Greetings,
For the past week Christine and I have been at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. We have come here to try and find some answers concerning my current health problems. Over this week I have been stuck, prodded, photographed, tapped, and electrocuted, all for one reason...to find the truth. Diagnosing my health problem has become just that...a problem. My life has turned into an episode of House! For those of you familiar with the show can i think you can sympathize with me! But hope springs eternal! Christine and I have searched for answers for years and it seems, this week, we may have found some.
On Thursday I had a spinal tap and the results of that test showed that the pressure in my spinal column and brain was abnormally high. This has been the first time any of my doctors, whether it be opthamalogist, neurologist, or neurosurgeon, have mentioned it or even thought to prescribe this test. For years we have been saying, "It feels like my head is going to blow off!" "I can't stand the pressure!" But it's just now that anybody has thought to actually see if there is a problem with PRESSURE!
This has been an extraordinarily long, painful, and exhausting week. But I am glad that we are on the road to a possible course of treatment that will give me back a portion of my life. I still have tests to do on Monday so the ordeal has not yet ended. I pray that our last visit with my neurologist will be productive, constructive, and helpful. The Mayo Clinic is the best medical facility in the world in my opinion, but I am ready to go home and start living again. Will I be healed of the pain I endure each day? I don't know. Will I ever have to see another doctor? I'm sure I will. But do I think that my week at the Mayo Clinic could change my life? It already has!
Look to my blog next week as I will be giving a final report on my trip to Phoenix. This week has been a bumpy road on my journey home but I wouldn't change a thing about it. If you are a pray-er keep us in them. If you are not now is a good time to start!
God bless all of you that share my journey home!
Blessings,
Derek
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
The Search For Truth
Greetings,
Over the past few months I have been on a journey. Unfortunately, it's a journey that I am very familiar with. Since my very first brain surgery I have spent countless hours in doctor's offices. Whether it be a family physician, a neurologoist, a neurosurgeon, a neuro-opthamologist, a pain management specialist, an audiologist, a neuro-psychologist, or... well any other type of medical professional, I have paid my $35 co-pay for their advice. I have paid that co-pay in hopes of finding the answer to one question..."How can I find relief from my pain?"
Each time I ask that question I hold out hope that, maybe this time, I will have found someone who can give me the truth. It's not that I believe that every doctor that I have visited in the past has sent me away with an intended falsehood disguised as a diagnosis or treatment. The reality of my situation dictates that if I am going to find true pain relief it will take a monumental collaboration of an assortment of health care providers. Nonetheless I have faith that the "truth" is out there.
I have taken that belief and trekked, once again, to the Mecca of medicine, the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. Today, I met with a neuro oncologist and had a neuro surgeon consult. Over the next week I will have my eyes tested to see why I am losing my vision, my ears tested to see why I am losing my hearing, and my braain tested to see if I am losing my mind. I await a lumbar puncture, an ECG, a BAER test (whatever that is), a VEP test (again, whatever that is), and a number of other unknown procedures as I seek to uncover the truth.
And even though a week in the desert of Arizona sounds like a vacation most of my time will be spent in an examination room. As I write this post my confidence is high. Everyone wants to know the truth, don't they? That's the crazy thing about the truth. We spend so much time seeking it we don't take enough time too consider if we are ready for it or not. I know the truth might not be what I want it to be. It might be that the reality of my health situation dictates that I won't get relief from pain and my vision will never return. If that's the truth then so be it. I just hope and pray that the truth is out there waiting to be revealed.
So, I will keep you updated each day, letting you join me in my search for the truth. Who knows, we both might learn something neither one of us knew. The "truth" is allusive, especially in the field of medicine, but I am confident that if I am going to find it, I'll find it here.
I would love to have your prayers for Christine and I especially prayers of discernment for the doctors that I am going to see each day. My prayer is that each day I can blog about the great advancements that are being made towards revealing the "truth"! See you here tomorrow!
Blessings,
Derek
Over the past few months I have been on a journey. Unfortunately, it's a journey that I am very familiar with. Since my very first brain surgery I have spent countless hours in doctor's offices. Whether it be a family physician, a neurologoist, a neurosurgeon, a neuro-opthamologist, a pain management specialist, an audiologist, a neuro-psychologist, or... well any other type of medical professional, I have paid my $35 co-pay for their advice. I have paid that co-pay in hopes of finding the answer to one question..."How can I find relief from my pain?"
