The Mitchells: Prayer for the noggin

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Prayer for the noggin

Yep, tomorrow (Friday) is the MRI. We check in at 6:15am and the MRI will be at 7:30am. Please pray for a couple of things:

That Ella does well during the procedure and it doesn't freak her out.
As of now she will only be on mild sedation, my prayer is that it won't be any more than that and that they don't have to vent her like the last time.
The Doctors will be well skilled in what they need to look for and that they will be able to tell us a diagnosis without question.
That the bruises on her brain from the infection/meningitis/seizures will be MUCH better.
The enlarged blood vessel in the middle of her brain will be a non-issue and they won't even suggest brain surgery again.
And finally, pray for patience and understanding from both Joe and myself. Joe's faith doesn't waiver, but mine is tested daily as I have to watch Ella struggle through things that are so normal for other children her age and all of the medical complications that she has to deal with. My poor daughter is so tired of being poked and prodded...I can't wait till the week where we don't see even one doctor, specialist, or therapist. I feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster. Whoever thought it ended after the pregnancy hormones were gone is crazy...it was only the beginning of feeling like I don't have control of anything. Luckily we have a God who IS in control...and whatever happens, it's in His hands...and I'm perfectly okay with that.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: I'm praying for you, Ella Bella! Praying for that blood vessel to have shrunk to nothing and for the mild sedation to work just fine. We have a big God Who loves you...no matter what.; 4:01 PM
Anonymous said...: prayers coming your way, mitchells! love you all and pray for HUGE miracles tomorrow! gram margrave; 9:45 PM

Ella's Story

Elizabeth "Ella" Hope Mitchell was born on May 10, 2006 at 3:45pm...by 5am the following morning the whole world turned upside down. The doctors came in to inform us that while Ella had been resting in the Newborn Nursery, she began to have irregular breathing and seizures. It was touch and go for the next 3 days. We were told several times that she probably would not make it alive through the ordeal. She had contracted Group Beta Strep which had resulted in meningitis. Due to the seizures and the infection we had no idea what the long-term effects would be. After Ella spent a long and trying month in the NICU we came home to see where the effects of her illness had left us all.

A few months later, almost a year, we had an official long-term diagnosis...Ella has Cerebral Palsy. She is a happy and loving child. She struggles with physical delays, cognitive delays and all sorts of things that have come and go.

2-eye surgeries to correct lazy eye
3-EEG's to check for siezures
5-MRI/MRV/MRA to check actual brain damage
3-CT scans for brain stuff
1-G-button/feeding tube surgically put in (and then Ella removed herself)
10 (approx)-Swallow Studies
1-Scoliosis Study
2-Kidney Reflux tests
2-Upper GI tests
1-24 hr reflux test
8-hearing tests
countless UTI tests
seemingly a million developmental tests
a hand splint
bath chair
adaptive stroller/wheelchair
stander
gait trainer
AFO's

ha, not to mention all of the therapist...currently: OT 2X/week, PT 3X/week (2 land, 1 horse), ST 3X/week (2 oral motor, 1 speech), develomental 1X/week, vision 2x/month, and we are about to start ACCDAT camp.

As of 4/8/2009.