My good friend has inspired me with her 30 days of Thanksgiving, and because I have but a week until turkey day, I thought I might conquer all 30 days right now. Here we go: 30: an unexpected date night last night; 29: Christmas shopping is done!; 28: a diagnosis for my sweet Shepherd as well as treatment; 27: changing leaves (Fall is my favorite season); 26: my family that redefines the word longsuffering; 25: a weekend with good college friends and lifelong friendships; 24: heat (brrr, it's cold out there!); 23: the first fire of the year!; 22: a job with guaranteed salary and health insurance; 21: 9 months SEIZURE FREE!!!; 20: many delicious meals from many of you; 19: a new headache dr that has put together the headaches and endocrine issues and has some ideas and next steps (more on that later); 18: a neighbor who helped Mike clear the leaves; 17: the holiday season (makes my heart happy); 16: recent adoptions by my friends (a cool picture of what God has done for us); 15: 2 working vehicles; 14: lots of love and prayers from so many for so long; 13: a new grief counselor that is covered by our insurance!; 12: faithfulness; 11: the deer in my neighborhood; 10: home sweet home and the ability to sustain it (only by God's grace); 9: down time in the busyness of life; 8: comfy pants (come on, you know you love them too!); 7: laughter; 6: forgiveness; 5: mercy; 4: grace; 3: love; 2: salvation; 1: life
This Thanksgiving, be thankful for all you have. If you are like us, you have been blessed beyond what some only dream of. Love to you and your families, friends. A very happy turkey day to you all!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
back to UC
So last week, Wednesday, Mike went to the headache specialist and the dr took a look at Mike's recent MRI and called the ENT surgeon while Mike was still in the office. The headache specialist saw a sinus pocket that was filled and most likely causing the head pain. The ENT surgeon said he could fit Mike into surgery in 2 days instead of waiting another week when the surgery was scheduled. We made arrangements and then the hospital called and told Mike it was scheduled for Monday, tomorrow, and that he had to have tests done the next day (Thursday). On Friday, the doctor called and said the recent tests showed the sinus pockets had shrunk and the surgery was off but that Mike needed to go into the hospital for pain management and more tests. Did ya catch all that?
Friday night, I took Mike to University Hospital and it is likely he will be there until Tuesday. They are running antibody tests, doing an MRA, MRD and spinal tap (youch!). At this point, the endocrine team and headache dr are toying with a possible diagnosis but are doing more tests to rule other things out. 4 years ago the "guru" of this rare disease was at University Hospital, and if it turns out this is the answer, we will get his contact information and follow up with him.
I dare not get my hopes up that this is the answer, for I have learned it is easier to accept my low expectations than be disappointed by my false hopes. I know that sounds bad, but it doesn't hurt as much.
On a personal note, Mike and I have experienced so much loss over the course of this illness, and the culminating grief has affected us both more deeply than I think we can comprehend. This week we are scheduled to see a grief/marriage counselor to help us deal with all the emotions that come with this journey. We don't have family close and we are both dealing with very separate stress and loss. Job, finances, health, independence, 3 grandparents and an uncle have been lost in recent years and on some level, we have lost the support of each other as we are left to deal with our own very different emotions.
Please pray that this hospital stay is fruitful and our counselor can help us muddle through the past years' loss.
Love you all,
Becka
Friday night, I took Mike to University Hospital and it is likely he will be there until Tuesday. They are running antibody tests, doing an MRA, MRD and spinal tap (youch!). At this point, the endocrine team and headache dr are toying with a possible diagnosis but are doing more tests to rule other things out. 4 years ago the "guru" of this rare disease was at University Hospital, and if it turns out this is the answer, we will get his contact information and follow up with him.
I dare not get my hopes up that this is the answer, for I have learned it is easier to accept my low expectations than be disappointed by my false hopes. I know that sounds bad, but it doesn't hurt as much.
On a personal note, Mike and I have experienced so much loss over the course of this illness, and the culminating grief has affected us both more deeply than I think we can comprehend. This week we are scheduled to see a grief/marriage counselor to help us deal with all the emotions that come with this journey. We don't have family close and we are both dealing with very separate stress and loss. Job, finances, health, independence, 3 grandparents and an uncle have been lost in recent years and on some level, we have lost the support of each other as we are left to deal with our own very different emotions.
Please pray that this hospital stay is fruitful and our counselor can help us muddle through the past years' loss.
Love you all,
Becka
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