Support for the Ovian’s and pray for Zaven

*** Important update***

First, we want to start off by thanking everyone for their continued outreach support and donations. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to put into words to everyone what their individual efforts have done to help lift our family up during this time, but just know that it has and I don’t think we’d be where we are today without all of you.

It’s been 1 month since Zaven was found unconscious and unresponsive on his floor. Over the past month, we have received so many different updates and scenarios regarding Zaven’s condition that it’s been difficult to keep everyone correctly informed.

Zaven is improving each day, in his own time, as his body awakens. He is spelling words in the air with his finger, and has instant recognition and reaction to comments without hesitation. This is all exciting and overwhelming when we consider that he was nonresponsive just four weeks ago when he was first under the veil of his medical crisis.

The diagnosis is a grade 2 Chondrosarcoma. A Chondrosarcoma is a rare form of bone cancer that starts in the cartilage and, in his case, is on the bone at the brain stem. Surgery removed most of what was there and the tiny bits that were left behind due to proximity to nerves, veins and arteries, will be treated with a radiation therapy.

A few weeks ago, we were told we would be lucky if Zaven pulled through any of this. However, your prayers and thoughts have been deafening . Yesterday we were given an encouraging report of what success will look like. The bleed is a brain injury, not brain damage, and it needs an immense amount of patience to experience function and recovery. There are still some issues that will have to be stabilized before treatment begins.

Strength, hope, courage, faith, love. It is all here. We know that Zaven will soar.

Please continue to pray for the miracles that are revealed for Zaven every day.❤️❤️

***Update from the family***

It has been two and a half weeks since we had the call about Zaven's collapse. Without thinking and numbed by the what if's, we threw clothes and a few necessities in suitcases and jumped in the car to drive to New York City, arriving at 1 am. Met by a doctor at the entrance to the Neurology ICU of New York Presbyterian, we sat there not knowing what lies ahead.

Truly, it is the call nobody wants to receive. We've all said that loosely at some time or other. I did.

Zaven's collapse and how we arrived here were not by chance or coincidence. It wasn't coincidence that it happened in his apartment in New York City, that his roommate, Enrique, was there for him in both the apartment and the emergency room in a life-saving capacity, or that he ended up in New York Presbyterian which is reported to be the best neurological unit in the country with a world reknowned nuerological micro surgeon. It was no coincidence that we were told there is a tumor that is inoperable and that following surgery we were told that "a lot" of it was removed when they were only going in for tissue samples. It was no coincidence that there were no seizures along the way. And it was no coincidence that he was just taken off the ventilator and allowed to breath in his own air without assistance and could sustain it for over 24 hours at this point in time.

It is God's work. He has His hand on Zaven through this crisis and will forever more, this we know. He is carrying all of us through a period in our lives that has been dark and at times can be filled with fear.

Today we have a glimmer of hope for Zaven’s future. The recovery will take weeks to months of hospitalization. Nishan compares everything that we are facing to building a brick house. Brick by brick, Zaven's foundation is being reconstructed. We take steps forward and some back. Maybe just a little more mortar to fortify the structure.

Larry, the family and I thank you all for your prayers, messages of hope and gifts of compassion. Zaven has a long road ahead of him. Please continue to pray for miracles.

Latest Update: Zaven’s surgeon called this evening to say they were able to get tissue from the tumor and remove a part of it. This is hope. This is time. This is a new day. Recovery from this will take a couple of weeks, then we will have a plan. There are weeks and weeks of this marathon to come. But tonight we thank all of you for prayers, kind words and positive thoughts. The battle has just begun. God is in control and he has heard all of you. Please continue to pray for miracles.❤️

Update from the Ovian’s on Zaven: The Dr just called about 10 minutes ago. The surgery went well. They removed a piece of bone from his skull and evacuated the blood clot that was at the stem. They accomplished what they set out to do today. Tomorrow they will see how he will respond and his mental status, like responding to commands, movement of the arms, hands. Legs and feet. If he can maybe talk, follow movement with his eyes. Monday they have scheduled him for another surgery to get tissue samples from the tumor and analyze that to see what they are up against. We are all feeling better right now because they accomplished what they set out to do without any complications. Thank everyone for their concern, thoughts and prayers.

“Two days ago Zaven had a brain bleed while he was getting out of the shower and collapsed. We aren’t sure how long he was there before the roommate, Enrique , found him and saved his life with 911 call. He’s somewhat responsive and he knows our voices and turns his head a bit when he hears them, can squeeze my hand a little bit, wiggle his toes. He has been intubated, has a drain to remove fluids from around his brain, and has a steady flow of every solution and medicine you can imagine. We are at New York Presbyterian in the Neuro ICU with him. There are several other issues to deal with. We are devastated but trying to stay positive and are asking everyone for prayers for a miracle. Please also pray for the superb caregivers and doctors who are evaluating his condition and preparing for each and every moment along the way. He has a very long road ahead of him. ❤️”

The Ovian’s could use all the prayers, and positive thoughts while they navigate this devastating news and hope for the very best outcome. While we all know this will be a heavy lift for costs, we don’t want them to stress about that aspect one bit. Any little bit helps on this long road ahead for this incredible family.

For those of you that have never met Zaven. He has a smile and personality as heart warming as they come. He makes you feel like you have been friends forever.