From: prayer-requests@christkirk.lumen.co
Date: April 11, 2017 at 8:46:54 AM PDT
Subject: Wilson Prayer
Reply-To: office@christkirk.com

Dear Christ Church Fam,

Over the last year or so, I have been dealing with a variety of small but strange (and apparently unrelated) health issues. And then, during a Canon Press meeting in November, my left ear suddenly turned off. It rebounded slightly, but hasn’t stopped ringing like a fire alarm ever since.

After months of tests and check-ups, and various theories that didn’t quick make sense, a recent MRI finally revealed the underlying cause of everything I’ve been dealing with — a large brain tumor (“farm egg” in shape and size according to one neurologist). The tumor originated in my auditory canal and is now compressing my brain stem and butting into my cerebellum. Although no biopsy has been conducted, three different specialists have ruled out cancer based on the MRI (which is obviously an enormous blessing). That said, it is still killing me (as they say) softly, and new symptoms have been multiplying rapidly over the last couple weeks. Which is why I’m now scheduled for invasive brain surgery at USC on May 2. (For those of you who asked why I showed up late to Grace Agenda, now you know! I was meeting with my surgeon in LA. . .)

Heather and I will be travelling down with the kids in advance. My parents will meet us down there and return with the kids after the surgery. Heather and I will remain in LA until I’ve been cleared to fly (a minimum of eight days post-op).

This is obviously a fairly momentous trial in our lives, but by the grace of God, Heather and the kids and I will be hitting it head on. It is likely that my tumor had already begun growing while I was writing *Death by Living,* which means, as my sweet wife pointed out, that this is a great opportunity for us not to be hypocrites. God is good. God is faithful. This is the storm we were meant to weather. This is the bull I was meant to ride.

This type of surgery obviously has substantial risks. Assuming that it goes perfectly, I will still be permanently deaf in my left ear, and vertigo, headaches, and facial paralysis are all potential lifelong consequences. So we covet your prayers for healing, especially when it comes to recovery time.

At this point, since I don’t know how laid up I’ll be, or how long recovery will take, it’s difficult to anticipate what kind of practical help we might need. We do have insurance, but we’ve chosen the best surgeon we could find, not the one that will be the most fully covered. Obviously, as an author, I’m self-employed, and this tumor comes in a season when I am supposed to be promoting two new books — one next week (Bookpeople party on the 17th) and one in June. But I definitely won’t be able to support either release at my normal levels. So feel free to buy everyone on your Christmas list a pallet or two of Outlaws of Time!

Ladies, if you’re looking for ways to help Heather, my sisters along with Elise Crapuchettes and Kristin Beauchamp are great points of contact. As for the deacons, I will be keeping Rob Sentz current on our status throughout.

We love you all. Please keep our whole family in your prayers.

Blessings,
Nate