Untraceable Paths: 33 Hours and Counting

Early Easter morning, four and a half years ago, life for our family changed forever. I awoke to the sound of an otherworldly noise and Tina’s body convulsing uncontrollably. That event began us onto a path where we would discover that Tina was suffering from late onset Epilepsy. That path would include long periods of Tina being home-bound and a non-stop roller-coaster of trying to figure out which medications would strike the best balance between controlling her seizures but also limit the debilitating side-effects of chronic fatigue and loss of focus – that effort has only been marginally successful.

On July 14th 2010, our path took another turn when Tina underwent a five week long surgical procedure where doctors at University Hospitals in Cleveland Ohio implanted multiple electrodes into her brain in the hope that this would allow them to locate the spot in her brain that is responsible for her seizures and then surgically remove that spot in an attempt to control her seizures without medication. Unfortunately after 3 surgical attempts to locating this seizure focus, the clock ran out and the risk of continuing this procedure became too great, so they removed all of the electrodes, and sent her home with very little to show for our 5 weeks in the hospital.

When we left Cleveland two summers ago we couldn't imagine that we would go back anytime soon. Those five weeks in the hospital were very disappointing for Tina and difficult for our kids. However, over the course of the last year and a half, Tina's seizures have become progressively more frequent, and medications have become progressively less effective at controlling her seizures. So, after consulting with Tina's neurologists, it is clear that we are in for yet another turn in the path of life.

We will once again be making the trip to University Hospitals in Cleveland, and on Wednesday January 11th, Tina will once again undergo the same procedure to implant electrodes in her brain to monitor seizure activity in the hope that they can determine the physical location of her seizures and surgically remove it.

This is not a path that we went looking for nor did we anticipate how sharply our lives would change literally over night when four and a half years ago these seizures began. There have been days when we have wondered as to why these things were happening and what God was up to in this. What we have learned is best summed up by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Rome where he said that the paths that God lays out for us are "beyond tracing out." We may not understand this path or where it’s leading us, but what we do know is that we would rather follow God’s untraceable path than to follow any path we could lay out for ourselves. This blog is our attempt to bring others along with us as we walk along God’s untraceable path.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

33 Hours and Counting

Tina has now gone nearly 33 hours without sleep. Sleep deprivation is one of those little tricks of the trade that the EMU use to try and get their patients to have a seizure. So far - no dice. They have detected some seizure-type activity but no seizures. The neurologist is now telling us that they really need to have seizures in order to proceed with surgery, so we are really praying that something happens. Tina is really motivated to stay awake as long as she can to try and see if she can wear out her brain and conjure something up.

Unfortunately I'm fried and so this blog post isn't going to say a whole lot - certainly no sermons. Thanks again to all who have sent messages of encouragement, Tina and I greatly appreciate it. We'll keep you posted as thing progress.

4 comments:

Amy said...: 33 hours?? How does one stay awake for 33 hours straight? Tell Tina she should take this opportunity to read the Twilight books. That would either a)help her pass the time or b)give her a seizure. :-)
Keep up the good work guys!
Love you!; July 17, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Christa said...: Ok. This will give her a seizure! Tell her if she doesn't I'll bring all 6 childen down and lock them in her room for as long as it takes! Lol
Praying! Love you!; July 17, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Glenda said...: How about a really competitive game of "Dutch Blitz?" Like the kind we used to play at those LLBYC Winter Staff Retreats? :-)
Seriously though...I am praying for you guys!
Lots of love and prayers!; July 17, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Heather said...: I love you Tina! You are so beautiful! Omgsh! I am praying for a seizure. I remember they had Madi blow on a pinwheel to hyperventilate and have Matt bring you in a disco ball for your room. oxox; July 18, 2010 at 5:32 PM