Each time I ask that question I hold out hope that, maybe this time, I will have found someone who can give me the truth. It's not that I believe that every doctor that I have visited in the past has sent me away with an intended falsehood disguised as a diagnosis or treatment. The reality of my situation dictates that if I am going to find true pain relief it will take a monumental collaboration of an assortment of health care providers. Nonetheless I have faith that the "truth" is out there.
I have taken that belief and trekked, once again, to the Mecca of medicine, the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ. Today, I met with a neuro oncologist and had a neuro surgeon consult. Over the next week I will have my eyes tested to see why I am losing my vision, my ears tested to see why I am losing my hearing, and my braain tested to see if I am losing my mind. I await a lumbar puncture, an ECG, a BAER test (whatever that is), a VEP test (again, whatever that is), and a number of other unknown procedures as I seek to uncover the truth.
And even though a week in the desert of Arizona sounds like a vacation most of my time will be spent in an examination room. As I write this post my confidence is high. Everyone wants to know the truth, don't they? That's the crazy thing about the truth. We spend so much time seeking it we don't take enough time too consider if we are ready for it or not. I know the truth might not be what I want it to be. It might be that the reality of my health situation dictates that I won't get relief from pain and my vision will never return. If that's the truth then so be it. I just hope and pray that the truth is out there waiting to be revealed.
So, I will keep you updated each day, letting you join me in my search for the truth. Who knows, we both might learn something neither one of us knew. The "truth" is allusive, especially in the field of medicine, but I am confident that if I am going to find it, I'll find it here.
I would love to have your prayers for Christine and I especially prayers of discernment for the doctors that I am going to see each day. My prayer is that each day I can blog about the great advancements that are being made towards revealing the "truth"! See you here tomorrow!
Blessings,
Derek
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Hey it's Jacob back for another post on my dad's blog. I am currently on a mission trip in Oklahoma City. Dad was not able to be here and I deeply wish for everyone who reads this to pray for him. He is the bravest and most incredible person I will ever meet in my life and I know it tears him up not being able to be on this mission. God has a plan for everything in our lives. He has been working with me in what I consider one of the toughest missions I've been apart of. I have been dealing with my own sorrows and valleys in my life and this mission is helping me use God to deal with them. Lately I have been missing those little things that the Lord does in our lives that make a huge difference. Like when someone gives you kind words or a hug when you need it the most. Those things from God are helping me get through all the the stuff that is hard. I have also learned that even though you don't get what you pray for automatically that doesn't mean that God has ignored your prayer completely. He does what he thinks you need in your life to get you closer to him. At first I was so upset that all of these horrible things were happening and I couldnt find God in anything. But then I looked and found him in a place that was in front of me the whole time...my sister Stephanie. She has taken care of me and showed me how to live life for God and with God in every action you take. She has showed me how to love as well. I owe most of my "recovery" to her. I have learned that most of the time you dont see how the Lord has answered a prayer for you, but the ripples are endless. In the darkest times and places of our lives we cling to that canlde in the dark. But if it goes out unexpectedly you need not fear. God will give you a flame in some shape or form to put you back in the light.
I will leave you with lyrics from a song by Tenth Avenue North that I think all of us can relate to.
"My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between. The times you're broken. The times when you mend. The times you hate me and the times that you bend. The times you're healing and when your heart breaks. The times when you feel like you've fallen from grace.The times you are hurting. The times that you heal. The times that you have been tempted to steal. The times of confusion and chaos and pain. Ill share in your sorrow under the weight of your shame. Im there through your heartache and there through the storm. My love I will keep you by my power alone. I dont care where you've fallen or where you have been. Ill never forsake you, my love never ends. It never ends. My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between." Love you dad.
I will leave you with lyrics from a song by Tenth Avenue North that I think all of us can relate to.
"My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between. The times you're broken. The times when you mend. The times you hate me and the times that you bend. The times you're healing and when your heart breaks. The times when you feel like you've fallen from grace.The times you are hurting. The times that you heal. The times that you have been tempted to steal. The times of confusion and chaos and pain. Ill share in your sorrow under the weight of your shame. Im there through your heartache and there through the storm. My love I will keep you by my power alone. I dont care where you've fallen or where you have been. Ill never forsake you, my love never ends. It never ends. My love is over, it's underneath, it's inside, it's in between." Love you dad.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)