Time for an Update

So this updating blogging is coming along slower than I had hoped, as formatting photo layouts with one hand is difficult, so now I will stick to typing. As to my current state, I wanted to post how many things we have been blessed with in the past year of my non-blogging, but I will get to those posting slowly but surely in the next few days, as I will be doing plenty of sitting. First things, I wanted to update on my dad...last time I posted was when we received my dad’s diagnosis, which was followed by a quick family trip to Branson to process this diagnosis as a family, and just get away (photos to come soon). My dad was diagnosed with frontal temporal lobe dementia, which you may read more about here. While it’s just Wikipedia, I think it gives a good overview, and bottom line, the diagnosis sucks. Because there is no treatment for this disease, my dad has been sticking with a brain training program, exercise, and vitamins. He has monthly visits with his neurologists, which we make fun by visiting PF Changs for lettuce wraps afterwards! His most recent visit was the only one that may have revealed something new, that some of his symptoms lately may be more related to his latent multiple sclerosis, which they would like him to go to the Mayo clinic for further testing. If it is the MS causing problems, the good news is that there are treatments available to slow the progression and/or symptoms of this disease. In the meantime, he has had to have many life adjustments, and one of the most difficult was having the freedom of driving taken away. While even he agrees it is best, it has still been a huge adjustment for him. Having last semester off from working was such a huge blessing, because I was able to help more, but with this semester’s clinicals, my husband, Chris, has been a huge help since he works nearby my dad’s home/work. My dad is also officially retired and just working a few days a week at Home Depot, which I think has been good for him to keep his mind active, and its problem solving and helping others, which are two things he really enjoys.


So it seems as if every semester I have been in school, our family has been faced with some major challenge/and or obstacle, so I am not sure why I thought this last semester would be without the same… wishful thinking, I am sure! Our latest challenge happened this week. On Tuesday evening, I was outside coloring with Emilia with sidewalk chalk, and when I went to pick up a piece of chalk I realized my left pointer finger was a bit tingling, and then the next morning I woke up with half my hand numb and almost complete loss of my upper arm strength. I called my doctor, and he got me in immediately and then sent me for a MRI, which showed I have degenerative disc disease, two bulging discs, and a disc osteophyte complex, which may or may not be the primary problem at this point. See? Right between C4 and C6…(yes this is mine!)

I can say I wasn’t too worried until my specialist I was referred to call this an emergency... then I cried. That said, even though this was an “emergency”, apparently emergencies still work Monday though Friday, 8-5, so my next procedure will be tomorrow morning. I will be having an myelogram and CT with contrast, and from those results they will determine whether spinal steroids are even an option, or whether I will be having spinal surgery this week. Either way, the doctors are unsure of what is causing the numbness and inability to use my arm. The specialist said that a bulging disc alone shouldn’t be the cause of such an acute loss of function, and he feels there is probably a broken off piece of bone causing the issues that wasn’t seen with the MRI, so tomorrows viewing with contrast injected into my spine should give them a better idea. Sooo… this obviously means I have not been in clinicals this week, and will probably be missing next week as well. My graduation is supposed to be exactly 60 days from tomorrow, but everything is kind of up in the air at this point until I am able to use my left arm again… obviously. This is very frustrating and disappointing to work so hard to get to this point where I am so close, and yet now temporarily unable to continue. I am lucky that my boss at work is also one of my school instructors, and she has been kind and understanding of the circumstances, as they are obviously out of my control.

My biggest fear at this time is just the possibility of not regaining all my feeling or strength in my arm or hand. I can honestly say I have never thanked God for having both my hands/arms working, but I assure you once I am able to have them working again, that will go on my thankful list. It has been a very difficult past few days just trying to learn to manage to care for myself, let alone take care of Emilia and our home. Chris has been absolutely wonderful about helping, but at a certain point, there are some things that are nice to be able to do on your own, like button your child’s pant, or your own, for that matter! Right now I am very limited not only by the use of my arm, but am also in a lot of pain. We are so lucky that his work is being so understanding as well, so he has been able to be there for my appointments, and will be there for the procedure tomorrow. So as for right now, we don’t know what is in store for our week, but I know God is faithful, and He knows what’s in store for my week… I am finding comfort in this and knowing we have so many praying for us. The biggest lesson I have learned lately in my walk with God is that He is today and tomorrow what He said He will be... meaning no matter what storm we are facing or in the midst of, God is still there in the details, and if we can only seek His will through the difficult times, and ask Him to reveal Himself to us, we will see his hands at work. I am praying this week for God to give us peace, calm our fears, and prepare our hearts for what our week will hold, and I am praying for others who are in the midst of their own personal storm, that God would grant them the same.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11