Ben Davis Update

Benjamin Grant Davis 1975 - 2004

Ben has moved on. He left here Sunday, July 25, 2004 at 11:35 a.m.

Saturday, December 4, 2004 Suzette gave birth to their 4th child.
Suzette was carrying the baby when Ben died 4 1/2 months earlier.
The Baby's name is Joseph Benjamin Davis.

December 12, 2000 - Ben had multiple seizures at his home in Iphofen, Germany. Ben is a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He had been Stationed in Germany since November 1999. The seizures were sudden and without warning. Ben has a wife Suzette and two children, Andrew 4 years and Isaac 6 months.

Life at home in Germany before the seizures. CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

December 19, 2000 - Ben and his family were sent back to the United States so Ben could have emergency surgery on what was termed a "cancerous tumor" in the right front portion of his brain.

1. The trip from Würzburg to Landstuhl in Germany 2. Walter Reed Army Medical Center - USA 3. Mologne House Hotel - USA 4. The Garcia's 5. The Davis Family 6. Elaine, Ben and Zac

December 26, 2000 - Ben had surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. to remove the tumor. All indications are that the surgery was successful. During the surgery 4 gliadel wafers were implanted in the area where the tumor had been. (The wafers dissolve over a 2 - 3 week period delivering chemotherapy directly to the affected area.)

These photos were taken December 31, 2000 - 5 days after Ben's surgery. The setting is the lobby of the Mologne House Hotel on the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington D.C.

January 4, 2001 - Ben and Suzette were informed that the pathology results indicate that Ben's tumor is a glioblastoma multiforme (gbm.) This is a very aggressive and very deadly type of cancer.

January 16, 2001 - Ben begins radiation therapy at Walter Reed. The treatments are to occur 5 days a week for 6 1/2 weeks or 33 treatments.)

Thanks to Michigan State Representative Cameron Brown we received tickets to the
inauguration Saturday January 20, 2001.
Grandma Virginia is staying with Ben & Suzette to help out during the radiation treatments.

February 12, 2001 - It has been 2 months since Ben had the seizures and this whole event became our daily life. The following photos are from our visit to Washington over the last few days. You can see Ben in the mask he wears for the radiation treatment.

1. Ben and Suzette at WRAMC 2/9/01 2. Ben in the radiation room. 2/9/01 3. Ben in position for radiation. 2/9/01 4. Lunch at Mologne House 2/9/01 5. Grandma Virginia & Isaac 2/9/01 6. Ben & Suzette in their suite. 2/9/01

February 22 - 24 2001
- Ben and Suzette go to Paul Nison lecture in Bethesda, MD.
- Ben and Suzette move from Mologne House to Guest House (still at Walter Reed.)
- Grandma Virginia completes her 6 week stay in Washington DC - Thank You!
- Andrew accompanies Grandma Virginia to Missouri to stay until his parents and Isaac arrive on March 7.
- Ben and Suzette's car arrived from Germany!
- Ben and Suzette go to a David M. Bailey concert in Alexandria, VA. David M. Bailey has the same type of brain tumor as Ben - GBM IV. David M. Bailey is a survivor of 4 1/2 years! That is extremely rare.

1. Paul Nison
2. David M. Bailey
3. Video clip of David M. Bailey in concert,
Kansas City, MO 3/27/01

Click for Video

March 7, 2001 - Ben, Suzette and Isaac arrived in Kansas City for a two week vacation. Andrew came a week earlier so he could keep an eye on the grandparents. Ben is doing very well, in fact we played Big Boggle many evenings and Ben cleaned our clocks! I think the surgeons must have tweaked something while they were in there.

1. Elaine greets Ben, Suzette and Isaac as they arrive in Kansas City.
2. Isaac and Ben are taking a time-out from having a good time.
3. Ben took Grandpa Dick out for his 67th birthday which he celebrated March 20.

March 20, 2001 - Ben, Suzette, Andrew and Isaac ended their Kansas City vacation and headed back to Washington D.C. Ben is assigned to a Medical Holding Company at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Ben is working and navigating the red-tape involved in retiring from the Army on a medical disability.

April 4, 2001 - Ben had his first post-treatment MRI today. The radiologist said there was no apparent tumor visible in the films. This is good. Apart from that, he didn't have a lot of information because he said he really needs a series of films in order to evaluate the situation. So, they want to do another MRI in 6 weeks. Stay tuned.

May 14, 2001 - Ben got an update from his neurosurgeon today. She said that the most recent MRI films from May 9 indicate that Ben's situation is stable - nothing to worry about at this time. This is good news. His next medical event is not for 3 months when he is to have another MRI.

In the mean time - Ben, Suzette and the kids will be moving to Missouri. Ben has finished his retirement paperwork and will be officially retired June 8. They will be leaving Virginia in a couple of weeks and staying with Tim & Barb in Lee's Summit, MO while they get accustomed to civilian life.

July 8, 2001 - Ben, Suzette and family have settled into Tim & Barb's home in Lee's Summit Missouri. They are sorting out options for housing, school, jobs, family life, etc. And in the mean time, Ben is feeling good and having fun with his family.

1. Ben and family at Blue Springs Lake. 2. Ben practicing his driving - on water. 3.Suzette, Andrew and Isaac on the ship. 4. Isaac, taking a break.

August 1, 2001 - Ben was hospitalized today following a seizure at home and another in the emergency room of the hospital. He was taken by ambulance to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Kansas City, MO. With an adjustment to his meds, he was released Friday night August 3 and is back at home.

