Two days ago, we received some horrible news about Austin.

Mandy took Austin to the doctor after he complained of some pain in his right ear. We figured it was your run of the mill ear infection which would be cleared up with an antibiotic and that would be it.

Turns out, that's not what the problem was.

In the days since, which have come in rapid succession, we have learned that Austin has a type of non-cancerous tumor growing inside his right ear canal. It's symptoms can be treated with medication but the tumor can not. It will have to be removed through surgical means.

This is the type of scenario I have had nightmares about; my child gets seriously ill and there is nothing I can do about it. Now we are living it.

Today, I saw my 5-year-old son slide into a CT machine so our surgeon will have an "inside look" at what this mass looks like: how truly big it is. From there, he will develop his plan of attack to remove it. We have been told this needs to come out sooner rather than later. But when I saw Austin lying on the CT machine and being slid into it for a scan, I went absolutely weak in the knees. This is my son and I can not do anything to help him or make this go away.

I'm finding out the most dangerous thing you can do in this situation is ignore it or delay in making a decision. Already, in addition to putting pressure on his middle ear, it's pressing on some nerves which connect to his skull and his jaw which is leading to some pain. Our surgeon told us that to leave this tumor in place would lead to the destruction of his right inner ear (meaning he would go deaf in that ear) and that eventually it would put pressure on facial muscle nerves, leading to paralysis of his face.

This entire thing just makes me so sick to my stomach I can hardly stand it and I have yet to be able to talk about this with anyone without breaking down into tears.

I must let you know these three days have been the most challenging of my life. The support Mandy and I and Austin have received has been outstanding. There has been a re-assuring outpouring of support from friends and family. Mass intentions have been said for Austin at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mapleton, Iowa and St. Michael's Catholic Church here in Sioux Falls. This week, Austin received the Anointing Of The Sick from Father Kevin O'Dell at St. Michael's. Austin and Father O'Dell are buddies. On Monday night, when Father O'Dell gave Austin the anointing, he did so in a side chapel at St. Mike's where afternoon adoration was taking place. About 5 people were worshipping at the time. He said out loud "Folks, I'm going to have to interrupt you for a second here...." then he performed the anointing. Afterward, Father O'Dell had Austin kneel beside him as they said the "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" prayers. It was re-assuring but tough to hear Austin's little voice saying these prayers after receiving an anointing meant for the sick. But what was also special is that while Austin and Father O'Dell were saying the prayers, the 5 worshippers we interrupted also said the prayers with them. It was comforting and overwhelming. The kindness of strangers can be tough to accept.

Both my wife and my mother are telling me to keep this in perspective and to be positive, telling me "Thank God it's not Cancer" and "Thank God we live in a time where this can be fixed". I DO thank God for those things and for many more. Having said that, what we are left to deal with isn't all that great. He still has a mass growing in his ear that is impacting his health and needs to be removed. He is still going to have to work through a lot of fear and pain and he prepares for this surgery, has the surgery and then has to recover.

Also to consider: this tumor could come back meaning he might have surgery after surgery to deal with it.

Austin will be cared for at the Sanford Children's Hospital. His surgery date is up in the air but we believe it will be soon. The ironic thing is: as the Sanford Children's Hospital was being built, Mandy and I would drive by it and say to ourselves "I hope Austin and Cameron never have to spend anytime in there". Now, we know Austin will be spending some time there as a patient being treated for a condition we never saw coming and prayed would never have to be dealt with.

There are postives: it is non-cancerous (and please God keep it that way). We DO live in a time where this was detected early and can be treated early through surgery. But it is just so heartbreaking to know he will have to go through this. His mother and I will be there along with Cameron and assorted cousins, aunts and grandparents. But it in the end it's he who is suffering, he who will have to endure this and I can not shift the burden off of him because if I could I would. On the nights where I get to come home and put him to bed, I always tell him "You are the moon and the stars to me Kiddo" and he is. Both my boys are.

Today as we were coming home from his tests, I heard his little voice from the backseat say "Wow, the sun is so big and bright". It pierced my heart a little. He notices the good things in life. He never hurts anyone. He likes to help kids at school and is never a bully or a name caller. He loves his family and God. He enjoys learning new things about life...and this bad thing has to happen to him. Why him? It is a question with no answer. It's just how life is playing out. I am not a big fan but the best I can do is love him and help ease his fear and do what I can to manage his pain.

Last night, after his pain meds kicked in and he fell to sleep, I checked on him several times to make sure he was OK. He was in deep sleep and looked peaceful and I got mad inside that this burden has been placed on him. I'm his Dad. I'm supposed to protect him and on this I am essentially powerless. It is so very frustrating.

Until his surgery, he will be on his medications and we've been told he can resume his normal life for the time being. On Thursday, he will be back in school and I will go back to work and we will sit and wait for the surgeons to review the CT Scan and to come to a decision about the surgery. Then the mass will be removed. Our prayers going forward will be asking for God to protect Austin's health, to give him the strength to get through this, to give us the strength to get through this, to give the surgeon wisdom to pick the best course of action and for this to be a one-time event....that the tumor will not grow back after being removed.

If you could add your prayers to ours, we would appreciate it. Austin is a good, gentle, loving boy. I am still in shock that this is happening. He is my son and I love him with all of my heart.