We believe God writes the story of each person's life. We've
felt fairly certain for a few decades that we knew and were cooperating with
His story - His plan for our lives (Ps 139:16). We would
minister, as a family, to the military. We would then spend 10 - 15
years as missionaries (depending on when retirement came - most recently we've
thought 15 years as missionaries). We
would spend 1 - 2 years living in an RV, visiting all our kids (we'd be 70 by then)
and finally settle down. In the past few
years several of our children, as well as Michael and I, have felt God
specifically call us back to Japan. We've studied a difficult language and
culture. We've prayed. We planned a vision trip for mid-July 2015. We hoped to
move to Japan in 2016. We'd live in the trailer (The Caboose) until all the
pieces fell into place for a move to Japan.
PLOT TWIST! It happens. The story isn't over. It's taking some unexpected turns. We trust the Writer of our story.
We determined years ago to be a family which would love
courageously, follow God courageously, serve courageously... As we face this ongoing
challenge and the many questions - we've decided to handle it with courageous
joy (defiant joy even ::smirk::).
PLOT TWIST! It happens. The story isn't over. It's taking some unexpected turns. We trust the Writer of our story.
Six
weeks ago a neurologist informed Michael he had "all" the symptoms of
Parkinson's Disorder (PD) and gave him a preliminary diagnosis of PD. It looked
to be stage 2 or 3. He said it was pathological and not Essential
Tremors - as the AF docs had said.
Our
military doctor, whom we love, looked over the tests coming back and the
doctor's notes and called to let us know with a diagnosis of Parkinson's
Michael would need to go through a medical evaluation board and would not be retiring
in August. This was a low point as we
had to cancel our July trip to Japan and thought we'd be active duty another 12 - 18
months. We have to be out of our house in August - you can see how our thinking
had to change. We began to search for motor homes and quit pushing on
retirement ceremony/VA claim.
For
six weeks we rested in the fact that this diagnosis explained every symptom
Michael was having from tremors, balance impairment, stiffness - that elusive,
unexplained pain in his side. Of the ten
symptoms of PD - Michael has 8 or 9. During this time they did a bone density
scan. Osteoporosis is often seen paired with PD. That came back showing Osteopenia
(between normal and Osteoporosis). Everything points to Parkinson's. We,
obviously, were not happy with this plot twist. We were confused as we were
convinced God was leading us to Japan and that seemed unlikely with PD...and Parkinson's
is a not a fun condition to deal with. We determined to fight back with
courageous joy - we have quite a few funny stories from this time which will
stay in our family memory. We all waited for the final confirmation of the
disease from the DAT scan.
We
met with the neurologist yesterday. He
said and I QUOTE, "The DAT scan is normal. Let me look at you walk. I see
no indication of Parkinson's." He seemed ready for us to leave.
We
asked about all the symptoms which led him to the preliminary diagnosis. He
said they could be associated with arthritis or lifestyle.
He
said Michael has Essential Tremors (ET). Which we'd been told years
ago - BUT he now shakes when he sleeps (and it's supposed to get better at
rest). It's head to toe. He prescribed a drug which may help the tremors
if they are atypical Essential Tremors.
The
neurologist loved me when I asked, "OK - you are explaining away most the
symptoms and the tremors may be atypical ET - but what about the balance
issues? The trouble walking?"
Um....His answer?
Um....His answer?
"I
don't know. I told you I have no idea."
He did
order an "urgent MRI" on Michael's
brain. He ran a complete thyroid screen - Michael had a bout with
hyperthyroidism years ago, and this doesn't feel the same - but that would be
an EASY answer. He's also checking liver and kidney functions and a B12
deficiency. We will see him in two
weeks.
And
the plot twists AGAIN - we are RETIRING AGAIN IN 7 WEEKS.
