I come to you tonight to ask for prayers.

Otto is entering the final stages.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ottog/journal/view/id/52b3af52af3d791c2c984f09

That was tough to read. My heart goes out to them.

Incredibly heartbreaking!

This morning's update.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ottog/journal/view/id/52b48843e9cb6a6d536c2747

My prayers are with them. God Bless Otto

So sad we are praying for his family. For those of you who have kept up with Otto and his story, do you know why they cannot give him nutrients via an iv?

Because it would only prolong the inevitable.

God bless.

Monday update
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ottog/journal/view/id/52b857d6ca16b46d5399bf6c

The strength that these parents are showing...it's simply amazing! G&K...you're in our prayers!!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ottog/journal/view/id/52b9a36da689b4091a19ba9a

Christmas update
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ottog/journal/view/id/52bb42c2a589b4ec1b33f095

Is there not anything they can do to prevent him from this suffering? I believe in miracles, I would want to give every chance in the world to my child to be a miracle baby. I hate that this poor baby seems to be given no nourishment or food. T&P for sweet Otto.

He can't tolerate it. The body begins to reject food and fluids as it shuts down. If they did artificial fluids or nutrition, it would make him more uncomfortable and prolong the inevitable.

Prayers for Otto and the family. I cannot fathom how hard this time is. While Gods plans are a mystery, I can trust that His plan is perfect - if just for the love Otto has generated, how this is yet another example of how life (and our children) are so precious.

Otto is loved by many, but best of all he's loved by Jesus Christ. And so are the rest of us that need Him just as much. That's the best consolation prize when facing a "loss" that I can hope for.

[This message has been edited by T-bone97 (edited 12/26/2013 6:59a).]

Aggiegrad00: I appreciate your inquiry as it must seem unmerciful that he is without nutrition. Our oncologist prepared us that this would happen due to his brain tumor and beyond physical responses (vomiting) to food and liquids, his body would begin not even processing things inside. Where the tumor sits, it shuts down all the functions our body does without us telling it to (breathe, blink, swallow, process food, etc). He and my husband and I talked specifically about how and why this would happen (the no eating and drinking) because it is what hangs up most parents in this choice to bring him home to forgo adult treatments (and its accompanying detriments) for the same survival rate. The doctor suggests that even with a gbutton or port for nutrition his facilities would still not allow comfort and we would prolong his body wanting to shut down. I.e. the tumor is what is killing him, not the lack or nutrition. I can for sure tell you from being with him, he has never wanted food or displayed hunger and not gotten it. Hope this helps ease your mind. It sucks...that's one thing a parent can control in this and you have to take a step and look at the overall picture.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

[This message has been edited by Aggoddess (edited 12/26/2013 9:24a).]

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ottog/journal/view/id/52bc45c9ac7ee96a275793f1

His suffering has ended.

[This message has been edited by trouble (edited 12/26/2013 1:19p).]

Please accept my heartfelt condolences for baby Otto and prayers of comfort for all his family and friends

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ottog/journal/view/id/52bc7c04a689b46e645b6ce7

With sincere sympathy, I want to thank you all for opening up your life and Otto's to us. Many have prayed and had your family and Otto in our thoughts.

I will continue to pray for your family! My heartfelt condolences.

Sincere sympathy. T&P's continue for your family and may God bless you all, especially Otto.

Lots of tears in Aggieland right now. We ask that God help us understand.

As a mom with a 5 yr. old and a 7 yr. old, I can't imagine the grief Otto's family is feeling at this moment. Utterly heartbreaking. May the Lord comfort all who knew and loved this little one.

AGGODDESS and Emeril, hearing your descriptions of Otto's tumor, my older sister died of the same/similar thing 50 years ago at a similar age. Looking back, my mom says there were things that today would tip them off, but back then, they just didn't know. She went into convulsions one night and died the next day.

Sadly, I never knew my sister Laurie, but my older brother and sister did - they were 34 months and 16 months older than her. And one of the things I can offer from that is that Cooper, young as he is, is that Otto has touched his life in ways you'll only see as Cooper grows. My brother's life long passion for medicine was born with Laurie's passing. He is now a trauma surgeon. My sister's love for her sister led her to become a kindergarten teacher where she sets kids who have few other positive role models in their life on the path of loving learning and striving for a good education.

I've prayed for your family as Trouble shared the links to your blog. As a mother myself, I can only imagine your pain, but having lived with my mother, I know that while the pain subsides somewhat through the years, Otto will always be in your heart, and will never truly be gone from you and your family (however that may grow or change). I haven't met my sister Laurie yet (my faith tells me I will someday), but she is always my sister. Pictures, my parent's and sibling's memories are all that I have of her, but they are precious to me.

