Deb In Ontario's Ramblings...

First At Home IVIG Treatment Today

2011-09-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

Sept 30,2011 Well, today was My Hubby's 1st treatment at HOME!

He is in a government study (ran by his Neurologist) -that is supplying his next 7 treatments at home, with a nurse attending. It went very well! He did amazingly well, and was quite relaxed in his La-Z-Boy in our living room.

We didn't know how it would be having a stranger in our home for a few hours, but it was not a problem at all. She came about 8:35 and was done by 1:40 or so!

I am proud of Mike for the progress that he is having, and for his Extreme Perseverance!! All Praise and Glory goes to GOD-the Giver of All that is good!

We thank everyone who continues to be in prayer for us, God is truly supplying all of our needs! We are learning day by day to TRUST in HIM!

Deb

Mike is home now! Praise God!

2011-06-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin? I haven't blogged in a while because we have had a few other things on our minds, and on my plate ;) Mike was treated for his GBS initially, and spent 12 days at Toronto General before being transferred to in-patient Rehab at LH Oshawa where he was for a couple of weeks. He was then sent home to wait for out-patient Rehab (Whitby) after a 2 week waiting period...and 4 days before his initial assessment there, I had to take him back to the ER at LH Oshawa because he was completely weak again, and beginning to feel like his face was weakening on his left side AGAIN..He was having a relapse...
   After 7 1/2 hours in the ER, they transferred him to Toronto Western Hospital for another 5 day IVIG treatment. Apparantly a relapse is very RARE, amongst the 2/100,000 people who get GBS in the first place. He stayed there for 10 days total, and was then moved to Toronto Rehab-Lyndhurst location for in-patient Rehab round 2...He was there at Lyndhurst for about a week and a half.
   The great news is that he is HOME now, and that he feels better now then when he was home the first time. He had his assessment in LH Whitby this morning-for his out patient Rehab-which went very well. It seems similar to the LH Oshawa program, not nearly as large and state-of-the-art as Lyndhurst.(certainly not as well-funded), but the PT has had 30 years of experience with Neuro Rehab, and seems to be very knowledgeable.
   As you can surmise, there has been a lot of movement, stress, uncertainty and unknowing in the last 2 months-BUT we have sensed God's presence, received His provision, and felt His helping hands through many, many different people during this whole process! God has been using His children from all over the country to bless us in so many different ways-we can only stand in AWE and THANK HIM every day.
   I am so thankful for His teaching to us during all of this, and we know that He is drawing us unto Himself. This season will pass, BUT our walk with our Maker is closer, and stronger each day. I see Him in every little chuckle Mike and I would get in the hospital, every kind hearted Nurse or Doctor, every smile shared, hand outstretched, heart lifted...He is ALL that I/We need..and we are very tangibly teaching our kids that very lesson every day.
Thanx be to God!

Happy Happy

2011-04-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

We have seen such progress this past week, you can probably see the uncertainty on my face in the first collage...He was completely bed-ridden, couldn't even lift a fork to his lips...

and now...he is feeding himself, sitting up, walking, and joking with everyone...thanx to God and his(Mike's) Doctor's prescribed life-giving medicine!

Onward and Upward from here!!!

~~Deb~~

God is present, all the time!

2011-04-12T19:27:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing that for the last week, I have had worship songs continually running through my head. My spirit has been communing with its' creator this whole time. I keep humming, whistling etc. Mike has had to use the Ipod at night (to drown out his gurgling room-mate) and yet, the music is still with me-it comes from DEEP within!

We have kept our sense of humour for sure...with Mike asking the Doctor that was performing his Lumbar Puncture(spinal tap) "You are a real Doctor right?"-LOL and "Mr. Smith maybe you should get back to your room" We were snickering while the needle was collecting its' liquid gold-that the Doc HIMSELF walked up to the lab.