During this hospitalization, Ben was told that his MRI showed signs of tumor re-growth and that he should begin chemotherapy immediately. He was sent home with a prescription and schedule to begin his first round of Temodar. Based on Ben's considerable independent research, he has decided that chemotherapy is not his best choice among available health care options. Therefore, Ben has chosen NOT to begin the Temodar treatments.

Ben is taking Dilantin and Depakote to manage the seizures and Decadron to reduce swelling. Those medications along with plenty of fresh air, sunshine, family time, prayer, scripture study, laughter, exercise, boating, boggle, friends, water, courage and thankfulness are the course of treatment Ben is following at this time.

1. Suzette and Isaac on his first Birthday. 2. Isaac on his birthday. 3.Ben, Suzette and Isaac in the hospital. 4. Back on the water. 5.Andrew and Anna (his Aunt.) 6. What, me worry?

October 1, 2001 - Things are going well. Ben received the results of his latest MRI on Friday and the Dr. said there appears to be no substantive change since the last MRI August 1, 2001.

Ben and Suzette are coaching a soccer team for Andrew. Here is the latest on Ben's treatment:

Ben continues to refuse chemo-therapy. The traditional plan of treatment would be for Ben to be on a plan of taking Temodar as his chemo-therapy. Here is his aggressive alternative plan of attack:

    ● Prayer: that Jesus might bless him daily with good health and the opportunity to glorify Him.
    ● Exercise: 3 mile walk/run on Mon/Wed/Fri, Weight lifting Tue/Thu
    ● Water: at least 8 glasses of purified water daily.
    ● Fresh vegetable juice: 8 glasses daily. Recipe: Carrot/Spinach/Celery
    ● Daily Bible Study
    ● Raw, vegan diet. Goal: 85% raw.
    ● Fresh Air (see canoe-therapy photo)
    ● Sunshine (ditto)
    ● Rest
    ● Thankfulness
    ● Resources: Dr. Lorraine Day   Hallelujah Acres   Dr. Batmanghelidj

Ben is still taking Dilantin and Depakote to manage the seizures and Decadron to reduce swelling along with Zantac.

1. Ben and Suzette getting some canoe-therapy.
2. Ben and the team.
3.Coach Suzette, Coach Ben and Goalie Andrew.

December 12, 2001 - Today marks the one year anniversary of Ben's seizures and the beginning of this whole adventure. Ben looks good, he feels good and is overall doing great! We are thankful first of all to Jesus who has offered us hope, peace and the promise of a glorious future with Him forever. Thank You, Lord.

Ben celebrated his 26th birthday on December 7. He and Suzette closed on their new home the same day. We are certainly not out of the woods on this thing. We have gone from indications Ben may not make it to September, 2001 to Ben and Suzette moving into their own home in December. We have enjoyed a year of heartache and joy.

In November, Ben and Suzette spent a week at the Hallelujah Acres Total Health Retreat in North Carolina. After a week of natural foods and detoxification, they traveled to Alexandria, VA to visit Suzette's family.

1. Ben and Andrew outside on the deck, in the dark reading a scary story for Halloween.
2. Ben on his 3 mile walk/run.
3.The family at Rainforest Cafe.

February 9, 2002 - Well, no news is good news and that's what we have to report at this time. Ben is going to wean himself off the Decadron. He is taking a Tai Chi class. The whole family is doing well settling into their new home. They were without power for a few days due to the ice storm, but managed to stay warm chopping wood and stoking up the fireplace.

1. Ben's Mom and family.
2. Ben and Zac at dinner.
3. Ben's Dad and family.

On Tuesday April 9 Ben had an MRI. On Thursday April 11, Ben's doctor informed him that the MRI indicates all things are shrinking - except his brain!

Swelling: shrinking
Necrosis: shrinking
Tumor mass: shrinking!

Ben is completely off the decadron (has been for about a month now.) The only medication he takes is anti-seizure.

Ben visited his doctor on June 12. There was no MRI at this visit.
The doctor's advice was that whatever Ben was doing, he should keep doing it.

Ben and Suzette had the baby last night at 11:52 pm.
Judah Emilio Davis.
9 lbs., 22.5" long - home birth.

Ben has no health issues at this time.

1. Isaac, Andrew, Suzette, Ben - September 28, 2002.

2. Suzette, Judah and Ben.
September 29, 2002

It has been 2 years since the beginning of this story. We are thankful to have Ben
with us enjoying life and love and family. We offer thanksgiving and praise to Jesus
for this miracle. We know that Jesus has worked miracles such as this since the
beginning of time. He does it to demonstrate His power, and to glorify the Father.
May we be faithful in acknowledging His power, His authority and His sovereignty.

3 Year GBM Survivor!
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.
It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this
complete healing to him, as you can all see. Acts 3:16

Our family is now celebrating 3 wonderful years with Ben since this ordeal began
in December of 2000. Recent tests do not find any tumor, any swelling,
any cause for concern.

1. Ben Davis, Andrew Keenan, David M. Bailey, Matthew Fullerton at David M. Bailey concert in Topeka, KS - Nov 8, 2003.

April 21, 2004

Back to the Hospital

Ben has been experiencing some minor discomforts, weakness on the left side, minor seizures.
An MRI indicates new areas for concern. The original tumor location apppears to have some
activity, additionally there appear to be possibly 3 new tumors. Two of the new tumors are
said to be inoperable. Ben is having surgery on April 27, 2004 to try and remove/debulk
whatever is accessible. Thank you for your continuing prayers and support.

Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC where Ben is having his surgery.