March 2006, March 2008, March 2019.... March, March, March
No, I'm not suggesting in this instance a military command to step in unison with great precision and display. Yet, maybe, in some unbeknownst and unintentional way it is in fact a reminder to step and march forward. To press on...
Today, March 26th, marks our 13th anniversary. But not as you might think. For us, it has been 13 years since Princess began having seizures. March 26th of 2006 Princess would wake one morning, stumble, get back up, and carry on. Months of these events would progress into weeks, which progressed into days, which progressed into hourly Episodes as we would initially call them. March of 2006 would turn into two years of appointments and visits with specialists, 28 to be exact, to eventually be given a name for these episodes....SEIZURES. March 26th of 2008 would become our official diagnosis date with Epilepsy.
Looking back it is staggering to view the distance that has been traveled. Many failed medicines to only go from 25 seizures per day on average to a little as 5-10 seizures per day. Brain surgery in 2008 uncovered that Princess' seizures were not able to be pinpointed, and to make matters worse, she has seizures occurring on both halves of her brain and acting independently of one another; therefore, making a surgical intervention not an option....
March of 2009 would introduce the Ketogenic diet through Johns Hopkins. May of 2010 the Lord allowed us to become pregnant! The first of several trips and work with the Mayo Clinic soon thereafter. March 2012 an end to the Ketogenic Diet. Throughout the years hospital trips would seem to come about in March. 2015 would bring the start of CBD/Hemp Oil and at last some calm in the storm.
It wasn't too apparent at first; however, in tracing our steps over these 13 years, March would always be significant in some way or the other.
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." -Isaiah 43:18-19
We wish we could say that these 13 years have been refreshing. In all reality, these years have been daunting. The years have challenged us. We have grown weary. We have become stronger. We have grown closer together. From the comfort of a "foxhole" in times of battle, we have sought shelter from the barrage of attacks. Princess and I have clung closely together, praying through the onslaught of attack. Shelter and protection have been provided. At times there have been ways of escape provided. Though not ways to retreat, paths have been laid to advance and get better and win in this fight.
As our Pastor has often told our congregation, you cannot dwell on the past. When you're driving a car down the highway, you do not drive looking at the rearview mirror. Sure, you glance at the mirror to see the reflection of what is behind you, but looking at the rearview mirror will not provide you much success in your quest to move forward. You'll miss turns...You'll miss lane changes. You won't see the obstacles in front of you. You might even miss your exit. Instead, focus your eyes and attention through the bigger piece of glass in front of you, the windshield. It provides a much bigger view of what is to come. It doesn't focus on the past, rather, it reveals what's to come. Sure, we have to glance at the small piece of glass that reflects what is behind us, but in life's driving experience, we are called to not dwell on the past. Focus on where God is taking us.
Princess is amazing! She is a true soldier in this battle and though recently we have described our situation and present feelings as being "battle weary", God is able to accomplish much and has provided so much healing in these 13 years. To have gone from nearly 25 seizures per day on average, nearly 38 pills per day to now less than one seizure per day, 99% off of all medication and utilizing CBD to have better control and quality of life is no coincidence. Truly God is at work and He is doing great things.
Though the journey is not over, we are still praying and believing that Princess will be healed completely and just as it says in Job 23:10, "He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the command of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." Oh that this would be true of her! Oh, that this would be true of me!
13 years....who could have imagined this journey. God is providing a way. He is providing the direction. He is the great God almighty and Creator of the Universe. How amazing that He would consider Princess worthy to go through this journey and to be used by Him for His glory. Though these 13 years have not been easy... Though these 13 years have not been anything that we dreamt they would be... Our trust continues to be in the Lord.
Please join us in prayer for this day and what's to come.
Pray for:
Princess' healing- That her seizures would just stop. That while doctors and experts have been confused, that God would do something so out of the ordinary there would be no other explanation than God provided the healing.
Patience in Princess' medicine changes- with each taper of her last 1% of her seizure medicine there are withdrawals. The last few months have been incredibly tough as we look to eliminate her medicine. The current taper of 1% means over a year till she is completely medicine free.
Strength for Princess to endure
Restoration of her memory/mind- events of just yesterday seem to vanish. People, places, events don't stick and are extremely frustrating. For someone that wants to put others before herself, it becomes challenging to not recall names or places or events. Again, as we have stated before- there is no recollection of our wedding, Critter's birth, etc.
Spiritual strength and protection- In our constant growth in spiritual maturity, pray that God's Word would stick and that the attacks of Satan would be thwarted. There would be provision and rest in some of our greatest times of need.
All my love, and affection for you, my Princess, in this journey! Thanks for letting me be on it with you!
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