Sunday, May 24, 2009

My Kids Are Driving Me CRAZY!

Well, It's time for "The Patrick VACATION". My kids are so excited about leaving in the morning and flying to Colorado for a week that they have officially lost their minds...It started with them putting the dog on the kitchen island (so she will jump off and break her legs)...Ally standing up on the back of the couch so she could fall off and break her head...and finally Olivia grabbing the tape and taping Ally to her desk chair, round and round again. It looked like a crime scene! They have lost it. All I have to say is...Lord, please help me keep my sanity!

I will keep you updated on the trip when I return...if I don't lose my mind there! ha! I am not bringing the laptop with me to update my blog because I need a true vacation!

Blessings,

I will continue to keep you updated on Sam when I receive updated emails from Susie(mom)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sam Update 2

I received this update on Sam today from his mom, Susie. Please continue to pray for him and his family! They need all the prayers they can get...

The MRI shows that the tumor has spread to the spine and there may be some left in the brain - enough that would warrant a 2nd surgery if it is a tumor and not a blood clot - the doctors are not yet sure. Not sure when we will hear a decision on that.
Pathology came back yesterday -- it is medulloblasta (malignant). He will require 6 weeks of radiation, followed by 8 mos. of chemo, because this tumor always comes back without rad/chemo. It has a 70% 5-year survival rate with this therapy.
We won't know when the radiation will start until we know if there will be another surgery. At the latest, it will have to start 42 days following the initial surgery. One of us will have to get an apartment in Little Rock for the duration of the radiation and Sam will be out of school for a year (there is school in the hospital).
We do plan to do radiation treatments here, as there is a state of the art radiation facility here - one of a handful in the country. Chemo will take place in LR 3 days a month and the remainder back home (as long as there are no major complications)
We still don't know when we will come home - he needs extensive physical therapy - but we may be able to do it as an outpatient at home. We are hoping to know by the end of the day, but may have to wait for a consult on the 2nd surgery. Seems like everything is out of control! Good news is that he is eating better, adn brushed his own teeth (while the physical therapist held him up).
he had to have a CT scan while Steve and I was meeting with the oncologist because he tried to walk without help and hit his head on the wheelchair. I'm sure he feels even less control than we do.
Thank to everyone for your continued support, prayers, notes, gifts, everything. The oncologist heard about Sam before he even got his file because people who heard our story called the doctor to let him know about Sam!
Susie

I will keep you updated when I receive information. Just keep praying...God is hearing! He is working, we may not see it at this moment but he has a plan for Sam, and his family!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Sam Update

I will try to post all the updates as soon as I get them about the little boy, Sam who had a brain tumor. In this update there is not alot to say...they are taking one day at a time. The email that was sent from his mom, Susie follows...
Hi Bethany,
Thanks for the note. This is unthinkable. we had some good days since the initial diagnosis...we weren't sure if it was operable considering the location, etc. So a fairly successful surgery was a good first step for us. Watching him go through this is sad for me. He did have a good day today, because Jackson came to visit and he was like a new little boy. We will definently add you to our update list. We may not send one out everyday, but we will try. It is absolutely wonderful that you added him to the prayer list. It has been comforting to know there are so many people pulling for the little guy. I will let you know if there is anything you can help us with. Lucky for us my mom and step dad are in Bella Vista, so my daughter is taken care of. So many people have pitched in to help - it is quite touching.
Thanks again for the note. We do appreciate your prayers.
Susie
Please continue to pray for Sam. I saw a picture of him yesterday with mom eating lunch in the cafeteria at the hospital. It broke my heart, seeing him in his wheel chair with mom on his side. I couldn't imagine that being one of my children. Yet, here is a mother holding on to her child hoping he will pull through and be healed. God can touch him. He is hearing all of our prayers. I will send other updates as I get them. Thank you prayer warriors!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Please Pray for Sam...

Sam is a little boy in Olivia's 2nd grade class. Last week he began vomiting at school. Thinking it was a stomach bug he went home from school early. A couple days later he was still vomiting at home. His mom took him to the doctor and they found a brain tumor. He was rushed to Children's Hospital in Little Rock. The tumor has been removed but the doctors believe it is cancer. He will undergo chemo soon. Please pray for Sam, his family and RE Baker Elementary. Olivia's class is heartbroken for this fellow student and friend.

