Untraceable Paths: 3 Weeks 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.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

3 Weeks and Counting

As of yesterday we have now been in the hospital for 3 weeks and other than a couple of trips from the EMU to the OR, Tina has occupied the same 15 square feet of space. We continue to wait and pray for a seizure that will move her into the next phase of this crazy adventure we're on.

We are looking forward to our kids coming and visiting today. My parents are going to drive down to Cleveland and spend a couple of nights here so that the kids can come and hang out. We are so looking forward to them being here.

4 comments:

Kathryn Jones said...: Hope you have a great visit with the kids! Of course the obvious joke from one stressed out mom to another is maybe those kids will be just what Tina needs to induce a seizure. :)

You seriously need to come home soon, we miss you guys like crazy!!

Kathryn; August 5, 2010 at 10:49 AM
Matt Jones said...: ditto what Kathryn said... about missing you guys not about the stressed out moms. :); August 5, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Aunt Marcia said...: Have fun with the kids. It will be such a nice diversion, and yes it may just be what Tina needs!!!Praying as always.; August 5, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi Guys! We're so happy for you that you're going to see your kiddos (and they're going to see you)! Have a wonderful visit! It still seems so unusual to be saying this but "we're praying hard for the seizures that the Dr's. need to "take you the rest of the way down your path"
We love you!

G-Dude and Kathy; August 5, 2010 at 12:14 PM