Update and More

So today T was cleared by his eye doctor from the injury he got while in PICU.  He had gotten some of the paste from an EEG they did in his eye during one of his combative moments and it gave him a chemical burn. Today they said it was completely healed🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼!  

We also have been dealing with an issue with a lump in his arm that also happened at the hospital. Over the past couple of days it turned into two lumps so we had his MD check him out. She asked T some questions and she knew immediately the condition he had and how he got it and said it would heal but it could take a month for it to heal completely. It happened from an IV he had in his left hand that they tried to give him meds through that was sluggish. When they tried to put meds through it it burned T really bad. That caused the condition he’s dealing with. The lumps are because the vein got burned by the meds and it’s now trying to heal from it. She told me the medical term for it but it’s something I can’t spell or pronounce…LOL! The reason she knew with such certainty exactly what it was is because she’s had it happen to herself before. She said, “It’s very painful.”  I knew that already because all T has done is complain about it since he came home. Nothing can be done for it. It eventually fixes itself and until then he can take ibuprofen for the pain. Yet again, God put the right doctor in the right place to know exactly what was going on with our son. Praise God!

Through it all this kid has been a trooper. I’m just so very thankful for the happy ending to all that he went through. 

And tonight I saw several posts from friends about another family who was dealing with a medical situation with their young son who lost him. My heart and prayers go out to this family. I don’t know them personally but my heart goes out to them. May God give them uncommon strength and comfort in the days, weeks, and months ahead as they deal with this loss. 

It’s not easy losing someone we love even when we know that they are in heaven with Jesus. Even though we know we will see them again one day. We still mourn because we miss them in the here and now. We especially mourn when it’s a kid becasue we never had a chance to see them grow up and have a life and family of their own. We mourn for the missed moments that never got to happen. We take comfort in knowing they are with Jesus though. In all the pain of loss we have a comfort that passes all understanding.  May that comfort envelope this family!  

Almost two weeks ago we could’ve lost T but we didn’t. We prayed for him and had prayer warriors praying for him as well. All I can say is, “But God…!”  God knows our beginning and our end. He knows every hair on our head. He knows the number of days we will be on this earth. I trust His timing in every area of my life and I’m ever so thankful for all the moments I get to have with those I love. I’m always cherishing the moments!  I pray you all do the same. Don’t let a day go by where you are not cherishing the time you have with your family and friends. We never know when our last moment with them will be.  

#alwayscherishthemoments #alwaysbethankful #alwayslivelaughandlove

Took this of T and me a day or so after his release from the hospital. 

They were having a stare down while playing cards…LOL!  They keep me laughing that’s for sure. 

Jeep Rubicon XL Lego Build

T built this today. It’s the Jeep Rubicon XL. It’s actually his dad’s build but T wanted something to do so his dad let him build it. The boy is so totally bored but he’s got to follow doctors orders and not do anything to overstimulate his brain or cause any extra pressure. Easy and steady for now but for someone who is used to working out everyday that’s so hard to do.

Sodium Level

We just got word that T’s sodium level is 144. The normal level is between 135-145. We were so excited to get this news today. He is well within normal levels now. Praise the Lord! He was so excited he had to FaceTime his Nan and Pop and let them know. 

One Week Home from Hospital

One week home from the hospital and T is more like his old self. His eye is looking really good. I’ve got to make an appointment with the eye doctor this week. His left arm is hurting him and it has a small bulge so we will get that checked out this week too. Wanna make sure he didn’t injure it during all the times he was combative and having to be held down. One things for certain he’s a fighter whether he’s awake or lethargic…LOL! He still has several weeks before he’ll be aloud to go back to training. With the brain trauma they wanna make sure it is healed completely before he reintroduces training and fighting back in. We even have to ease him into school because they don’t want to over stress his brain at all. That’s all I have for now though. He’s looking so good. 

Peds Floor

T is on the Peds floor now and out of ICU. T has been making up for having not had anything to eat for nearly 30 hours…LOL! 

When T woke up his left eye was hurting really bad. He kept rubbing it and saying it burns. While he was lethargic he kept itching and rubbing his head where the wires had been for the EEG. They have to use a paste to stick them to your head with. Some of that paste got in his eye and gave him a chemical burn. So now we are dealing with that issue🙄🤦🏻‍♀️.  I’m just glad we have our boy back!!!  They have been the best for all they’ve had to deal with. 

Here’s a pic showing the chemical burn:

Update

T was just able to push the nurses hands away with both feet. He was able to squeeze her hand and mine with his hands. They’ve bumped the sedation meds down by .2 overnight. He’s starting to sound more like himself but just very groggy. He keeps asking where he’s at and we keep telling him. When he gets to be more with it and less groggy he’ll be able to understand where he is and won’t ask that question over and over each time he wakes. He’s making progress even though it’s baby steps but I’ll take any progress we can get right now. When he gets more with it and doesn’t require as much constant care they’ll move him from PICU to the Peds area. And as they feel he’s strong enough they’ll probably let him go home. You can’t believe the incredibly huge relief I’ve been having as the night has went on. We’ve slept as T has slept and I’ve been up each time the nurse has come in which has been every couple of hours. 

