Brain Tumor Surgery- Help the Ward family

Our Story: Brent and Leslie married in May 2015 and were happy to start a new family that included little Landon. A few months later, Brent was diagnosed with a small pituitary brain tumor and was able to be treated with medication, the couple was told they would struggle to conceive as a result, and Brent was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. He underwent major open-heart surgery in December 2015 with extensive recovery afterward.

6 weeks after Brent’s heart surgery the couple was shocked and overjoyed to discover they were expecting! Their son Jude was born in August of 2016 following a high-risk pregnancy.
Shortly after birth, Jude developed health issues and was diagnosed with Failure-to-Thrive. Since that time he has struggled with significant developmental delays, suspected underlying genetic differences and Developmental Coordination Disorder. He receives two types of therapy each week and has several types of medical equipment to accommodate his needs. Brent and Leslie  were surprised 9 months after Jude’s birth to discover they were expecting again! Lyddie was born in February 2018 after another high-risk pregnancy and also has mild developmental delays requiring weekly physical therapy. 

During all this time Brent’s brain tumor has been monitored regularly with MRI and bloodwork. In the past month his endocrinologist has had concerns regarding hormonal abnormalities, and Brent was subsequently diagnosed with a rare disease called acromegaly  related to hormonal changes in the tumor. The condition is life-threatening, and Brent will undergo brain surgery in just a few weeks on May 13th to remove the tumor, called an invasive pituitary macro adenoma. He is being treated by a team of doctors in Chicago and has had many appointments there at Northwestern Hospital recently.

Our Hope: Many people don’t realize the scope of what this young family has dealt with in the past 3 1/2 years. “But you seem so happy!” people often say. The reason is simple: we believe in the word of God and have clung to his promises through our trials. Our faith in Jesus gives us peace and joy outside of our circumstances. Brent is able to laugh and smile and love on his wife and children because he knows the peace and hope that comes from the love of Christ. Leslie can serve children with special needs at work and come home to serve and love her family because she has the hope and promises of Jesus. We are far from perfect and certainly have had our fair share of fear, doubt, and self-pity. But we have seen the miraculous ways God has provided for us and blessed us beyond measure in the midst of the struggles of this life.

Our Needs: Prior or to this surgery, medical bills from expensive diagnostic tests and MRIs have already piled up, totaling over $6,000. The family’s deductible just restarted in April, so the surgery will dramatically increase these bills to well over $10,000. In addition, Brent started a new job at the end of February and all of his time off work is unpaid. Since Leslie is part-time, she also does not receive paid time off of work and her time off to care for Brent will be unpaid. The family is not eligible for health insurance through Brent’s new job yet and does not receive any assistance with paying for health insurance. They are currently paying $1250 per month in premiums for COBRA health insurance coverage for the family. In addition, the couple alternates work schedules to care for the children and do not have daycare. This means that they
will have great childcare needs during Brent’s recovery so that Leslie can go back to work as soon as possible.

Many friends have asked how they can help, and have encouraged the family to start a Go Fund Me campaign. Thank you for your prayers for Brent’s recovery and for considering helping the family financially during this difficult time. May God grant you the peace and joy in the midst of your own trials and struggles.