Carsen Darnell medical fund

We are asking for prayers and any financial help possible as our family is going through the fight of a lifetime.

Carsen Darnell was life flighted a few days ago to Doernbecher after having extreme pain and losing feeling in his arm and fingers only to discover a very large tumor in his spinal cord.

Today the Neuro surgery team let us know they had reviewed Carsen's Brain and Spine scan.

They determined that it could be one of 2 different types of tumors: an Astrocytoma or an Ependymoma. Either one could be cancerous or not depending on the grade, but as of now that is the least of our concerns.

They explained that the level of complexity and possible outcomes of a surgery of this magnitude can be extremely dangerous due to it being located inside the spinal cord itself, but the risk outweighs the alternatives.

Every nerve and every motor function in the body can be effected if anything goes wrong during the surgery. That includes everything from permanent arm/leg paralysis to even lungs inflating/deflating and heart pumping.

They decided Carsens surgery will be Tuesday morning and will take anywhere from 10 to 15+ hours. It is days from now as that is how long it will take to plan this surgery.

They will go in through the back of the neck, separate the muscles, open the vertebrae C4, C5, C6, C7, T1, T2 (possibly more). They will cut through the dura mater and open the spinal cord all while trying not to cause any permanent nerve/motor function damage.

The tumor may be solid or soft, that will determine how much they can remove. The spinal cord is the only place in the body where margins cannot be taken or paralysis can occur. So they will only remove as much as possible and leave the rest.

Then they will close the spinal cord and test to see if cerebral spinal fluid is sealed (CSF leaking out is a possible side effect after surgery as well). Then they will use titanium plates and screws to place each vertebrae back together. Then move the muscles back into place and close.

Carsen will be face down during the surgery for 10+ hours and that will cause extensive face and chest swelling so he will need an endotracheal tube for several days to breathe for him while he recovers in the Pediatric ICU.

Once completed the tumor will be sent to pathology to confirm the type and course of action. That could take a week or more.

Worst possible outcome:

Carsen could wake up completely paralyzed from his chin down and machines would have to pump his blood and lungs and bladder, etc and then decisions would have to be made.

Best possible outcome:

Carsen wakes up and the tumor is mostly gone and the pressure is greatly reduced. A long road to recovery ahead. They explained he will need weeks, possibly months, of full daily intensive rehab to learn how to use his arms/fingers and possibly legs again (mainly left leg involvement).

Even if the tumor is found to be non cancerous the oncology team has said he will need Chemotherapy, and possible radiation, to shrink the remaining leftover tumor. If it is cancer, that will just add on time and amount of tx.

We are asking for prayers for the Lord to spare this child and allow him to be given a chance at life after this. He is incredibly kind, smart and funny and the world needs him to continue to shine his little light.

Thank you for your prayers and any help financially as the family will be out of work for months and temporary living in Portland.