Glorious Unfolding

I'm so excited to be posting again! I went back and read my blog from the beginning. I wanted to see the big picture instead of just focusing on the now. I think part of the reason I haven't posted much the last year or so is because I've been consumed with the now and I get discouraged easily. When you only focus on what is going on right then, it's really easy to lose sight of the big picture. In 2 Corinthians it says that we're not supposed to fix our eyes only on what is seen. 

"So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:18

The troubles we face now will be gone one day! 

Going back and reading my blog from the beginning has put things into perspective for me. God has always been there. He's never once left me. He's carried me when I've been to weak to walk on my own and He's been there for my best moments. 

I've seen how I made it through the hardest days. I made it through that and am stronger because of that!  I've seen how there is purpose in the pain. I've seen how you really do grow closer to God during your moments of weakness. God can use anything for good, just like it says in Romans 8:28

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."

It's incredible to see how God has never left me...I wouldn't have been able to get through what I've been through without Him. He is my hope, my peace, my joy, and why I get up in the morning. 

It's really easy to get discouraged when all we can see is what's right in front of us. It's easy to think that we can't make it through whatever is going on. But God has something bigger planned for us that what we can see. That's where our faith comes in. It's during those times when we have to trust God the most. 

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1

I love this song because it talks about the glorious unfolding of God's plan for our lives. Our story doesn't end when bad things are happening to us. Our story doesn't end with death. Death doesn't win. God already won when He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us. Then Jesus rose from the dead so that we could spend eternity in Heaven! God won, not death, and not this world either! 

Here are the lyrics to the song Glorious Unfoldinf by Steven Curtis Chapman 

"Lay your head down tonight

Take a rest from the fight

Don’t try to figure it out

Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart

‘Cause I know this is not

Anything like you thought

The story of your life was gonna be

And it feels like the end has started closing in on you

But it’s just not true

There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding

Just you wait and see and you will be amazed

You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over

So hold on to every promise God has made to us

And watch this glorious unfolding

God’s plan from the start

For this world and your heart

Has been to show His glory and His grace

Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of

His unfailing Love

And the story has only begun

And this is going to be a glorious unfolding

Just you wait and see and you will be amazed

We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over

So hold on to every promise God has made to us

And watch this glorious unfolding

We were made to run through fields of forever

Singing songs to our Savior and King

So let us remember this life we’re living

Is just the beginning of the beginning

Of this glorious unfolding

We will watch and see and we will be amazed

If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over

And hold on to every promise God has made to us

We’ll see the glorious unfolding

Just watch and see (unfolding)

This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)"

God has great plans for us...we just have to trust in His plan and hold on to His promises! 

"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

 

The best doctors!

I have THE BEST doctors at the clinic in Nevada! 

 On Wednesday, September 24th, my seizures wouldn't stop despite many different medicines, so my doctors decided that I needed to stay overnight at the clinic (this very rarely happens. The clinic closes around 6pm every night and no one stays overnight). So Wednesday there were FOUR doctors (every doctor that works there) who stayed with me all night at the clinic. It was my main Lyme doctor (who will just randomly call to check on me even when I'm home, he's so caring and devoted), 2 Neurophysiologists, each with their own speciality, and then the critical care doctor. We all stayed in the critical care room because there are hospital beds in there. So my doctors all took shifts to make sure someone was always watching me. But for a couple of hours it was like the show, House MD. All 4 docs were brainstorming, trying to figure out how to get the seizures to stop because now they are every day, most of the day. So they all stayed up all night to monitor me, give meds to try and stop the seizures, and just brainstorm on treatment plans. Around 7:30am, they got up and started their day, and they didn't even get to go home, they just started another day of work. How INCREDIBLE is it that 4 doctors gave up their night and sleep just so that they could be with me and make sure I was ok. They could have easily sent me to the hotel so that they could go home to sleep. THIS is why we come to the clinic here in Nevada. They do not give up until they find answers and they really, really care. Im so blessed. Almost every time I seize, there's almost always one of the doctors holding my hand, singing to me, and staying with me until it's over. Thank you God for giving me such great doctors! 