Scot got me this neck pillow yesterday so I could sleep in the recliner. Scot’s been sleeping on the couch bed to get his sleep. 

Upside Down Inside Out

For the past 25 hours life has been upside down inside out as we’ve had our son in an emergent state at Wake Med PICU. 25 hours ago I found him in his kid cave lethargic and unresponsive looking like he had a seizure. I called 911 immediately then called Scot because he was out in our big building working out back. Once to the hospital God brought the right doctors to handle T’s case. They went to work quick and fast while mom was a total basket case watching helplessly as her son was being worked on. 

Now I’m going to back peddle to give you details leading up to finding T in the state we did. T has been working out like crazy getting ready for an upcoming tournament. He was eating healthy and drinking tons of water. Water being the key word here. Well he began having a headache and feeling nauseous. We figured it was just how crazy intensively he’d been training. Didn’t think anything of it and thought it would pass. He began throwing up profusely. We were incredibly puzzled and thinking this would just pass. 

Now fast forward to where we are now. He’s in the PICU at Wake Med recovering from what they say was a dangerously low sodium level in his body. When they tested his sodium level upon arrival he was at 121. The normal is between 135-145. This caused his headaches and vomiting and subsequently the seizure he had at home. 

Where has he come from and where is he now in the healing process?  At 7pm yesterday the incident occurred. From that point until 25 hours later he has been incredibly lethargic and combative. His mental status has been extremely altered. He’s had so many tests I couldn’t repeat them all even if I wanted to. He’s had an EEG that showed his brain was slow and a little bit swollen. This was all supporting the sodium issues he was having. They did an MRI and that came back good. He’s been heavily sedated to help with how combative he’s been and to help him rest more easily. At 8pm tonight T woke up. Still very lethargic but he knew who I was and was able to tell me who he was. He even was like, “why you asking me what my name is?”  That’s the kind of response I’d expect from my son…LOL!  Scot and I helped him pee in a urinal and then proceeded to help the nurses change him and his bedding. And as soon as we got all that done he went right back asleep. 

We just found out that He’s now at a sodium level of 139. He’s done the last 8 points of the sodium level on his own without them having to give him a sodium supplement through IV. Praise the Lord! Thank you 🙏 Jesus!!! 

He’s still sedated and they are taking him out of sedation extremely slowly so we have less combative issues from him. We are just so thankful for the progress he has made in the past almost 27 hours now. 

Our prayer is that any swelling on his brain subsides completely. We are praying he is less and less combative and more cooperative with us and the medical staff moving forward and that he improves by leaps and bounds through the night. 

Keep praying prayer Warriors!  Your prayers are working and we are so relieved to see good progress even though it’s small. I’ll take any step forward we can get right now. 

This was in the ER. 

After getting him in a PICU room. He has a EEG cap on his head here. 

This is how lethargic he was. 

This is T resting easy just after doing what you’ll see in the next picture. 

So very thankful beyond belief for everyone who’s been praying and who has called and texted even if I haven’t been able to respond to everyone. 

Thank you Jesus for your great love for us and how you take such great care of us!!!  

Training Update

T has been training like crazy to get ready for the Texas tournament. He has gotten all kinds of limber again. 

Update on My Back and Hip

Chiropractor wants me using my crutches for the next couple of days🤦🏻‍♀️😞. Got to be extremely careful for 24 hours. L2 in my low back was way out and it was making the sciatica nerve cause major pain in my hip and leg. My leg was like a dead weight. I’m very thankful to have it all back in place. Praise the Lord! 

One ☝️ Week Before Our Travel Date

We are one week out from when we travel to Texas for the USAT Fiesta Challenge. T still has to shed weight for weigh in on the 4th. Pray he loses the weight and is able to make weight. 

I’ve been down with a problem called Sciatica. Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body.  It’s most commonly caused from a misalignment so I’ve been under chiropractic care for it in hopes that I’ll be able to travel for this tournament. Please pray for things to stabilize with this issue I’m having. 

We’ve had quite a go of it with stuff these past few months. I’m ready for things to stop happening at this point. Currently I’m sleeping sitting up on the couch because it’s the only position that gives some relief. I’m going to try and get some sleep now. Just wanted to check in with everyone because I haven’t posted in a minute. 

Ya know, at the end of the day I know God is in control and He’s got my back. Life’s been crazy these past few months but my faith and trust in the Lord always carries me through. I’m so thankful that He is always watching out for us even when we don’t realize it, He’s there. Jesus will still be there no matter what!  Thank you Lord!  I always wanna keep a grateful heart and life that always brings honor and glory to You!