Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Not a coincidence

“What a coincidence!” is something I have been known to say a few thousand times throughout my life. However, events that have happened over the past few months during this pregnancy have caused me to change my way of thinking. I no longer believe in “coincidence”. I no longer think people are just lucky or something happened at the right place and right time with no explanation. Nope, that is all in the past.


I have mentioned in previous posts about getting in touch with 2 people who have been able to support me during this time, especially since they both have sons with ACC. I may have even mentioned that one of them lives less than 5 miles from my house…coincidence? No way.


I have also since then been hooked up with a person on Facebook who has a son with ACC, and is helping me get into some networks and get some good information on the subject. Is it a coincidence that we happened to have a mutual friend on Facebook who helped us make the connection? I don’t think so.


But the best happened just today. Let me retell it to you just as it happened…be prepared for some chills. God didn’t just whisper this to me…I think it was more like shouting. (Maybe he didn’t think I caught the first few…he definitely didn’t want me to miss this one!)


I took my class into the cafeteria today, got my lunch, and went to get something to drink. As I was getting my tea, an assistant at our school came up and asked me, “Have you heard about Mrs. M?” (I'm going to keep her name to myself, but all you need to know is that she is a well-known teacher in our school system.) I replied, “No, what about her?”


“Well, just recently she started having some mild seizures. They didn’t know what was causing them so she has had some testing done.” (Honestly, at this point I am thinking "Why is she telling me this?" Not that I wasn’t concerned, I just hadn’t made a connection to why she came rushing to me to tell me this.)


Then she continued… “Well, during the testing, they discovered that she is missing her Corpus Callosum.” (CHILLS yet?)


“You mean, she has never had any symptoms or any problems and she is just now finding out in her 40’s?”


“Exactly. She went through school with no problems, went to college, and is now a teacher, a mother, and a devout Christian. She had no idea that she was missing this piece of her brain, or that anything was missing for that matter.”


I walked out of the cafeteria with chills up and down my spine, thinking “Okay, God. I heard you loud and clear- everything is going to be just fine.”


So, I now know 4 people who are affected with this RARE disorder- and 2 of the 4 either live or work close to me. Coincidence? I don’t think so…


Thank you Lord for placing people in my life to remind me every day that YOU are in control and that YOU will take care of everything.


Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;”

Thursday, April 15, 2010

The date is set!!

We went back to Vanderbilt yesterday to meet with Dr. Bennett, the maternal fetal specialist, as well as Dr. Tulipan, the pediatric neurosurgeon. For once, we actually left the visit with a big smile on our face and feeling more confident than ever. No miracles have happened, the CC is still not there, but we were still given a good report.

The ultrasound showed no new concerns or problems. Other than showing how much Anderson has grown in a month, everything developmentally looked just like it had at our last visit- The doctors and sonographers seemed puzzled however because it appears that the cavum septum is present- which usually isn't the case when the CC is missing. You either get both or none, from what I understand. But the CC is still unable to be seen on ultrasound or in any of the MRI films (which we got to see yesterday and are AMAZING!)

So, we still know that if God wants that piece of Anderson's brain to be there- it will show up, even though the doctors say it won't. We still believe that God works miracles, but at this time we're okay if we don't get that miracle. After talking to the nerologist, our hope for Anderson's future seemed to be affirmed. My first question for the neuro was "What should be expect when he is born? Will there be lots of doctor's visits, tests, blood work, etc?" His reply was simply this..."I would like to get an MRI of him sometime in the first 3 months or so after he is born, but other than that, you will take him home and love him and treat him like you would any other baby. No special circumstances. You will watch him and if something arises, then we will go from there, but until that happens you just enjoy your new baby like you did with your other 2." I did ask him about Early Intervention, and he said "It won't hurt anything, so if you want to do that, go for it." But his tone indicated that it was not absolutely necessary.

This was very refreshing to hear. I had wondered if we would have lots of doctor's appointments, therapy, etc...that would begin like a whirlwind as soon as he is born. The fact that things will be low key like any other normal pregnancy/delivery is wonderful! Knowing that we can come home from the hospital, rest, rock, and relax is like a dream come true.

We have a little less than 2 months before he makes his arrival because we have already been scheduled for a C-Section on Friday, June 11th. So for those of you who have been praying with us, please continue to pray that things will stay like they are for the next 2 months and that no unforeseen problems should arise. If you still want to pray for the miracle, that's good too! :) I know it is my will that everything miraculously be healed and fine, but when I pray I make sure to tell God that I want HIS will to be done- HE is the one who knows what is best, HE is the one that knows what the future holds, and HE is the one who knows the master plan for Anderson. I don't want my selfish desires to get in the way of HIS plans.