Many of you know that my sister, Katrina Zartman, will be undergoing additional treatment for her pituitary tumor. Please be in prayer for her and Joel as they meet with doctors to see what the next step should be. In a recent email, Katrina mentioned the possibility of an alternative treatment.

The Gamma Knife is a neurosurgical instrument that allows a surgeon to perform brain surgery without a scalpel or actually entering the skull. This way there is little damage to the brain and as much function as possible can be preserved. This form of minimally invasive surgery—also known as radiosurgery—uses 201 highly focused beams of Cobalt 60 Radiation to produce biological effects on tissues inside the intact skull. The treatment is done in a single sitting and therefore also has the benefit of shorter hospital stays and less side effects.

The University of Virginia Medical Center has produced an online video that explains every step of the procedure. It made the Gamma Knife seem like a good alternative to surgery. But then I’m not a doctor. Please pray for the Zartmans as they consider what the Lord would have them do.