Many of you have reached out with prayers, concern, and questions about my health over the past couple of years. I'm so grateful for your love and support, and I wanted to provide an update on where things stand and where we're headed.
The Beginning: 2007
My journey with neurological issues began in 2007 when I was diagnosed with Chiari I Malformation after experiencing severe headaches. Chiari I is a condition where the lower part of the brain (the cerebellar tonsils) extends down through the opening at the base of the skull into the spinal canal. This crowding can disrupt the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid and put pressure on the brainstem and spinal cord. For many years, my symptoms were manageable with migraine rescue medication.
Heart Issues Emerge: February 2024
In February 2024, I began experiencing significant heart rhythm problems. Some of you at NewSpring may remember the Saturday night when I was unable to preach. For those curious about the details, my resting heart rate had climbed to nearly 200 beats per minute, and it required medication to bring it back down.
After extensive cardiac testing with one of Wichita's finest cardiologists, it was determined that my heart was structurally healthy. The recommendation was to consult with a neurosurgeon about whether my Chiari malformation might be causing the cardiac symptoms—a known but less common manifestation of the condition.
First Surgery: Mid-2024
Brain imaging confirmed that surgical intervention was needed. In mid-2024, I underwent a bone-only posterior fossa decompression surgery. In this procedure, the neurosurgeon removes a small portion of the skull at the base of the head (and sometimes part of the upper vertebrae) to create more space for the brain and relieve pressure. The "bone-only" approach means the dura mater—the tough membrane covering the brain—is left intact. Recovery went well, and we were hopeful.
Symptoms Return: 2025
Unfortunately, my symptoms began returning in early-to-mid 2025. The next recommended step was a revision of the decompression surgery, this time adding a duraplasty. A duraplasty involves opening the dura mater and sewing in a patch (often made from the patient's own tissue or a synthetic material) to expand the space around the brain even further than bone removal alone can achieve.
An Unexpected Complication
Because duraplasty patches can be compromised by high intracranial pressure (ICP), my surgical team ordered a spinal tap as a precautionary measure before proceeding. High ICP wasn't anticipated—it was just being thorough. Unfortunately, the results showed that my intracranial pressure was indeed elevated, which necessitated an additional surgery in mid-2025 to place a shunt.
A shunt is a small tube system that drains excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to another part of the body where it can be absorbed. Mine is an adjustable magnetic shunt, meaning the drainage rate can be fine-tuned non-invasively using an external magnetic device—a remarkable piece of medical technology.
Revision Surgery: August 2025
With the shunt in place, I underwent the decompression revision with duraplasty in August 2025. During the surgery, my neurosurgeon discovered that I had experienced very aggressive reossification and restenosis—meaning the bone had regrown significantly and the opening had narrowed, creating even more compression than I had before my first surgery.
As with the first surgery, I recovered well initially. But sadly, my symptoms have returned once again.
Where We Are Now
We have been referred to Johns Hopkins Chiari Center, which is widely regarded as the finest specialty hospital in the world for Chiari-related conditions. We expect to hear from them in the coming weeks about next steps, including whether we'll be traveling to Baltimore for evaluation and what that process might look like.
In the meantime, the symptoms I've been facing continue to be challenging. But God is good—He has been faithful through every step of this journey, and I have no doubt He will continue to be. I am so thankful for your prayers, your encouragement, and your support. It means more to Wendy and me than you know.
I'll continue to post updates here as this journey unfolds. Thank you for walking alongside us.