Sam's Test

We got home this afternoon from Sam's 24-48 hour EEG.  He did great.  We got great results.  The doctor looked at his readings from Friday and talked to me on Friday evening.  She said she was very happy with what she was seeing (or not seeing).  She told me that she would check again this morning (Saturday), and she would send us on home if nothing showed up at night.

Sam finally went to sleep near 10:00.  They were videoing him the whole time they were monitoring him.  They knew we were up again between 1 and 2, twice, eating to bring up his blood sugar.  And they were surprised to see him  up playing the Wii at 6!  In fact, that activity surprised the doctor until she saw him on the video!

We have ruled out seizures.  He does not need seizure medication.  We are so thankful and relieved.  He may still have seizures later on because of what we know is on his MRI, but he does not have to have them.

I asked the doctor if we just go back and get Sam as much help as we can and continue on.  Her answer was yes.  His brain shows the scar tissue in an area of learning and processing and focusing.  So we need to make sure he gets rest and just keep working and praying that his brain will kick in and make up for what is missing or damaged.  That is going to be a lot of hard work.  But he has put in years of hard work already, as have many people who have helped him, so we will just keep working and praying.

Thanks for praying.  Thanks for the encouragement.  Sam was so busy, that his time went by so fast.  He had lots of treats from wonderful people.  And the hospital was great.  We picked Marley and Me for the movie yesterday afternoon.  Not five minutes later, Jacob, the biggest Golden Retriever I have ever seen, came to the room to visit Sam.  He had a Joy Jar on his bed when we got there.  That is a story I have followed for years, so I appreciated it so much and will try harder to follow up to support their mission.  Sam said he really had fun at the hospital...

Cindy and I ran into a couple of places on the way home.  It's fun to have a fellow Marshall's/Homegoods shopper with me.  We were all tired, so we did not do much; but it was good to stretch our legs after being cooped up.

Andrew ran an indoor track PR at ETSU while we were at the hospital.  He was happy.  Pete said he looked really good and strong.

Please still pray for Will.

Thanks.  We are relieved and ready to keep trying to find what works with Sam.  I cannot wait to see him curled up reading a good book like his mom and great grandmother love to do!

Update on Sam

Sam checks into a children’s hospital near Charlotte this Friday morning for a 24-48 hour EEG.  We are hoping and praying this test will give us much needed information on how to deal with Sam’s learning issues – whether he is having silent seizures or not- and prepare us some for his future and what he may need.  We know what Andrew’s struggles have been with scar tissue on an MRI.  We hope we can know more about how Sam is like or not like Andrew’s situation.  Even though it’s a little unreal to me that we are even checking these things in Sam, I really have not whined to God this time.  He knows my heart, and He knows my fears.  And I am really just trying to rest in Him – knowing He provides and takes care of all of it.  He is not surprised or ever caught off guard.  It’s like all of those verses in Deuteronomy that say He will go before me.  And they go on in Joshua.

 

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Deuteronomy 31:6

 

⁸ And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.  Deuteronomy 31:8

 

⁵ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  Joshua 1:5

 

I was going through the book of Joshua in Sunday School when we left Brushy Fork (the church we had been a part of for many many years) in June, so Pete could be the pastor at Middle Fork Baptist Church.  I kept going back to Deuteronomy while trying to move on through Joshua.  And everywhere (everywhere!), it said that God goes before us, and He will not leave us nor forsake us.  It keeps on reminding us.  That is why it’s there – in the Old Testament – to remind us, even today.  Especially today.  Trying to be a good Sunday School teacher and teach what was laid on my heart, I kept going over and over that – for weeks, up until the last time I taught.  And a few months ago, I realized it was for me.  I am sure it was for others too.  But it was totally for me.  To remind me.  Reassure me.  Tell me again and again.  I am not alone.  God knew what was coming for our family.

 

The song I heard on my way to the high school to take care of something for Will while Pete was out of the country back in the late fall was “I Am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe.  I have shared it before.  She keeps singing that He will go before me.  He will never leave me.  He is everywhere.  And I felt so alone that day on my way to the school, not knowing or understanding how things had gotten so off track so fast with my child.  But I was reminded, and I could walk in there and do what I needed for my child because I was not alone.  And I cried and cried, but I have hope that only He can give.  And when that hope gets pushed down, He sends reminders in many, many different ways.

 

On the subject of Will, we still need lots of prayers for him.  I have had people encourage me and advise me and help me through these really hard weeks.  Really the hardest in my life.  I have had to let go of the takers and not let them take any more.  And it’s something I have to consciously do many times a day.  I cry a lot, but that is okay.  And I pray constantly.  I let the hurt go as much as I can.  And I am learning more and more how to help others by what to do or say and what not to.  I know God has placed people straight in my path (some, literally) to give me what I needed at the moment.  We love and appreciate those who are helping him and encouraging him right now.  And, again, I am having to let go of a lot – with Will and the stuff that comes with having a wayward child.  I am convinced God loves him and knows everything about him.  He is right there with him.  And He is right here with Will’s family as we pray and wait.  It’s by far the hardest thing I have faced in my life.  So thank you to those who pray for my boy.

 

I will put an update on Sam on our blog, www.sixvandenbergs.blogspot.com when we get home.  We may not know much until we see the doctor again.  I am anxious and ready to get this next information step behind us. 

 

Thanks so much for praying for us. 

 

Love,

Wendi