For many years, my dad could hardly speak of her, but my mom had to. She wanted people to know that Laurie had existed, had lived. She still struggles when people asks how many children she has (she lost her first baby at term as well) because of the inevitable questions. To this day, and with all of our many moves, she keeps a box with some of Laurie's prized possessions - her favorite dress, a stuffed toy, and a few other things. She said at first she had to look at them often, then though the years it would be on Laurie's birthday or the day she died. Now just having it and knowing it is there is enough.

You will face unintentionally rude people who will ask you awful questions. One woman called our house the day after the funeral because she'd "heard Laurie died of pneumonia" and wanted "to know the name of the doctor who let her die." - my mom could only get out that she hadn't died of that.You will face people who will try to offer comfort, but can't possibly understand. My prayer for you is that their comments don't bring too much pain and that you can navigate this time with the same patience you've been so wonderful with so far.

Reading your blog, you've handled this with amazing grace, faith, and strength and you have no idea how much I admire you for it. As that has mirrored my prayers for you, I can believe that the God has answered my prayers and His hands have been guiding you.

Know that the prayers of my family are with yours during this time. Give Cooper and each other lots of hugs and kisses.

Otto Braun Gruner Jun 6, 2012 - Dec 26, 2013

Otto Braun Gruner of Navasota, Texas, entered the earth on June 6, 2012, and went home to our Heavenly Father on December 26, 2013, after being diagnosed on November 3, 2013, with AT/RT, an aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer.

Otto is survived by his brother and best friend, Cooper Olsen (2), mother, Kourtney, and father, Gus, of Navasota; his “Poppa and Kizzy,” Ken and Kathy Rogers of College Station, TX and his “Gran and Beej,” Byrom and Pat Gruner of Navasota; Uncle, aunt, and cousins, Kendall, Angela, Riley, and Mason Rogers of Spring, TX, as well as Sam, Brandi, Clara, and Ben Gruner of Dallas, TX.

Although his time on our earth was not as long as we hoped, Otto entered a fighter at 34 weeks and left the same way. Otto loved PBS’ “Daniel Tiger” and “The Wonder Pets” television shows, the music of Sean McConnell, Seth James (Walker) and Reckless Kelly, and being read books like “I Am a Bunny” and “The Going to Bed Book.” Otto also loved watching his brother Cooper play and laugh.

Otto was blessed by the loving care of many individuals other than his family in his 18 months, most notably Dr. Henderson and nurse Angie at University Pediatrics; Dr. Jae, Dr. Su, and all the nurses at Texas Children’s Hospital; Carol South, Kathy Barrow, and Jana Aguilar at ECI; and April, Amy, Olivia, Jenni, and Dr. C.H. Prihoda at Family Hospice of College Station.

A celebration of Otto’s life and his “homecoming” will be held privately with immediate family in Navasota, Texas. In lieu of gifts, flowers, or other generous acts, please spend a meaningful moment reading a book to or creating a lasting memory with a child.

“…Your love’s an ocean not a river, a symphony and not just a song
I don’t think everybody’s right, I just think most of us are wrong
I think that when we get to heaven, we’re gonna’ laugh when we can see
How hard we tried to make it, and how easy it should be Because providence is endless, and mercy is a mystery
And fear is no good reason to believe in anything…” Praise the Lord, Sean McConnell

“…Let your love shine down on me, light the way to be…oh, and these are the words that I pray, I need my sweet Lord’s help today.” Sweet Lord, Seth James “

…Though there’s darkness all around me, my faith is strong, as I traveled on into the night…don’t say goodnight, just turn out the lights… Irish Goodbye, Reckless Kelly

We love "I am a bunny" and Dr. Henderson in this house, too. Prayers.

He loved the page with all of the butterflies.

Emeril,

Many of us have been praying for you and Aggodess. Please let us know if we can help in any way possible.

Thanks. Just sucks. Thought it'd get easier with each day, but each day we're out of "his" routine just gets harder and harder. It'll get easier at some point, but the stupid stuff that hits you REALLY hits you, right now. Missing the smell of his hair, the stupid things that would make him smile, Cooper calling the window in the car where Otto should be sitting "Otto's window," etc, hits home. It'll get better, but it really sucks, right now.

I think it will one day in 3 months or 6 months or 9 months but in the meantime for Cooper's sake you gotta fake it til you make it for real.

Eat out, visit the park, meet friends for a drink. The more you schedule, the more you will be forced out of the "darkness". Right now friends might be scared to call you; they don't know what to say or do. I for one would love to meet you and Cooper and buy you dinner!

Grief is a slow insidious process. My sister died at the hands of a DUI driver a few years ago. I understand the toll grief takes on a family.