13 Years Ago...Part 3

**To see pics, check out my Facebook page, 13 Years Ago...
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When I went to Augusta, they said everything looked like a go.  I was a prime candidate.  So I went home to prepare.  13 years ago today, I arrived in Augusta to begin the month that changed my life.  I had a 24- hour EEG attached.  They took me off of my meds to be able to "see"  the seizures in action and see where they were originating and affecting.  It was a long, hard process, but finally after 9 days, I had 2 good seizures, neuropsych testing, and other tests.  Everything was a go for surgery.  10 days later, on July 21, I returned for surgery. 

Unfortunately, there was a change in plans.  I was not like a lot of epilepsy patients in that I was an honor student, had a career ahead, wasn't debilitated like many epileptics.  They were concerned about affecting my short-term memory.  So I had to go for Phase 2.  To keep it short, it was very rough.  They open up the skull, put grids down on your brain, drill holes through the skull to run wires through, then once you're out of surgery, the hook this box to your head to monitor the brain ever so closely.  It was very painful, and worried my family, I could tell.  I was worried at first, but God graciously reminded me that HE was in control.  We then had to wait on seizures.  The first was horrible.  Not an epileptic seizure, but a withdrawal from medication seizure.  Finally, after a good seizure, about a week into it, they had a good review for surgery. 

On Thursday, July 31, I had surgery.  In short, they removed the brain tissue (really scar tissue) that was causing seizures.  It was such a God-thing.  They told us later that it was a text-book case; that most epileptic patients weren't near the cognitive level I was at; that when they went in to remove scar tissue, they found some they didn't see before, and it was all gone.  The day after, I was walking around the floor, talking to anything that would listen.  On Saturday, my surgeon was on-call, and he commented that he had never seen a case like mine, and never seen someone recover so quickly from surgery.  He just couldn't explain it.  Again, God had a chance to shine when I was able to share with Him that I knew why...people all over the world (literally) had been praying for me, and God had healed me through the surgery!  In fact, most recovery times were 7 days after the actual surgery.  On Sunday, he said he would send me home early, but was concerned about me living 4 hours away.   On Monday, he came in and said I was going home that day.  The first to be sent home only 4 days after.  Even when I went back to have stitches removed, they couldn't get over it.

God showed Himself to me as the Great Physician that summer!  My life was forever changed!  My EEG following surgery was clean (no seizure activity!).  Brain activity resumed to normal, in fact it increased after surgery.  There were some side-affects.  I had to learn to study differently.  My learning style is different now.  If I get really tired, I can't think of thr right word, but can think of one that "sounds" like it.  This was especially bad for the months following surgery.  I would get so frustrated some times.  And though I do not have seizures/seizure activity/epilepsy anymore, i have to take medicine.  There are cases where, due to taking meds through adolescence, a "dependence" is developed.  However, it serves as my "thorn in the flesh" to remind me of my summer of miracles, and of God's mighty healing power. 

I know this has been a long few posts, but if you have gotten this far, I hope you'll read just a little further....

As I stated in part 1, I don't know how I would have made it through those 8 years on my own.  It was only by His grace that I was able to continue.  It still wasn't easy, don't misunderstand.  In fact, there were times I didn't think I could keep pushing forward. I don't know how I could have done it if He weren't there to carry me through when I was too weak, too weary to persevere.  If you don't have a personal relationship with Him, please don't wait another day.  Life won't miraculously be perfect.  But at least you know that He is with You...He will never leave You...He will never forsake You.  I'd love to talk with you more about it if you're interested. 

So for now, the journey continues...!

"Now to Him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His great power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21