! Please pray them with my wife, Nancy and I.

Philippians 1:4-6 (New International Version)
4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Psalm 103:1-5 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 103

A psalm of David.

 1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
      with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
      may I never forget the good things he does for me.
 3 He forgives all my sins
      and heals all my diseases.
 4 He redeems me from death
      and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
 5 He fills my life with good things.
      My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

Matthew 18:19 (New International Version)

 19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
And now my favorite!
Psalm 118:17 (New King James Version)
 17 I shall not die, but live,
         And declare the works of the LORD.

Thanks so much for your prayers! I will be blogging from now on as we see the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ made manifest in our lives. Please feel free to leave comments in the guestbook on the site. I love reading them!

I will continue to testify about God’s goodness and glory everywhere He will take me!

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement!

Michael Burris