Specifically pray...

*God will give the doctors and surgeons wisdom to help Sam.

* God will comfort and bring peace to the family.

* God will show Himself and make His presence known to all the staff at the hospital.

* God will bring comfort and peace to the students at school.

*I don't know if this family has a relationship with Christ, but pray for God to send someone to draw them to Him! Pray for their salvation.

*and ultimately, Pray for God's Will to be done.

I can't begin to imagine what this family is feeling. The roller coaster they will begin and endure for months. We don't know why God allows certain tragedies to come through our lives. I know God will receive the glory in the end. Nothing comes to us without going through His hands first. Thank you Lord for having a plan for our lives. Thank you for your Sovereignty. Thank you for loving us so much to die for us that we may spend eternity with you!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Thankful for a broken arm!


Olivia's beautiful cast.

Dr Cooper setting the cast.

She is a trooper! This contraption is to try to straighten the broken bones out as much as possible, so Dr. Copper could put the broken bones back in place before he molded the cast to her wrist.
She broke both wrist bones. The doctor said "You did a doozy"!



Xrays show "Closed Fracture of Lower End of Radius with Ulna" and the other fracture is "Fracture of Distal End of Radius and Ulna"
My terms "Full broke wrist"


Let me take a minute and tell you about how this happened and her being a testimony to the doctors and staff at Mercy Hospital. This might be a little long and I apologize for those who enjoy short stories but stay with me, this will bless you!
She was riding her scooter outside with friends. She lost her balance and went crashing onto the sidewalk. She reached out her right arm to catch herself, when it snapped her wrist into. Pretty standard! Her friend came to the door and rang the doorbell and said "Mrs. Patrick, would you please come, Olivia is hurt really bad." Believe it or not I didn't panic. God was all ready working His peace in both me and Olivia. She wasn't crying either. She was laying down on the sidewalk like she was dead... but she calmly stated as I walked up to her. Mom, I broke my arm." I squatted beside her and said "yes, Ma'am you did! I was trying to figure out how to get her up to the car without moving her arm. That's when God sent an angel... This lady came over to help. She did everything fast and perfectly. She wrapped Olivia's arm up and tied it as a sling around her neck. Ally ran in to get ice and shoes. I grabbed my purse and we were off to the hospital.
We got to the hospital, they immediatley took her back to a room. She had and x-ray within 10 minutes of being there and had an IV inserted to start her Morphine. Still, she wasn't crying. Not one complaint came out of her mouth. I told her as we were sitting there "Olivia, God knew you were going to break your arm this morning when you got up to get ready for school. He knew last week when you would go through this." Her reply was "Thank you God for sparing my legs." What kind of child thanks God and doesn't say..." Then why did He allow this to happen?"No, She thanked Him! Some of us adults need to learn thankfulness in times of storms.
She was the talk of the ER. A lot of the nurses wanted to know this brave little girl that hasn't shedding a tear from breaking her wrist, having an IV inserted, a doctor inserting a large needle into her broken bone then pulling the fire out of her broken wrist. We had over 5 nurses that wanted to meet her. Dr Cooper (orthopeadic) said "It's never this quiet in here. This is not normal. You could have dropped a pin. Usually kids and adults are screaming while he is pulling their broken bones! I would've been!
My praise goes to God...No matter the trials you put in my life...I will love you and Faithfully follow you all of my life. You are my Savior, My God, My Redeemer. My All in All! I thank you for your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Busy, Busy, Busy...I'll start short!


I have been busy trying to find ZoZo a good boarding house while we are in Colorado for a week. "Camp Bow Wow" is a neat place but I wanted something more homey! ZoZo is so spoiled...she is attached to me. When I leave the house, Paul says she sits looking at the door and whines the whole time while I'm gone. I don't know...I do know she sleeps with us and has to be touching me while she is sleeping. "Camp Bow Wow" was a little expensive ($210) So, I set up an appointment at "Waggin Tails Bed and Biscuit". The dogs have their own cottage suite and all suites are decorated per theme. So cute...the website address is http://www.waggintailsbandb.com/ if you're interested. Waggin Tails cost was ($120) a big difference. They really LOVE on the dogs too!

There is so much I need to update you on, all that has been going on in The Patrick house. I will write several more posts this next week.
Blessings!