I have felt that we have been held up by many people's prayers-

I know that, whenever Mike was asking me to do something for the hundredth time (no fault of his own-he literally couldn't lift a fork), I was blessed with patience and endurance and (YES- me)a sense of humour and love through it all.

So many things show us that God is with us! We have been followed by the best neuro team since the beginning. Our nurses have been awesome!!! male and female-NOT ONE has been uncourteous or abrupt-only helpful, understanding and compassionate with both of us.

One even returned today to tell Mike congratulations when I told her (out in the hall) that he had walked the lap around the nurses' station today.

He is going to be going to a live-in Rehab Center-hopefully in the Oshawa area, for a while before coming home...this is good because he has to build back up his strength and stamina. They tell us he could be going there as early as Friday!

He is doing awesome-and we give GOD ALL THE GLORY AND PRAISE!!

Deb <3

It's confirmed, your husband has GBS

2011-04-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

Well, while we are glad to have a name for the many weird symptons that Mike has been having, and are VERY thankful to God for his hand in all of this, it still was difficult to hear!

It's called Guillain Barre Syndrome, or GBS and it basically stems from your own body fighting what it thinks are virus/infection cells surrounding all of its own nerves. The insulation encasing the nerves is now compromised, and the nerves kind of misfire-you can imagine how painful that can be!
Mike began by having his hands and feet feel like they were asleep, only it never wore off.. Warm things felt like they were burning, and cool things felt like freezing! It slowly crept upward/inward and started affecting his stability in his legs and strength in both arms and legs. When his left side of his face started not working properly, he couldn't smile with one half, we knew that something was severely wrong!! (up 'till then, we were thinking, what nerve did he pinch?)

And now here we are in Toronto General, on day 3 of his 5 day treatments...he will be in for at least a week, we will have to trust God (which we DO) to provide for us! He has shown his favor already, and His providence, protection, and provision. We KNOW that He placed us here, NOW, for a reason, and season. We will TRUST Him wholeheartedy! (sp?)

Deb

Word of the month-WAIT

2011-01-18T12:03:00.000-08:00

Well, it is a new year, and it has come in very slowly, at least for me. The kids are back at school, I am babysitting our very close friends' 2 children for a handful of days every month, and my hubby is dealing with slowness at the car lot. It is amazing how busy life can be, even if it seems slow. There are always kids to be picked up(mine), clothes to be washed/dried/put away, and dishes to be done.

I am very excited about the new Bible Study session that we are beginning-it is all about health-both physical, mental, and spiritual. Last week we learned all about the brain-which is such a fascinating creation!!! I can't wait to hear more tonight!

I really need to work on patience (I am NOT asking for it though-lol) as I find myself becoming agitated at fairly small things at home recently. I think it may be just a lack of direction...

I kind of feel like I am in a holding pattern-you know, like when planes are circling the airport, waiting for instructions...that's how I feel-I think my WORD for this month is going to be WAIT.
Wait on God, wait on those around me, wait for answers....etc. I can't wait for all that God has in store for 2011.

Bring on the year!!

Deborah

Well, it's that wonderful time of the year again... CHRISTMAS!!

2010-12-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are again! It's Christmas time again-where has the time gone?

Time for the big, white fluffy flakes to fall from the sky to cover all that was dirty with a clean layer of happiness!

People bring out their jolly selves (mostly) and share laughter, kindness and love with their fellow men, and don't even realize the reason why. Our remembrance of God-the maker of life itself- coming to earth births a warmth and love for each other in our hearts that we may not recognize-BUT it is still there!

We love, and we may not know why...May your Christmas be filled with His glory, His presence, and His love! He loves each and every one of us, in spite of our inadequacies, because of His son reflected in us. Merry Christmas!!

Childhood...

2010-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Remember when you were a child? How you never questioned your parents decisions..(ok a very small child) ...Remember how you could make a very interesting, detailed adventure out of a rock and a mudpuddle? ...your days were filled with eating and playing, laughing and singing, dancing and pretending...until you were too sleepy to continue...

sometimes you would just fall asleep right there where you were, take a nap, wake up, and continue playing- right where you left off...

