Because I don't want to forget what happens-- and if nothing else I want my kiddos to be able to come back & read this story. In some ways it's nothing special, and many of you have harder journeys. But this is just our story. I am going to try to cloak it in words for myself & my kids to read in the future. So our little family can be reminded when life happened-- when it came and hit us hard--and how God worked in the middle of it.
This season when we have more questions than answers.
This season when our littles find it a treat to even see &; spend a couple minutes with their Daddy in a day.
This season when panic can come quickly, and I see my hands start to shake again. Quick breath prayers-- where I reach out to Jesus & remember His truth-- has been getting me through.
This surreal time when some moments are just so ugly & broken--- and yet God breaks through with grace & comfort.
This season when every little meaningful moment with Casey is now weighted with so much gratitude & joy.
------------
I keep wrestling through how much to share on here. There are so many oddities about all of it-- and since Case has never even stayed overnight in the hospital during any of it (though he was offered that a couple times) --- it really can make this all confusing to explain.
Casey got sick 2 weeks ago with high fevers & a migraine. It kept him in bed for 2 days straight, so we went in & he got sent to the ER. Bizarre labwork, a previous fall off a ladder (shocking new info to this wife), & scary symptoms-- (the neurological ones being the worst)-- had them all concerned & running many tests & scans. That first week involved 3 trips to the ER & so very much pain & nausea for Case.
The medical professionals were all so good, and I just want to stop quickly to say that we both have felt so very grateful for the amazing care he has received. Help with pain & nausea control, antibiotics started right away, and just amazing care every step along the way. You know who you are and we are grateful for you!
At the 2-week mark we still don't have any definite answers, but after many tests we are told that he very likely has either a tick-borne illness or a mosquito-borne illness. There are many possibilities within both of those, and an initial test for West Nile Virus (mosquito-borne) did come back positive-- so we are waiting to hear more on that. The Wisconsin CDC is grabbing a sample of his blood as well, to study & see if this might be a more rare type of illness than has been tested for already.
Most of what he went through just hasn't seemed right as fb status updates, so here's a bit more of an in-depth look at what it's been like these past two weeks....
There were moments when Case was almost out of his mind. This encephalitis (inflammation of his brain) has the doctors concerned, because it has been bad enough he's had some moments of confusion, hallucinating, & some uncontrollable & unexplained weeping (This is from a man who never cries. The one exception is the lone tear that escapes when his little princess talks him into cuddling & watching a girly Barbie movie. But that just means he's a great dad. :)) We both did laugh as the worst of this happened in the hospital--- and the poor guy struggled through sobs to explain to medical staff that he truly wasn't in any extra horrid pain or feeling emotional-- it just came on suddenly & was out of his control. I would hug him & hold him as he had inconsolable, gut-wrenching, moaning sobs--- helpless to do anything but pray & wait.
The pain & nausea of that first week were so bad he would sometimes writhe in bed. The few ER trips we did helped to keep him hydrated. As we worked on pain control there wasn't much else to do for him (that he would accept)-- but he was always grateful for a cool cloth & any whispered Bible passage.
There continue to be more odd symptoms than I will even share on here, but we have a lot of things we are celebrating as we wait & hope for answers & healing. Since Thanksgiving we have seen Casey really start to do better-- he is eating, the migraines are lessening, and with that he is starting to feel like he is getting his mind back. As of Monday, he started to get up & hang out with us a few times a day for short moments-- and has even done a couple of meals with the family. He still sleeps away most of the day with an extreme fatigue. The confusion can be there in tiny bouts at various times (he doesn't always know it's happening)-- so we make sure to have someone in the house at all times. His intense sensitivity to light & sound continue but are now sporadic--he's so adorable laying in bed with ear plugs & my satin eye mask. :) I celebrate these new developments from the past couple days....things that used to be normal but are now so huge for us:
* Every morning Case gets out of bed & makes his own oatmeal (& goes right back to bed-- but getting up at all is huge!) He does 2-3 meals with us a day-- it's amazing.
