Brave Boy

Hello everyone. As most of you already know Elijah has suffered several seizures in the last month. They have not been able to put him on anti-seizure medications because he had to have a series of seizures to do so. On Saturday the 11th he suffered another big seizure and was rushed by ambulance to Children's Hospital. At that point they started him on Phenobarbital. Praise the Lord!!!! He was sent home and scheduled for an E.E.G. that following Thursday. Between Saturday and the day of his study he had two more seizures. Mike and I hardly slept. It was so scary just not knowing when or how bad they were going to be and Thursday could not come fast enough. All I could do was pray. Pray that the Lord would give these doctors the knowledge to provide us with answers and that He would give Elijah and our family a sense of peace during these uncertain times.

On Thursday Elijah went in for his scheduled E.E.G. We were instructed to not let him sleep more than 5-6 hrs the night and day prior to the study as they needed him to sleep for the study. WOW, that was hard but Elijah was such a good sport about it. We kept him up until midnight the night before and then woke up at 5:30am the next morning and had to keep him up. Needless to say I am sure that all of you can assume how not fun keeping up an 18 month old is for that long.

We went to his study at noon on Thursday and were done within 2hrs. They placed over 26 sensors on his head and then finally we were able to let him sleep. The poor little guy crashed. When the test was all over we had to head to his Neurologist in Plano to go over the results and to discuss his medication.

The Neurologist reviewed his study and his last MRI. She said because of his brain damage, he is going to have these seizures for the rest of his life. The type of seizures that he is having are called, "Generalized Tonic-Clonic (grand mal) seizures." She also stated that the left and right side of his brain are not communicating well, but again she said not surprising because of the nature of his damage. He was taken off the Phenobarbital and placed on Keppra which is another anti-seizure medication because the Pheno. was causing him drunken like behavior and can over time cause poor muscle tone. She took him off as she did not want to undo all of the progress in his weight and therapy by keeping him on this medication.

By the end of the day we were wiped. Physically, mentally, but most of all emotionally. It is every parents desire to have a healthy child and when that is not the case, it is saddening and frightening. However, Elijah was so very brave and always has been. God has given him a spirit that touches all of our hearts. Many of times I am brought to tears in utter worry and saddness for my little Elijah, but then I look at him and all that he has already accomplished and endured with a smile on his face and that alone encourages me to be brave and have hope despite my own personal fears and worries. Elijah's strength ceases to amaze me.Thank you to everyone who has supported us and prayed for us throughout this time. We are so very grateful for your love and faith.

" We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Thessalonians 1: 3-4

The not so fun part

Sleeping peacefully
Sleeping with Daddy

All done!!