PICC line is in

I got my 3rd PICC line today. The procedure went well! 

I'm ready to keep fighting hard to get better! 

3rd PICC line

Today I'm getting my 3rd PICC line. My veins have been used so much so they can't get an IV which is why I need the PICC line. I had a port for 4 years, my first PICC for 8 months, and my second PICC for a couple of months. I'm tired of being poked so many times to get an IV so I'm glad I'm getting a PICC line, but of course I wish I didn't need one but we don't have a choice since I have no IV access. 

 The procedure to put the PICC line in is at 1:30pm Nevada time which is 3:30pm Oklahoma time. They are going to try and sedate me a little so that I don't have seizures during the procedure. 

The PICC line goes from the arm, all the way to the heart into a bigger vein like this picture shows. The procedure isn't painful, they numb you first and then use an xray and ultrasound machine to guide the line into the heart. It's just a weird feeling to feel it go through your veins as they get it in place! 

I will update later today with how the procedure went! Thank you so much for all the prayers! God is good! 

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." -Isaiah 43:2

Clinic day 1

Day 1 at the clinic hasn't been boring! We started off with an EEG and it was able to determine the cause of my seizures. I started having back to back seizures at the clinic and they went on from about 10:30 am until 5pm and they finally stopped after many doses of medicines. Tomorrow I'm scheduled to get my 3rd PICC line because my veins are so bad. Please pray that the seizures stay away tonight and that the doctors will be able to come up with a treatment plan for these types of seizures. Please pray that my procedure to place my PICC goes well tomorrow. I have the best doctors here. They all held my hand during seizure after seizure and didn't leave my side. God is good! Thank you for your prayers!

Made it to Nevada

My mom and I made it to Reno, Nevada! We get to have a day of rest tomorrow and then my tests and doctor's appointments start Monday morning! We had good flights, I had one seizure on one of the flights but thankfully it was just one. Tonight I'm thanking God for the safe travel and the opportunity to come out here to see these doctors and receive treatments! God is good! 

Treatment in Nevada

Today my mom and I are leaving to go to Reno, Nevada where my Lyme doctor is! We will be there a couple of weeks while I receive treatments. 

We are going to try and figure out more about my seizures. Since my last post, I've had 3 more ER trips because of seizures. Last Wednesday I was taken by ambulance because I was unconscious for so long after multiple seizures that wouldn't stop. They finally got them stopped in the hospital. 

I thought I'd answer some questions I've gotten about our trip! 

Are you flying or driving?  We are flying. The drive is 24 hours without stopping and I just can't handle that right now. 

Where are you staying?  We are staying in a hotel in Reno that's close to the clinic. 

How long will you be there? The plan is just a couple of weeks but we don't know for sure. 

Why do you have to travel to Nevada for treatments?  No doctors here in Oklahoma know anything about Lyme. When I was taken by ambulance to the hospital last week, the ER doctor was convinced I didn't have Lyme and therefore, he wouldn't treat me at all. He believes Lyme doesn't exist here, so he wouldn't treat me, even as I was seizing. So we left and went to another hospital where I was immediately taken to a room because they said they needed to stop my seizures ASAP, no matter the reason for them. The doctor actually treated me like a person and didn't want to argue the politics of Lyme. 

Another reason we go to Nevada is because of the doctor that's there. He is so good and caring and so is his staff. My doctor will just randomly text or call to check on me! They are like family to us. When I was in the hospital last Wednesday, he called to check on me, even when he didn't have to. He is the most hard working, devoted doctor we have ever seen. He works long days just to try and help his patients. I'm so thankful for he and his staff! 

I will try and update as much as I can while we're gone! 

I have an EEG Monday morning and see my doctor after that and then see another specialist on Wednesday so we will be busy! 

Please be pray for our trip and that we can stop these seizures! God is good!