Hope in a Specific Diagnosis and Medication

The neuro-surgeon described Jason's crush injury to the nerves in his legs as causalgia (Greek for burning pain). He told us the specific medication that will allow Jason to tolerate the pain, unfortunately it will take about a week and a half to ramp up to the dosage he needs to take.

This problem is also referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

We were also given the suggestion by one of his doctors for another sleep aid to give Jason. The first night we saw some benefit and the second night, although interpreted by several pain episodes, he got so much more sleep!

Jason is trying to put a sock on his foot more and to put more pressure on the sole of his foot.

There appears to be nerve injury to the sciatic nerve above his left knee by/in his hamstring.

Jason had planned to go to his high school today to work on chemistry experiments with his high school chemistry, but he was in too much pain. This next week we may make a decision on whether to withdraw from school this semester for medical reasons.

Please pray for wisdom to make school decisions, for the nerve to completely heal and for the pain to quickly diminish.

Another Doctor

Since physical therapy on Tuesday, we've been stimulating Jason's foot with different clothes and objects (never know what you might use a silicone pastry brush!). Then later in the day his foot just throbbed. We were afraid we had over-stimulated it, but the doctor assured us that movement and touching it are very important to do for it's recovery.

The pain is definitely back to a 10 and now we can't find anything to relieve it. We're using Capzasin cream to try and minimize the pain and even tried warm wraps (which before Jason couldn't tolerate at all). We had had success in dunking Jason's foot in a bowl of ice water and give it a good shock. Absolutely nothing is helping. Tuesday night, Wednesday all day and last night were again miserable.

Today we are going to see a neuro-surgeon.

Please pray for healing and especially for Jason's emotional and mental health. Please pray that the doctors will come up with a plan that works to make his pain tolerable.

Second Nerve Block

Monday Jason had another sympathetic nerve block. That day Jason didn't notice much improvement, other than being able to straighten his leg occasionally. He did sleep much better Monday night, getting a four-hour chunk of sleep and a couple two-hour stretches!

Today we went to physical therapy. Jason needs to touch his foot with different objects and different fabrics to de-sensitize his foot. This will help the nerve in sending messages back to the brain and not leaving them out there dangling on the foot and shooting off like fireworks. She also gave him exercises to do to strengthen his ankle, hamstring and quads on his left leg. That way when the nerve pain subsides and he can bear weight on the leg, some of those other muscles can already be somewhat strengthened.

Please pray for the nerve pain to subside quickly and eventually for the nerve to completely heal. Please also pray for Jason's emotional and mental well being.

Sleepless Nights Continue

Jason's overnight pain continues to be awful. Two nights ago we considered taking him to the hospital. Surely they could give him something that would allow him to sleep.

After consulting with the doctor on Friday, we tried giving Jason twice as much Oxycodone at bedtime. She felt this would certainly knock him out. After taking that with three different nerve pain medications, his seizure med and Ambien, he still couldn't fall asleep for over an hour until 6am.

Monday Jason will have another nerve block.

He has been saying some really goofy things. Don't know if it's a result of the lack of sleep or the myriad of medications.

Please continue to pray that the nerve would quickly and completely heal. Also please pray that we would make the right decision about attending school this semester.

Sleep -- Just a Dream!

Jason had a sympathetic nerve block on Wednesday. His pain before was certainly a 10 before, now it's a nine. I know Jason was looking forward to much more relief, but we'll take even that much help.

After the nerve block, we drove directly to the office of one of the neurologists that saw Jason while in LeBonheur. He decided to wean him off two nerve pain medications and start him on another.

In the afternoon Jason put on both shoes and walked around the island in the kitchen, but it wasn't easy. After that, he quit putting weight on the foot and went back to hopping or using crutches.

We were hoping Jason would be able to manage the stairs last night, but instead ended up on the living room couch for another tough night then moved to the hearth room.

We are heading to Jackson this afternoon for physical therapy. The doctor that did the nerve block yesterday felt that was very important to get in this week.

