One Year Follow Up

Some of you know our story, some of you do not.

This last year has been an incredible faith walking journey. You see, a year ago my beloved son Nick was admitted to the hospital after 10 days of flu like symptoms.

Only it wasn't the flu. In fact for several days they had absolutely no idea what it was. Every 2-4 hours we got a new diagnosis. Leukemia, single cell cancer, testicular cancer, spinal meningitis. For a week they kept him in isolation and treated him for TB. They slit his throat and went behind his windpipe down to right above his heart and did a biopsy of a lymph-node. Still no answers.

All the while his condition deteriorated. He got 244 different medications. They were trying everything.Time was of the essence.

Prayer to the Lord was the only thing that was working. And we did a ton of praying.

As you can see from this photo, Nick was a healthy young man. He was QB for his high school football team, ran track and worked for our tree service. All very physical things. He worked out at the gym and ate healthy.

This just didn't make sense!

Since today is just an update, I won't go into those deep dark emotional days. The days when the doctors told us he wouldn't live. The days they said he wouldn't walk for at least 6 months.

We had days where Nick had to learn to stand again, to walk, to talk, to bathe, to text, to sign his name...

And our enemy? They finally decided on a diagnosis of Acute Histoplasmosis with advanced Cranial lesions.

It was an airborne exposure (from where we don't know) that first attacked his Lymph-nodes and then spread into his spine. From there it traveled up and into the brain. It caused lesions on the brain that swelled and began shutting down his faculties.

33 days in ICU....

Here are a few milestones along the way...

Here are the boys all suited up and ready to go in to see their best friend and brother. These boys didn't leave Nicks side. In fact, his best friend James came into the hospital with him and said he was walking out of the hospital with him... and that is what he did.

 

Pre biopsy

Nick went from 225 pounds down to 186.3... and this weight was taken 2 weeks into his sickness. He got down into the 170's... Over 40 pounds on such a tall and slim person. NONE of his pants would stay up!

 

In his room. His bed was huge because they don't make them long enough for people his height. Three football players can fit in this bed! Here he is reading with his friend words of encouragement left on his facebook wall.

The cookie monster hat and shirt haven't been worn since he was in the hospital. He can't bring himself to do much more than look at it!

Finally in March we said Good-Bye to that hospital and came home.

 

So how have things been this last year? It's been a long and stressful road. We often have to remind ourselves that NOTHING is too big for the Lord.

One month post hospital. Got to get a little mud on the tires...

And then drove to St. Louis when his best girlfriend got married...

And then we got to graduate his baby brother (whos only a year younger)

And see our best friend off to college...

 Helped coach his old football team....

Went to a few of his sisters soccer games...

Swam and got my strength (and color) back...

Did a little fishing...

Returned to his part time job...

Watched a little baseball... and more football...

Went back to work for the family business...

Helped cook a few family dinners...

Was supported a great deal by friends...

And lives for every moment.....

And this became his favorite song

Blink by Revive

 Teach me to number my days 

And count every moment 

 Before it slips away 

 Take in all the colors Before they fade to grey
I don't want to miss Even just a second More of this
It happens in a blink, it happens in a flash It happens in the time it took to look back 

I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time What is it I've done with my life?
It happens in a blink  

It happens in a blink
When it's all said and done

  No one remembers How far we have run 

The only thing that matters Is how we have loved
I don't want to miss Even just a second More of this
It happens in a blink,

 it happens in a flash

  It happens in the time it took to look back 

 I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time  

What is it I've done with my life?
It happens in a blink 

It happens in a blink

  It happens in a blink

  It happens in a blink
Slow down Slow down Before today becomes Our yesterday
Slow down Slow down Before today becomes Our yesterday
It happens in a blink,

 it happens in a flash 

It happens in the time it took to look back 

 I try to hold on tight,

 but there's no stopping time 

 What is it I've done with my life?

 

Join me in taking a moment and just listen to this song and how powerfully it can move a heart.

Today Nick weighed 209.4 Lbs

His blood pressure was perfect. His lungs were clear. Lymph-nodes were not noticeably swollen. His doctor said that it appears that Nick has had a complete healing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will be returning this month for a follow up MRI of his brain. His blood work was finished today along with a chest image.

His doctor said that he would be shocked if any of the tests came back positive.

Now, when the wind and the waves come... Keep your eyes on Jesus!

When the Giant is looming over you... remember it takes just one smooth rock

 I would like to say a special thank you to all of my friends and family for praying and standing with us. I can't imagine what this would have been like with out you.

And for everyone who might be interested... I have begun writing out Nicks full testimony. I hope to have it done within the  next couple of months. It goes into detail on how this kind of storm just takes you by surprise... and just exactly what you can endure with the help of the Lord!