We
are woefully behind the timeline we need to be on for both the retirement ceremony and the VA claim. In fact,
we STILL have outstanding referrals so they may not let us begin the VA claim
yet and he's not been allowed to have his final doctor's appointment with the military. We would love to say all is well - but all is ODD right now. Michael doesn't feel good. Something is simply
not right. We would LOVE answers while we are still active duty - the VA will cover future care differently based on if it was diagnosed while he was active duty. Yet, we are planning
as if we are retiring. If something turns up and retirement is postponed, we
are going to have a big party on the 14th of August anyway. LOL
We
are no longer looking for a motor home as we don't plan to drive around America
until we reach our upper 60's or 70's. I was determined to make that dream a
reality for Michael and that meant doing it now if he had Parkinson's and we
couldn't go overseas. We DO plan to move
into our trailer, we will do some trips and live in it until we are sure
nothing in our health would keep us from living overseas. We are going to study
Japanese and wait for God to say, "NOW."
Through
all this - Stacia kept saying, "Dad can't have Parkinson's, because GOD
told us we were going to Japan."
As Michael told Vince, our denomination's Global Mission's
Director, "God has a plan. We know it's a good plan. We have no idea what the
plan will look like."
"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NASB.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NASB.
There
is much I could say of the past weeks about symptoms, lessons learned, high
points and low points - but perhaps this is enough.
"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or
discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua
1:9 NLT
Update 19 August 2015 - Neurologist #2 and #3 feel that Michael does not have essential tremors. They have currently given him a diagnosis of Parkinsonism. He is weaning off the meds the neurologist #1 put him on. The next step is to try Lepodova - a Parkinson's med. If he responds favorably to the meds he will be given a positive Parkinson Disease diagnosis. You can read more details here. They told us, "Live your lives. We'll get through this together." They knew we were going to be traveling in an RV - so we still are. LOL We are living this dream NOW - why wait until our 70's?
Let go my soul and trust in Him
Update 19 August 2015 - Neurologist #2 and #3 feel that Michael does not have essential tremors. They have currently given him a diagnosis of Parkinsonism. He is weaning off the meds the neurologist #1 put him on. The next step is to try Lepodova - a Parkinson's med. If he responds favorably to the meds he will be given a positive Parkinson Disease diagnosis. You can read more details here. They told us, "Live your lives. We'll get through this together." They knew we were going to be traveling in an RV - so we still are. LOL We are living this dream NOW - why wait until our 70's?
Let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name....
7 comments:
Continued prayers for your family during this roller coaster ride
Be certain that ALL medical issues are documented in the AF medical files. VA will need all that for a disability rating. And have a personal copy of EVERYTHING before retirement! (that comes from dh) Be certain that Michael starts NOW with the VA for a disability rating.
Praying for you, Michael & your family that answers will come soon and everything you are to do will be made abundantly clear to you.
Renee - THIS is our frustration. We started the claim 2 months ago and the VSO said to wait until we had a complete record ready to go - until all referrals had been followed through to conclusion. AND WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING THEM THROUGH and we are supposed to retire in 6.5 weeks. As of tomorrow, we will have missed the window to fast track our VA claim. The claim had to be submitted 4 - 6 months before official retirement date of 1 Nov. Supposedly there is a brain scan this week - but we've not heard WHEN....so I suspect next week....and each delay sinks us a bit further. I feel like there are a lot of discordant "pieces" flying around and if one will fit into place the others will follow. I pray.
Thanks for the prayers, Lisa.
SIS: Boy, we are sorry you and family are having to go thru all of this. All we know is to pray and often at that for you all, all 13 plus of you. Honey, we know Prayer is what is needed and so we can at least do a lot of that and we do. Tons of HUGS to you all! love/prayers - mom t.
Praying for peace and health and retirement answers and...and... Blessings to you guys in a challenging time of shifting answers and directions. Your faith is an encouragement to many. Hugs my friend!
Praying for y'all! I've always thought of you as a courageous one and as someone who is such an awesome example of living the way He desires us all to live.
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