Thank you for faithfully praying!

Heros and Good Intentions

Friday we got to meet many firefighters who helped to save Jason life. One of them was a man who was not on duty that night. He was on his way to Memphis because his girlfriend's house was hit by the tornado. He was driving right into the tornado as he watched cars being picked up ahead of him. He immediately turned around and called him mother and grandmother to pray for his protection. He headed to the firehouse and warned the others of what was coming. He was there that night and he was the one who told us he had talked to Jason 20 minutes before we had arrived and that he was still living.

Another rescuer was a captain who thought with about 10 minutes to go before they got Jason out that he was about to go into shock. He kept hitting Jason's foot and getting him to respond. He thought Jason was quite irritated with him, but he wanted to make sure them kept him alert.

Another man was the captain in charge of that area. He was given the word that another super cell was about to arrive in about 5 minutes. He was responsible for making sure that the rescuers were safe, for how can they rescue someone else if they suffered harm. This man has a 19 year old child and many times that night thought of how it would be if that were his child buried. He couldn't call off the search for Jason with that thought in mind! Praise the Lord! Wow! Crying while I write this!

Last night we loaded up Jason's backpack with every intention to go to class today. Unfortunately last night was again another sleep deprived night. It's amazing to me that he can't sleep with all the medication he's on. He did fall asleep around 8:30am and I had to wake him up at 12:10pm for chemistry class (which he can watch live online).

Jason is having a nerve block this Wednesday. Please pray for the nerve block to be effective and for Jason to be able to get caught up in his classes.

Firehouse Visit

Today we will go to Jackson to meet several of the firefighters who worked so diligently and skillfully to save the lives of the students.

Another medication was added to the collection and the past two nights have been more restful. Since Jason can not go upstairs, Jason and Debbie have been sleeping in the hearth room on the couches. Debbie is sleeping with Jason so that she can assist him in getting ice bags during the night and to comfort him when the pain is so difficult. Sometimes Jason tries to sleep sitting up so that he can have his left foot resting on an ice pack. The ice pack seems to be the best way to curb the pain.

Yesterday we went to a pain management doctor who will do a sympathetic nerve block on Wednesday. With the cycle of pain being so severe, this will hopefully do for the nerve what rebooting a computer does to settle down that system.

Thank you for the many prayers you've already prayed and please continue to pray, especially for this nerve pain to completely go away.

Foot Movement

Jason has more movement in his toes and can move his left foot to the left and to the right. The exciting news is that Jason can, using a muscle on the outer side of his leg just below the knee, pull up his foot a little bit.

However, Monday and Tuesday nights Jason did not sleep due to the pain in his foot.

We went to physical therapy on Tuesday and found out that there is little that can be done there while he is in such pain. We also learned that the best possible position for Jason to be in to minimize the pain is to lie on his stomach with his left knee bent and the foot raised above his body. This position is not conducive to attending classes, neither is the assistance of sleepless nights.

Please pray that Jason's professors will come up with some creative way to allow him to continue his education this semester. It would be good for his mind-set to have something to think about other than his pain and the other negative aspects of this whole ordeal.

Please pray that this nerve pain would be controllable and that this phase would pass quickly.

Home Again

Jason was discharged from LeBonheur on Sunday. Nerve medicine is given incrementally, so Jason could not experience immediate and complete relief. Jason is no longer at the point of crying every moment he is awake, so the doctors feel that he has turned the corner on the excruciating nerve pain. He has slept a considerable amount since Friday night. This nerve pain could last 6-8 weeks.

At this point, Jason can not walk on his left leg or even straighten it. Due to this limited mobility and grogginess, it looks doubtful that Jason can resume his school schedule this week.

Please continue to pray for complete healing of Jason's spinal shift, bulging and swelling, brain bruise, nerves and muscles in his back. Also, please pray for Jason's emotional well-being.

