Tonight's blog is really more of a prayer request than an update on how I'm doing. The reason is on Friday I am having an MRI and it can determine when I can have my next surgery to put my skull back on my head. And having that surgery is really all I want right now!!!!
My MRI is at 8:30 a.m. and will last about an hour. The test is really loud and could easily cause me to have a bad headache the rest of the day.
What I'm hoping with tomorrow's test is that it shows that the swelling of my brain has gone down, the clot on my brain is no longer bleeding and I can come off the blood thiner. My surgeon won't do the surgery to put my skull back where it belongs until I've been off the blood thiner for 2 weeks. He said he thinks the surgery will be after Christmas or first of the year. I'm hoping it will be my Christmas gift :)
Many of you have heard me complain about having part of my skull in my stomach. While it's kind of cool to know that my skull is chilling in my stomach - basically staying safe until they can put it back in my head. Having part of your skull in your stomach is sooo uncomfortable. It hurts, it moves all the time, it makes sitting still impossible, sleeping is difficult...I'm ready for my surgeon to put everything back to normal.
And I'm very nervous about tomorrow's MRI. I just fill like I've had a lot of bad luck recently, and I'm worried that my luck streak isn't going to improve anytime soon. I wonder how long I'm going to have to wait to have the surgery. Today, Thursday, I went to have my weekly finger prick so they can check my blood level. They typically want it to fall between 2-3. But the last two weeks it's dropped, with today's being a 1.6. Every time it drops they have to figure out a new dose of the blood thiner, and they can't figure out why it keeps dropping. I was hoping for a good results from my weekly finger prick, thinking it would calm me down about the MRI. But now I'm very anxious, nervous and worried about the MRI.
The test is tomorrow, Friday, but we won't meet with the doctor until Nov. 11. So I will have to wait at least a week to see if we're close to setting a date for the surgery. The surgery one of those big things in my long recovery and just setting a date seems impossible.
I know I'm learning a lot about patience right now, but that's not going so well. I really just want God to give me a break and answer my continuous question of why did all of this happen to me. People have constantly told me about how my experience will be a great testimony and God has great things in store for me because of this. But right now that is really hard to fully believe. I'm overwhelmed, angry, scared, hurting and just have more unanswered questions for God than answered ones. This is why I'm asking for your prayers for tomorrow's MRI. I feel like every time I take a step forward in recovery I take several steps back. And positive MRI results will help move me forward and hopefully turn my luck around.
Thankfully, your life is in God's hands. Luck has nothing to do with it, as you know, and He doesn't let anything slip through His fingers. This has been a difficult journey, Ash, but you have recovered far more quickly than anticipated. You are doing amazingly well. Just weeks ago, you were in a deep sleep and barely responsive. Look at you now! Be encouraged. You are making a comeback. Those don't come easily. You're a fighter. You're strong. You can do this and tons of people are walking beside you.
ReplyDeleteI second everything Kaye says! You are amazing, Ashley Hungerford!
ReplyDeleteI am SO proud of you Ashley! I can't imagine what all you are feeling but am praying for GRACE for you. I pray that you would find the remaining weeks before your surgery are easier than the last. So, so many are praying and believing on your behalf. The verse that keeps coming to mind is, "taste and see that the LORD is good." I pray that you Ashley, would TASTE and SEE that the LORD is good!
ReplyDeleteLove you!!
Elizabeth Smith