Recent Pictures

Friends and Family,

Patti and I have been asked for some recent pictures. I've really been struggling to get pictures from our last trip on to the blog with no success, but I've been able to get these to come up properly.

The True Texan Times accepts no responsibility for any damage to your computer screen resulting from the viewing of these photographs.

Forever in Him,

Mike

How do you spell relief? M..I..G..R..A..I..N..E!

More accurately, it's J..E..S..U..S!

After visiting with the neurologist late Thursday afternoon, he determined that Patti suffered a migraine headache. I know that after all the scary events (believe me, it was scary) on Sunday, to come up with a migraine as a diagnosis seemed a bit unusual!

First of all, I want to thank the Lord for sustaining us through this time. Knowing Him, holding on to Him and remaining steadfast in His peace allowed us to not give in to fear which, I believe, was the design of the enemy of our souls.

Secondly, deepest, heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful prayer warriors who cast their love on God's throne on Patti's behalf!

The way the doctor described it, Patti's brain is in a weakened condition from the stroke. No news there! But he also said that a migraine is hard enough on a healthy brain, but when it hit Patti her brain began throwing off stroke symptoms big time! In fact, if you read the earlier blogs, the first doctor to see her was convinced she had suffered a new stroke event. So we were greatly concerned that, after having Patti's heart repaired and months of diligent re-hab, we might be faced with the loss of all of her progress and not even know why! Plus, the first doctor speculated that there might be some kind of condition in the brain that may, or may not, be treatable. So we were also faced with the possibility of more stroke events and greater and greater damage occuring over time. Not a pretty picture!

After looking at the MRI the neurologist stated conclusively that there was no new damage to Patti's brain nor anything that looked even suspicious to him. He gave her a complete release to participate in all of her activities with no restraint!

So to say we are relieved is a massive understatement! Everything about Patti improved when she got the diagnosis! She was really concerned and fearful, but she stood firm in the storm!

One quick humorous story: When we were leaving to go to the hospital on Sunday, I leaned over to Patti, who was in the wheelchair, and said "You know, honey, if you didn't want to watch the Super Bowl all you had to do was just say so!" Actually, at the time, she didn't much appreciate the humor. My timing was off just a little. Anyway, she had been insistent that she did not want to go to the hospital and wasn't real happy about it. So when we left the neurologist's office and headed for the elevator I looked to my right and Patti wasn't there. I turned around and she was standing in the hallway with her hands spread slightly apart and a smile on her face and said "See!! I told you not to take me to the hospital!!" We both laughed and, of course, to get the last word in, I told her "This just confirms my original thought that you just didn't want to watch the game!"

All's well that ends well!

Pressing on in Him,

Mike

Thursday Update

Not a very creative title, but accurate.

Patti's condition is still good. She does seem to be having some trouble with her speech which is frustrating for her, but overall she is good.

Today we see a neurologist at 2:00PM. Please continue to pray for the outcome of this visit.

Details of the visit later today.

Forever in Him,

Mike

Tuesday's Child...

Is full of grace! God's grace that is!

Patti came home from the hospital today and is feeling fine. We waited until after 8:00PM last night to get an MRI done. The results were supposed to be evaluated by a neurologist this morning. However, it turned out the neurologist couldn't get to it till very late in the day today or tomorrow sometime. I felt we had already spent one night too many in the hospital waiting on the MRI that should have been done yesterday morning.

Enough of that. We will have the results reviewed by our primary physician and then a neurologist of his recommendation this week. In the meantime, Patti has suffered no lasting effects from the event this weekend! Thank you for your prayers! We are believing God that this is just another step in Patti's recovery. We will update the results of the MRI later this week. In the meantime, please continue to pray for Patti's complete healing and for a good report when the test is reviewed.

Forever in Him,

Mike

Not So Super Sunday!

Sunday afternoon Patti began to see wavy lines in her right eye and began to experience disorientation. I took her to the hospital where she was admitted at the ER. After a CAT scan was performed, the doctor told us that she had experienced an "expansion" of the original stroke. The effects that were witnessed Sunday night included some continuing disorientation, headaches, the peripheral vision in her right eye was completely occluded, and her speech problems seemed to be more intense.

That's the bad news. I must confess it was a scary experience for Patti, me and our whole family!

However, we again called upon the Lord as our many friends in Louisiana, Dallas and around the world began to pray for Patti. By Monday morning, Patti's vision had been restored and her disorientation was completely gone. Thank you Jesus!!

During the day today Patti was scheduled to have an MRI done to more closely focus on the area and try to understand what caused the event. The MRI was performed around 8:00PM tonight. We should have, and will post, the results tomorrow.

Throughout the day today Patti had some continuing small headaches, but these were easily controlled with a little Tylenol. One additional praise that several people noted today is that Patti's speech has been much smoother and more spontaneous. So her condition today not only is improved over yesterday evening after this event, but it actually appears to be better than before the event.

We are praying that this is just something that God will use to move Patti farther along in her recovery.

Please pray for the following:

1. Healing and complete recovery.
2. Understanding of the cause and a plan for prevention in the future.
3. During this time Patti and I were reminded by some loving friends that our battle is not against "flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12. So we are praying in faith against the enemy who would love to steal Patti's hard won and God-given recovery. I invite you to join in this prayer as well.

We again must express our gratitude to those who so lovingly go before the Father on Patti's behalf. God is so good and has blessed us beyond measure through the wonderful things he has done for Patti!

I will try to update faithfully over the next few days.

Forever in Him,

Mike