Friday-Saturday (3/7-3/8)

An MRI was done at LeBonheur Thursday night. It revealed bruising of the left front of Jason's brain. This is the cause of the seizures. The MRI also showed extensive bruising of the muscles on the right side of Jason's back. He also has one disk in his back that has shifted, one bulging and swelling in that area that is affecting the nerves.

Thursday Jason had another terrible night trying to sleep due to the excruciating pain in the bottom of his left foot.

It does appear that the seizure medication is working and Jason has not had another seizure since starting the medication.

The Memphis Tigers brightened the day for patients at LeBonheur on Friday. With assistance from Kevin Furniss, we requested that a player visit Jason. Jason was delighted to have Derrick Rose come to his room, have their picture made and receive a personalized autograph.

Friday night he finally sleep after being given two different nerve medications, seizure medication and a sleep aid. Saturday we were hopeful the pain had decreased, but the early morning optimism seemed to be just from the fact that Jason had rested. He dozed almost the entire day on Saturday. Around 9pm he was given a patch to apply directly to the bottom of his left foot. Due to the terrific pain, Jason can not straighten his leg or even tolerate anyone touching the sole of his foot.

Please pray for the doctors to have wisdom on how to treat the nerve pain, for the nerves to heal, for Jason to regain use of his left leg, for the bruising in the brain to heal, for Mike while he is trying to juggle work and family needs and for the decisions that we make concerning Jason and his future schooling.

Le Bonheur

Jason was admitted to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center this afternoon after another seizure during lunch.

Mike thinks that Jason will be released tomorrow. They are not yet sure what is causing the siezures.

Please pray for Jason's pain and the emotional strain on the whole family.

Thursday 3/6

So much for yesterday's blog! Jason had a seizure this morning around 5am. He was taken to the MED and released about lunchtime. We will be seeing a neurologist in the near future.

Tuesday-Wednesday (3/4-3/5)

We are so thankful for the advice from Jason's physical therapist who suggested ice to treat the pain in Jason's left foot. She also called the next day to follow-up, eventhough Jason doesn't have another therapy session until Thursday. So sweet and very much appreciated!

Tuesday, as on Monday, Jason was in so much pain that we only did one class and then headed back to Memphis. Wednesday, we insisted that Jason rest his foot on ice while in class so that he would be able to attend all three classes.

Tonight was the first time while laying on his stomach that Jason was able to lift his left foot while bending at the knee. He did it three times before being exhausted. Jason's hamstring has been showing signs of wanting to react, but not knowing how. There must be some more nerve connections to allow this success.

Jason can wiggle his toes a little, move his foot to the side and bring the toes up just a bit. So much good news!

Tuesday Jason wore something other than jogging pants. He has lost 40 pounds in the past two weeks! That puts him quite a bit lighter than he was on February 5th. The huge decrease in swelling is greatly enhancing Jason's flexibility.

It seems like this nerve pain will hopefully be the last major obstacle to overcome in Jason's recovery.

Please pray for the nerve pain to subside, the nerve(s) to completely regenerate (or whatever it is that they are doing!), the foot to regain all normal functioning, all the muscles in Jason's body to regain their strength and feeling sensation to come back in his left foot/leg, last two fingers on his right hand and parts of his torso.

Thank you all for your prayers, cards, calls, meals and gifts.

Friday-Monday (2/29-3/3)

We drove to Jackson today and were there for just one hour before heading back to Memphis.

Pain, Pain, Pain! Jason is really struggling with excruciating pain in his left foot. We tried different medications over the weekend, then today his physical therapist suggested we ice his foot. This has been very helpful in cutting down the amount of pain. We are very thankful for the pain because that shows the nerves are beginning to get back to normal, it's just so difficult to see Jason in so much pain.

The swelling has improved a great deal. Jason was 23 pounds heavier when he came home from the hospital. He hasn't yet weighed himself, but hopefully he'll do that soon.

Yesterday I was able to go to church for the first time since the tornado. It was so good to worship the Lord through congregational singing!

Please pray that this nerve pain ends really soon.