Thank you to all my prayer warrior friends who are lifting me up before our Father! We will all be able to rejoice together and praise Him for my total healing! Please keep posting comments on the blog...I love to read them!
Today has been a good day. God is healing my headache from the spinal tap, and I am able to be up and around more...it's a nice change. I got some IV fluids from one of my clinics to help hydrate, which helps recover from the headaches by (in a roundabout way) helping regenerate my spinal fluid that was lost in the "leak". It's more complicated than that, but that's the best I can do!
Mom is still here, still cleaning and doing laundry! What a blessing she has been to have around, help me out and keep me company. She will have to leave tomorrrow and that will be an adjustment. I have plenty of willing friends that will keep me company (thanks!) and my sister will probably come back this week.
Chad and I will be meeting with the neurosurgeon in town tomorrow to talk about the next step. Pray for wisdom for the upcoming decisions we will be making. Pray that God leads us to the best possible surgeon and institution that we could get. Continue to pray for peace and comfort for us, and of course for my total healing!
Monday, August 6, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Believe and Have Faith
My headache is better today! I have been able to be upright more, which is a blessing. It only seems to be exacerbated by the crying that I seem to have done a lot of today. I am going to be very honest...I had been doing pretty well, but today was rough. I am writing this post because I need to share something. This is the end of my doubt, anxiety and fear. I refuse to let satan have any power here! God IS healing me!
My "brother" just called me...in God's perfect timing, with words I needed to hear. He called to give me 2 scriptures that I would like to share.
Matt 18:19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."
Matt 21:21-22 "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the see,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
The third, sent by my sister, is Mark 11:24 “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
I am asking all of you to join with my family and I...ask God for my healing, believe that it is happening, and don't doubt in God's mighty power! May God be glorified as He does a mighty and miraculous work in me!
My "brother" just called me...in God's perfect timing, with words I needed to hear. He called to give me 2 scriptures that I would like to share.
Matt 18:19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."
Matt 21:21-22 "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the see,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
The third, sent by my sister, is Mark 11:24 “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
I am asking all of you to join with my family and I...ask God for my healing, believe that it is happening, and don't doubt in God's mighty power! May God be glorified as He does a mighty and miraculous work in me!
Friday, August 3, 2007
Today's Praises
I have spent the day flat on my back, because I unfortunately woke up with a headache...which can be an after-effect of the lumbar puncture. However, it seems to be improving as the day goes on, and I am very thankful for that!
Chad got off the phone with my doctor this evening, and so far we have good news! The spinal fluid looked good with the preliminary tests. There are no signs of malignancy (i.e. bad cancer) in the spinal fluid, but the definitive studies for MS will take a couple of weeks to get back. So keep praying that those come back totally normal. My evoked potential was completely normal...which suprised them since I had one of my "episodes" during the exam. That test being negative makes it less likely that it's MS. Another neuroradiologist in Detroit looked at my MRI (thanks Neets!), and he agrees with the others that it looks like a benign glioma (i.e. primary tumor). My other blood tests should be coming back next week, and we are praying for everything to come back normal.
That's the latest as of today. We will probably be scheduling a consult with a neurosurgeon in town to talk about options and where the best place is to go if it comes down to biopsy/surgery.
Prayer
Please pray for complete and total healing, for faith and peace for Chad and I (and my family), for no more "episodes", and for wisdom with the upcoming decisions we have to make.
We praise God for a day of good news and a diminishing headache!
Love,
Laura
Chad got off the phone with my doctor this evening, and so far we have good news! The spinal fluid looked good with the preliminary tests. There are no signs of malignancy (i.e. bad cancer) in the spinal fluid, but the definitive studies for MS will take a couple of weeks to get back. So keep praying that those come back totally normal. My evoked potential was completely normal...which suprised them since I had one of my "episodes" during the exam. That test being negative makes it less likely that it's MS. Another neuroradiologist in Detroit looked at my MRI (thanks Neets!), and he agrees with the others that it looks like a benign glioma (i.e. primary tumor). My other blood tests should be coming back next week, and we are praying for everything to come back normal.
That's the latest as of today. We will probably be scheduling a consult with a neurosurgeon in town to talk about options and where the best place is to go if it comes down to biopsy/surgery.
Prayer
Please pray for complete and total healing, for faith and peace for Chad and I (and my family), for no more "episodes", and for wisdom with the upcoming decisions we have to make.
We praise God for a day of good news and a diminishing headache!
