One week...

Has it really been only a week? It feels like a lot longer. I would be amiss if I didn't thank all of you for your support here and on facebook. My mother in law had a very tough road but fought hard and is now home recovering. We went from feeling sure we would loose her last weekend, not sure what she would be like if she did live, to knowing she would live and get better. It's still a long process for her. She has 8 weeks IV antibiotics and a lot of work to get her strength back but it will happen. It's been a exhausting and physically draining week. Being at the hospital every single day, shuffling the kids back and forth to my sister in law, and when I wasn't at the hospital I was watching her kids so she could be there. The laundry and cleaning piled up. My kids have hit breaking point with melt downs and tantrums. Lindsey had girl scout camp to attend in the mix. It was a lot of stress getting her up and off but it was well worth it. I just feel so drained. I have feel asleep in my clothes the other night, I was that tired. My mother in law still needs a lot of care but my father in law is managing a lot of that now. I am still up there as needed. In the end I feel so blessed we found out what she had and fast. A rare brain abscess that ruptured into her brain and spinal column creating meningitis. It has a 80% morbidity rate! Thank goodness for good antibiotics and the power of prayer.

We haven't had a very fun summer. I am hoping to make that up this month and next. I have several posts to share as I catch my breath.


Thanks again...

A break...

I have a few posts waiting around but need to take a break. My mother in law fell ill Thursday and is very very sick and in the hospital. After several failed attempts to diagnose her worsening condition, they think they are on the right track. We haven't seen her getting better and were scared. Things are still very unstable. I can't think of anything else but focusing my energy, thoughts and prayers on her. Can you do the same for me? We all love her and rely on her so much!


An update and explanation...
I just wanted to provide everyone an update on mom's condition as I know many of you have been thinking and praying for her. Wednesday night at about 9 pm mom started having a sudden and sever headache, one that she described as the worst headache she had ever experienced. By Thursday morning she was taken to her doctors office and they immediately sent her to the emergency room at St Marks Hospital. Thursday at about 2 in the afternoon she was given a CT Scan that indicated an anomaly in her brain and the doctors hinted toward a possible stroke or maybe a lesion of some sort. The requested a MRI scan to see if they could have a better look and started her on IV pain medication. It was close to Midnight before she finally was able to get her MRI and at about 1 am on Friday morning Dad, Craig and myself met with the neurologist. His opinion was that she had had a small stroke but that there might potentially be a tumor in the same area as well. By Friday morning around 10 am she had deteriorated to a point that they doctors started looking at possible other explanations and floated the idea of a abscess in the brain that may have ruptured. They ordered more blood tests, more MRI's and a spinal tap. Based on these additional test it has been determined that she most likely has suffered from a ruptured brain abscess that has infected her brain and her spinal column.

Right now she is fighting the infection and it has definitely taken a toll on her. This is extremely dangerous and very rare, I won't go into specifics but suffice it to say that she is in a real battle right now. Yesterday was very hard as she was not aware of her surroundings, when the nurse asked her who I was she was not able to recognize me, not a pleasant feeling to have your mother in this type of condition. She is still very confused and disoriented but we all think she is better today than she was yesterday and will continue to hope for improvement. I know many of you have fasted and prayed for her today as news has reached you and we find no coincidence in her improvement and those prayers that so many of you have offered. There is no doubt that she has strong faith and is loved by many people who are offering prayers on her behalf. We can not thank each of you enough for your thoughts and prayers and for you affection towards mom, I know she appreciates and loves each of you.

Please continue to keep her in your prayers and I will try and provide updates as they happen.



Thanks!