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| ©2008 Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. All rights reserved. | cornerstone charity of | |
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Places in the Heart... "William wasn't even a year old when the doctors at the Mayo Clinic sent him home to die," remembers Melissa Tjeerdsma, a Ronald McDonald House guest. "But I knew better and put him in the Lord's hands." As William prepares to celebrate his tenth birthday, his mom recounts the early days when she first noticed something a little different about her fourth child. "He was 10 months old. I was playing with him and noticed a slight nystagmus in his eyes." As the wife of a cardiologist, she was no stranger to medical terminology. She knew the word "nystagmus" meant more than irregular eye movement; she knew that word meant trouble. A battery of tests followed with no concrete results. An MRI confirmed her worst fear. "William had a brain tumor — astrocutoma — behind his optic nerve." When she heard the word "inoperable," she refused to believe the prognosis. "Throughout the years, I used my best judgment as to William's care. I had no precedent to direct me, so I prayed for guidance." William survived many years outside of the medical realm. But by 1997, medical intervention was necessary. Dr. Michael Edwards, located in Sacramento, performed the delicate neurosurgery. In November 2004, more surgery was needed. Dr. Edwards had relocated to Stanford — a welcome surprise that Mrs.Tjeerdsma found nothing short of miraculous. "We felt William's path was being redirected once again," she announced. As a member of the Board of Directors at Ronald McDonald House of Siouxland, Melissa Tjeerdsma knew where she wanted to be. "We immediately put in a request to stay at Ronald McDonald House at Stanford." In January 2005, Mom and son returned. While receiving 30 rounds of radiation, William volunteered 24 hours of community service to the House. His generosity earned him not only a certificate of congratulations from the staff, but also the heartfelt respect of all. Not bad for a kid whose doctors sent him home to die over 9 years ago. And what does his proud mom make of his miraculous survival? "Lots of faith in the Lord who has been guiding us along the path. There is no other answer." |