Love,
Laura
Gifts and Cards
I had a very nice visit from Laura G. and Elizabeth to deliver a wonderful basket full of goodies from my Breton family. THANK YOU all for your generosity and kind words! Thank you for your love and prayers...I miss you all...and I miss squeezing those babies!
And thanks to everyone who is sending cards...I got so many beautiful cards today full of warm thoughts and prayers. Please know that each one is so appreciated...it gives me something to read while I'm flat on my back!
And thanks to everyone who is sending cards...I got so many beautiful cards today full of warm thoughts and prayers. Please know that each one is so appreciated...it gives me something to read while I'm flat on my back!
Pictures of Benny and Jakey
Good morning everyone! I'm going to post a short note this morning simply to post pics...I finally figured it out! Right now, mom is cleaning the kitchen and making carrot juice (yummy!), Jean and I are on opposite couches, and Benny is begging to watch Dora. I will be getting hooked up to another looonnnggggg IV today, that will keep me behaving for at least 4 hours out of the day! I'm feeling ok this morning...I have a headache and my back is still sore, but that just means more behaving and couch lounging. Oh the days of longing to lounge on the couch all day...it's harder when you have to!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
The lumbar puncture
Chad very willingly wanted to add all the posts to the blog; however, I managed to sweet talk him into letting me write something now and then to help pass some time at home...and save him from more time on the computer after working all day.
Today Chad took me into the hospital for the lumbar puncture at about 9am. After they checked me out, they decided I was a little too "with it" after taking something to relax me for the procedure. They decided to give me another 2 doses of what I had already taken! Let's just say...they told me not to sign any important documents today! I know Chad brought me to the hospital, but Chad disappeared (I'm sure I slurred goodbye to him) and my mom was then by my bedside to wait out the 3 hours until I could come home. I had to lay on my back for 3 hours to make it less likely that I would get a "post-tap" headache (i.e. a slow leak of spinal fluid through the hole from the tap, which causes a headache from diminished amounts of spinal fluid), which I unfortunately got after my last tap 6 years ago. The good news from the tap is that I have no increased pressure in my head and that the fluid "looked" normal (clear). Praise God for that! We will be waiting for test results from many tests in the upcoming weeks, and we are praying for them all to be completely normal.
Most of the day was a blur. The meds they gave me knocked me out and I slept most of the afternoon away...I can't complain about that. My back's a little sore and I have a headache if I sit up too long, so pray that that will go away quickly. I'm being good and typing lying on my back right now.
Visitors today
My mom, sister Jean, and her boys Benny and Jake are still here with us to keep me sane while Chad is busy at work. I am very blessed to have their help, as I will be laying on my favorite couch for much of the next 48 hours.
My friend Liza came over when I got back from the hospital and hooked me up to an IV of fluids to hopefully hydrate me enough to prevent a headache. Kevin, my friend and a resident who was supposed to be rotating with me this month, came over to work on my back after being in funny positions for the spinal tap.
Our friends from church, Nicole and Eric, came over with their little man Gibson and brought some yummy dinner! Thank goodness I had an appetite tonight. It was awesome you guys, thanks! We visited for awhile, but I wasn't great company on the couch!
Prayers
I am doing well and I believe Chad is too. We appreciate all the prayers and know they are all felt! I praise God for the peace and comfort He is giving us through this. Pray for Chad as he continues to have to work with the added stress that this has brought. Pray for wisdom with upcoming decisions, many NEGATIVE test results, no more of my "episodes", and most of all for total and complete HEALING. I am speaking God's Word daily and know He will use this situation to bring glory to His kingdom. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, flowers, cards, visits, meals, etc. We appreciate all of you so very much.
Love,
Laura
Today Chad took me into the hospital for the lumbar puncture at about 9am. After they checked me out, they decided I was a little too "with it" after taking something to relax me for the procedure. They decided to give me another 2 doses of what I had already taken! Let's just say...they told me not to sign any important documents today! I know Chad brought me to the hospital, but Chad disappeared (I'm sure I slurred goodbye to him) and my mom was then by my bedside to wait out the 3 hours until I could come home. I had to lay on my back for 3 hours to make it less likely that I would get a "post-tap" headache (i.e. a slow leak of spinal fluid through the hole from the tap, which causes a headache from diminished amounts of spinal fluid), which I unfortunately got after my last tap 6 years ago. The good news from the tap is that I have no increased pressure in my head and that the fluid "looked" normal (clear). Praise God for that! We will be waiting for test results from many tests in the upcoming weeks, and we are praying for them all to be completely normal.