Daddy was your hero, Mommy kissed the boo-boos and all was right with the world.....

AAAAAAAwwwww to be a child again..

My Dad's thumb...green and otherwise!

2010-08-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

My Dad is the most ingenious man that I know. He saves everything, and finds uses for things that others would have discarded in a second. My Mom may not get the organized chaos that Dad has built up over the years in his shed in their backyard-but she is amazed (as we all are) when he needs an item, and he goes out into that messy abyss and finds that thing that he kept for a day “such as this”!

We are all in wonder how he has built up their cottage from the tiny cabin on rough land that it once was

-to the oasis that now stands there. My whole family has enjoyed the fruits of his labor, many times. It is definitely my favorite place to relax each summer!

Look at what he did with an old chainlink gate!

This year, he began a veggie garden at the cottage. This is my parents’ first summer being retired folks. The garden gives Dad yet another thing for him to putter with-keeping him out of Mom’s hair for a ½ hour or two...watering, weeding, fertilizing propping up, etc. and the benefits will be fresh greens, tomatoes, and carrots for everyone!

I snuck a couple of fresh pea pods when Mike and the kids and I were up recently-and I have to say-they were YUMMY!! Way to go Dad!!!

Rest in His peace Nanny!

2010-07-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it is finished. My Nanny was laid to rest on Monday in Ottawa. We celebrated her life last Thursday and Friday in Scarborough where she and Gramp lived. She was a special lady, loved my many and will be missed by all. Especially by my Grandpa-they were married close to 67 years! She was 89 and lived a long, sometimes exciting life-travelling all over Canada and the world. She loved missions, and helping the less fortunate. We all will miss her dearly!

Sad day

2010-07-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I got a very sad call last night-from my Dad. He told me that my Nanny (my Mom's Mom) passed away. I was shocked, as my Mom and Aunt had just moved her into a nursing care facilities earlier that SAME DAY. She didn't even have one night in her new room. My Grandpa was with her off and on until 8pm, when he left to go home to bed. She was found on evening rounds at 10:30pm. My Dad was barely keeping it together as he told me the details.

We knew it would happen one day, but weren't prepared for it to be that same day.

I wanted to jump through the phone and go into Scarb with them, but I didn't. My sister did though, so we were represented!.

Facing mortality head on like this is pretty surreal, and I know that only through God's strength will we get theough these next few days.

The great thing is that she spent her last day with her 2 daughters-preparing her for the transition to her new home-little did they(or we) know that her HOME would be GLORY!!

Interview went well...

2010-06-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

Well, the interview went well! The drive in got me there 1/2 an hour early, which was great. I spent about 15 minutes walking around the parking garage looking for the way to the upper levels.(I ended up going outside and back in through the delivery bay-a nice person there told me how to go around) I was then 15 minutes ahead of my appt. which is right on time.

The gentleman I interviewed with was pleasant and kind. I think I would like to work for him. We would get along great.(he will be my manager) It was a little intimidating-but Thank The Lord-I made it through!

Apparantly I would not be meeting with the Director-if I was not being considered for the position---SO, when I got a call for my next interview with HIM-I was pleased!

Lord, let your will, and only your will be done!

I'll let you know how it goes! ~~~Deb~~~

Here I go...

2010-06-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

I have had a few interviews during this process of finding employment. The most recent was a telephone interview, which went very well. Next, is an actual face-to-face with the gentleman that I will be working for. No pressure, but this is essentially to 'see' me. The way I present myself, the way I handle things, sell myself etc. (It is a sales position) Basically he needs to see me. How intimidating could that be?! I have to realize that the Lord is in control of my future, and he is leading me in this direction, therefore I will follow.

I have an appointment this afternoon for my hair-my usual hairdresser had surgery yesterday and is not in :( so I am branching out! Wish me luck!

before...

Have a wonderful day all!