* The migraines have lessened to the point that he can read again.
* He is up more often & enjoys tinkering on his uke while laying in bed....composing again has soothed him & encouraged his heart.
* He can talk & interact with all of us more, and even has accepted a couple of visitors. One a day on average, but it's a start.
And I celebrate all of you. We are a normal family here, and Case is just one of many who have had the unfortunate opportunity to contract a bite from some type of infected bug. But my goodness, you all know how to love on us so very well. The meals, the calls & texts, the prayer, the childcare, wrapping birthday gifts for my little guy's birthday in the middle of this, sitting with Casey....all of it. Thank you to the many that have been so compassionate to us. We are not deserving of all of this love, and I am so grateful for you all. I am taking notes & learning how to better push in to those in my life in the future--- I want to keep learning how to love well, just like you guys do.
One last thing-- many of you keep asking how you can help more. I keep reaching out as I need to to our close friends & family for help with my kiddos & whatever else comes up. If we end up needing more help-- and we might if this healing stage takes a long time -- I will be sure to help get more things organized & let ya know.
--------------------------------------------
I keep thinking how right now God and His Word -- it's either all true for us or it's completely not. And honestly, Case & I keep finding that there is nowhere else to turn, God is all we have. And He has been so very gentle in meeting our needs-- I can't wait to share these specific stories on here soon. These moments are my little nuggets of gold in the midst of this mud, and I can't wait to wrap them up with words so I can remember them & be encouraged in the future. We don't have many answers with Casey or a guarantee of healing-- but for now, I am finding this life verse to be truer in my life than ever before:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:6-7)
------------
I keep wrestling through how much to share on here. There are so many oddities about all of it-- and since Case has never even stayed overnight in the hospital during any of it (though he was offered that a couple times) --- it really can make this all confusing to explain.
Casey got sick 2 weeks ago with high fevers & a migraine. It kept him in bed for 2 days straight, so we went in & he got sent to the ER. Bizarre labwork, a previous fall off a ladder (shocking new info to this wife), & scary symptoms-- (the neurological ones being the worst)-- had them all concerned & running many tests & scans. That first week involved 3 trips to the ER & so very much pain & nausea for Case.
The medical professionals were all so good, and I just want to stop quickly to say that we both have felt so very grateful for the amazing care he has received. Help with pain & nausea control, antibiotics started right away, and just amazing care every step along the way. You know who you are and we are grateful for you!
At the 2-week mark we still don't have any definite answers, but after many tests we are told that he very likely has either a tick-borne illness or a mosquito-borne illness. There are many possibilities within both of those, and an initial test for West Nile Virus (mosquito-borne) did come back positive-- so we are waiting to hear more on that. The Wisconsin CDC is grabbing a sample of his blood as well, to study & see if this might be a more rare type of illness than has been tested for already.
Most of what he went through just hasn't seemed right as fb status updates, so here's a bit more of an in-depth look at what it's been like these past two weeks....
There were moments when Case was almost out of his mind. This encephalitis (inflammation of his brain) has the doctors concerned, because it has been bad enough he's had some moments of confusion, hallucinating, & some uncontrollable & unexplained weeping (This is from a man who never cries. The one exception is the lone tear that escapes when his little princess talks him into cuddling & watching a girly Barbie movie. But that just means he's a great dad. :)) We both did laugh as the worst of this happened in the hospital--- and the poor guy struggled through sobs to explain to medical staff that he truly wasn't in any extra horrid pain or feeling emotional-- it just came on suddenly & was out of his control. I would hug him & hold him as he had inconsolable, gut-wrenching, moaning sobs--- helpless to do anything but pray & wait.
The pain & nausea of that first week were so bad he would sometimes writhe in bed. The few ER trips we did helped to keep him hydrated. As we worked on pain control there wasn't much else to do for him (that he would accept)-- but he was always grateful for a cool cloth & any whispered Bible passage.