Most of the day was a blur. The meds they gave me knocked me out and I slept most of the afternoon away...I can't complain about that. My back's a little sore and I have a headache if I sit up too long, so pray that that will go away quickly. I'm being good and typing lying on my back right now.
Visitors today
My mom, sister Jean, and her boys Benny and Jake are still here with us to keep me sane while Chad is busy at work. I am very blessed to have their help, as I will be laying on my favorite couch for much of the next 48 hours.
My friend Liza came over when I got back from the hospital and hooked me up to an IV of fluids to hopefully hydrate me enough to prevent a headache. Kevin, my friend and a resident who was supposed to be rotating with me this month, came over to work on my back after being in funny positions for the spinal tap.
Our friends from church, Nicole and Eric, came over with their little man Gibson and brought some yummy dinner! Thank goodness I had an appetite tonight. It was awesome you guys, thanks! We visited for awhile, but I wasn't great company on the couch!
Prayers
I am doing well and I believe Chad is too. We appreciate all the prayers and know they are all felt! I praise God for the peace and comfort He is giving us through this. Pray for Chad as he continues to have to work with the added stress that this has brought. Pray for wisdom with upcoming decisions, many NEGATIVE test results, no more of my "episodes", and most of all for total and complete HEALING. I am speaking God's Word daily and know He will use this situation to bring glory to His kingdom. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, flowers, cards, visits, meals, etc. We appreciate all of you so very much.
Love,
Laura
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Good News
Progress:
Due to assistance from our friends in the medical community, we were able to get some information from one of Fred's (Laura's father) medical students who is now a neuro surgeon here in Grand Rapids. After he heard of Laura's episodes and tests, he spoke with some neuro radiologists that provided some good news. In their opinion, the MRI looks more like an astrocytoma tumor (benign) than demyelination (MS). Nothing is definitive, but we are excited about the opinions. However, we have yet to have a direct consultation with a neuro radiologist or neuro surgeon, but hope to soon after receiving the results of the tests being run. The next test, a lumbar puncture, will take place tomorrow morning. We would welcome prayers of quick recovery and no leaks. We are unsure when we will receive the test results, but hope to soon.
Home:
Ben has been in rare form, providing constant comic relief. Little Jake is running for poster child baby of the century...the unique combination of fun, cute, and relaxed...aside from cracking up over Ben's antics. I haven't been home much today, but the house is the same color, so Janet must have found something to occupy herself with inside. Jean has been a jewel of support, providing invaluable conversation, companionship, and entertainment for Laura while I fulfill my responsibilities at work.
Faithful:
Laura and I are so grateful for the prayers by so many friends. Be assured they are felt. There is a peace that envelopes our home, thoughts and hearts. The love shown by so many is humbling and powerful. So many things at this point are difficult to put into words, so we simply take on each day hoping to fulfill God's will during this temporary challenge.
God Bless,
Chad
Due to assistance from our friends in the medical community, we were able to get some information from one of Fred's (Laura's father) medical students who is now a neuro surgeon here in Grand Rapids. After he heard of Laura's episodes and tests, he spoke with some neuro radiologists that provided some good news. In their opinion, the MRI looks more like an astrocytoma tumor (benign) than demyelination (MS). Nothing is definitive, but we are excited about the opinions. However, we have yet to have a direct consultation with a neuro radiologist or neuro surgeon, but hope to soon after receiving the results of the tests being run. The next test, a lumbar puncture, will take place tomorrow morning. We would welcome prayers of quick recovery and no leaks. We are unsure when we will receive the test results, but hope to soon.
Home:
Ben has been in rare form, providing constant comic relief. Little Jake is running for poster child baby of the century...the unique combination of fun, cute, and relaxed...aside from cracking up over Ben's antics. I haven't been home much today, but the house is the same color, so Janet must have found something to occupy herself with inside. Jean has been a jewel of support, providing invaluable conversation, companionship, and entertainment for Laura while I fulfill my responsibilities at work.
Faithful:
Laura and I are so grateful for the prayers by so many friends. Be assured they are felt. There is a peace that envelopes our home, thoughts and hearts. The love shown by so many is humbling and powerful. So many things at this point are difficult to put into words, so we simply take on each day hoping to fulfill God's will during this temporary challenge.
God Bless,
Chad
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