As I sit here on the eve of what I hope will be my last night (for awhile, anyway) of sleeping on a cot in a hospital room, I am overwhelmed to think about the twists and turns of this week and how God has been so faithful through it all. Tonight is night #7 (but who's counting?) of having the privilege to keep my amazing son company while he faced the most difficult week of his life. Our time together has ranged from laughing at silly TV shows and web videos when he was able to concentrate on them to watching him sleep, like tonight. As this chapter draws to a close, it occurs to me that I am weary to my bones.
It has been another difficult day. Beginning with a 5:30 am wake-up call, Chris was taken to surgery to deplant the depth electrodes. Just as the last one was removed, he had a seizure. This required more meds to calm his brain. And, as I mentioned on the first surgery day a week ago - surgery is difficult and painful, no matter what body part it involves, right? Vicodin and Morphine are the order of the day (night) right now.
In between twinges of pain, Chris is happy that this process was successful, and that Dr. Maleeva and Dr. Sutherling have lots of good information to review over the next few weeks. He knows that so many people have been praying for him. I have been sending out email updates nightly to more than 80 recipients who have been agreeing in prayer for Chris this week. I plan to print out my emails and the replies to share with him. I know he will be strengthened by their love, as I have been.
The next few weeks will involve just rest for Chris. The doctor has instructed us that he can't lift anything more than 10 pounds, or run, or workout, or anything that may cause cranial pressure for about a month. Keeping him home will be difficult once he feels better. Ah, well - one day at a time...
He will meet with the surgeon to have stitches removed in a couple of weeks, then right before Thanksgiving we will meet with Dr. Sutherling to find out the surgery verdict. He and his team will study the data for about two weeks, then have a committee meeting to discuss the case.
There are still many things to cover in prayer: that Chris will fully recover physically and mentally from this procedure, that there will be no infection or complications of surgery, that his pain will subside quickly, and mostly, that the focal point location will be in an operable area of the brain.
God has brought us this far.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Miracle on California Street
One of Chris' doctors came in today on her day off because she had been pondering something all night and had a theory to test. She then hooked up a special transformer to a few of the electrodes and sent a slight electrical charge into Chris' brain through one of the depth electrodes and it immediately induced a seizure. Bingo! She was VERY happy - hooting & hollering, even - (she had expected no outcome) and believes the focal point of seizures can now be located. They have decided that further monitoring will not be necessary, and Chris is scheduled for surgery at 7:00am Tuesday to remove the depth electrodes.
The doctors have told us that this is perhaps the most difficult case they have encountered, and were working very hard to find the focal point against all odds. Most patients in this Phase 2 of brain mapping stay here two weeks or more; with one patient staying 48 days! It is truly remarkable to have the data needed and for a patient to be able to go home in a week.
As I left work today and drove to the hospital after hearing the news, I was filled with joy at God's gracious answer to our prayers. So many of my friends have shared their hearts with me as they have prayed specifically for the doctors to be able to find the focal point. The way the doctor located the focal point was so unconventional, it makes it all even more spectacular.
The next step is for the doctors to thoroughly review all the data collected for the brain mapping and a committee of 6 doctors will meet to discuss Chris' case and decide on the exact seizure origin. They will also determine whether it is in a part of the brain that can be surgically removed. We will then be able to schedule that surgery, which will require a 3 to 6 month recovery.
Progress!
The doctors have told us that this is perhaps the most difficult case they have encountered, and were working very hard to find the focal point against all odds. Most patients in this Phase 2 of brain mapping stay here two weeks or more; with one patient staying 48 days! It is truly remarkable to have the data needed and for a patient to be able to go home in a week.
As I left work today and drove to the hospital after hearing the news, I was filled with joy at God's gracious answer to our prayers. So many of my friends have shared their hearts with me as they have prayed specifically for the doctors to be able to find the focal point. The way the doctor located the focal point was so unconventional, it makes it all even more spectacular.
The next step is for the doctors to thoroughly review all the data collected for the brain mapping and a committee of 6 doctors will meet to discuss Chris' case and decide on the exact seizure origin. They will also determine whether it is in a part of the brain that can be surgically removed. We will then be able to schedule that surgery, which will require a 3 to 6 month recovery.
Progress!
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