There continue to be more odd symptoms than I will even share on here, but we have a lot of things we are celebrating as we wait & hope for answers & healing. Since Thanksgiving we have seen Casey really start to do better-- he is eating, the migraines are lessening, and with that he is starting to feel like he is getting his mind back. As of Monday, he started to get up & hang out with us a few times a day for short moments-- and has even done a couple of meals with the family. He still sleeps away most of the day with an extreme fatigue. The confusion can be there in tiny bouts at various times (he doesn't always know it's happening)-- so we make sure to have someone in the house at all times. His intense sensitivity to light & sound continue but are now sporadic--he's so adorable laying in bed with ear plugs & my satin eye mask. :) I celebrate these new developments from the past couple days....things that used to be normal but are now so huge for us:
* Every morning Case gets out of bed & makes his own oatmeal (& goes right back to bed-- but getting up at all is huge!) He does 2-3 meals with us a day-- it's amazing.
* The migraines have lessened to the point that he can read again.
* He is up more often & enjoys tinkering on his uke while laying in bed....composing again has soothed him & encouraged his heart.
* He can talk & interact with all of us more, and even has accepted a couple of visitors. One a day on average, but it's a start.
And I celebrate all of you. We are a normal family here, and Case is just one of many who have had the unfortunate opportunity to contract a bite from some type of infected bug. But my goodness, you all know how to love on us so very well. The meals, the calls & texts, the prayer, the childcare, wrapping birthday gifts for my little guy's birthday in the middle of this, sitting with Casey....all of it. Thank you to the many that have been so compassionate to us. We are not deserving of all of this love, and I am so grateful for you all. I am taking notes & learning how to better push in to those in my life in the future--- I want to keep learning how to love well, just like you guys do.
One last thing-- many of you keep asking how you can help more. I keep reaching out as I need to to our close friends & family for help with my kiddos & whatever else comes up. If we end up needing more help-- and we might if this healing stage takes a long time -- I will be sure to help get more things organized & let ya know.
--------------------------------------------
I keep thinking how right now God and His Word -- it's either all true for us or it's completely not. And honestly, Case & I keep finding that there is nowhere else to turn, God is all we have. And He has been so very gentle in meeting our needs-- I can't wait to share these specific stories on here soon. These moments are my little nuggets of gold in the midst of this mud, and I can't wait to wrap them up with words so I can remember them & be encouraged in the future. We don't have many answers with Casey or a guarantee of healing-- but for now, I am finding this life verse to be truer in my life than ever before:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:6-7)
Hey Katie, thanks so much for sharing. You are shining God's light through the very cracks He has allowed in your family's life. Thank you also for showing us how to we live out in the dark what we have learned in the light. THANK YOU for letting us see the reality of Jesus in you.
ReplyDeleteLove these blogs so you can better understand what is going on. What can I say but we will continue to pray, pray, pray. Scott wishes he could give back to Casey with time as Casey was so good to Scott with his time. As Casey gets better, I'm sure you'll see Scott over at your house. We love you guys and want you to know we think you are blessing to us. Take care and rest well.
ReplyDeletePraying for you all. My Dad had viral encephalitis, believed to be from West Nile when it was first found in Wisconsin. It was terrible and scary but he made a full recovery thanks to many, many prayers! So hang in there-God has this!!
ReplyDeleteKatie, whils Connie and I are relatively new to Rivershores, we have come to consider it our home. Casey and I have visited about my doing ministry work with the elderly. I am attending Trinity Evangelical Divinity School like He did. We are keeping you all in our prayers and like so many others are here to help in whatever way we can.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and giving this update. I am pausing now to pray for him and for the entire family. I consider him a dear friend from my old Green Lake days. May God's grace, strength, encouragement and peace fill you lives and yes, even His joy during this challenge.
ReplyDelete