Claire’s Story

Site created on September 17, 2021

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement for Claire! 

About a month ago, Claire was running at a cross country practice and began having tons of pain in her neck and on her right side (face, back, shoulder, arm and hand).  Thinking it was perhaps a stroke or related to heat and dehydration, she was rushed to the ER to get help.  Thankfully, it was not a stroke, but she left the hospital that evening with other strange symptoms.  For about a week, she experienced tremors/muscle spasms on her right side from the waist up, and she also had a lot of pain and very little feeling in her right arm and hand.  We saw a neurologist that same week, but she did not seem to be very concerned and told us she'd order an MRI and get us started on physical and occupational therapy within a few weeks. We waited and didn't hear much so decided to go ahead with some PT and OT that some sweet friends arranged for us. These both seemed to really help within that first week following her incident running.  However, the numbness, pain, and now a few other symptoms began to come back and so we continued to reach out for more help as we wanted to know what was causing these issues. I called multiple times for an MRI over the course of about 3 weeks and we finally had one last week.  About an hour after her MRI, we received a call from the neurologist that no one would want to receive. She asked me to bring Claire and her father in as soon as we could for consultation.  That afternoon, we were told that Claire has a mass on her brain and that we needed to seek out other care to figure out a plan of action for her situation.  We were able to get Claire into a neurosurgeon the next morning, where it was confirmed that she has a large tumor on a very delicate part of her brain which performs higher functions like interpreting touch, vision and hearing, as well as speech, reasoning, emotions, learning and fine control of movement.  Today, we waiting on an appointment for a more in-depth MRI as well as one with oncology.  We are also seeking out a second opinion with doctors in Texas. Many of you have already reached out and served our family in unbelievable ways! We are so very thankful for the flowers, meals, texts, calls, prayer times and more! We have certainly had a very hard few days, and know there will be many ahead as we process  everything going on with our precious 17 year old's life and body.  Thankfully, we have a Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who has comforted, given peace, and grace, and faith, even in these early days of shock and the unknown.  He has reminded us of His goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and sovereignty.  He has reminded us that He is Creator...nothing surprises Him, nothing is unknown or impossible with Him.  As Colossians 1:16-17 encourage us, "...in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before ALL things, and in him ALL things hold together." And so as we walk through this season, Claire and our family ask that you would join us in praying that we would do so with with grace and faith. Claire has been telling us since we heard the news that her desire is to bring glory to Him...and so that is her prayer and ours! Please ask that He would give strength, comfort, wisdom, patience and perseverance to do this! Pray that she and we will use this all to declare His glory and goodness!

Newest Update

July 27, 2023

Journal entry by Claire Hall —

Hi everybody!! It’s been awhile since I have been on here, and I thought everyone would like a little update!! Thank you for all of your faithfulness in prayer! God has been so good to remind me of how He hears and He knows and He ANSWERS! Looking back on the past year (and some more!) it’s been really cool to see how faithful He has been all along the way, even when I couldn’t see it in the hard times! 

I am attending Oklahoma Baptist University and I finished my first year of nursing school. After going through the past few years, I feel that God has given me my specific experiences for a purpose and I feel like He has uniquely gifted me and given me the desire to care for others the way I have been cared for. 

My scans of recent have all remained clear and I am rejoicing with every one in this HUGE answer to prayer!! Although every scan brings feelings of uncertainty, with each scan I am reminded of God’s faithfulness and goodness despite the outcome, and it has allowed me to grow in my trust in Him and has really been sanctifying a reminder to me. Do I trust Him with my all? 

I will be attending OBU this fall and I apply for nursing school in the spring! A few prayer requests:

- My brother gets married soon!! Prayers for our family and for a sweet time! 
-School is starting up soon!! Prayers for the semester and health throughout as well as endurance to work hard in my studies and my pursuit to become a nurse!
- I have had residual pain since my surgeries on my brain on my right side and specifically my right arm. I continue to have nerve pain that leaves my right arm in some pain, and not functioning as well as I wish. Being right side dominate this has been discouraging. I will have some more scans and things soon to see if this can be helped, but I would like to ask that you guys would pray for healing for that! God is fully capable of doing “more than we can ask, think, or imagine” and He is the ultimate Healer. I really would like to not have any more scans or medication! 
-I have my next MRI September 11th as of right now!! Prayers for more clear scans!

I am beyond grateful for all of the prayers, the sweet messages, and encouragement! God has provided for me beyond anything I could have ever asked for, and I have recently been reminded of this! So so thankful!! 

-Claire 


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