Considering Mexico

We have spoken with Dr. Cantu and are considering returning to Mexico for a five day visit.  Melody would receive an high dose infusion of ketamine.  This infusion would not put her into a coma, but would raise the level of ketamine in her system enough to make a huge impact.  She continues to exercise daily in the pool and is gaining strength.  Her attitude is especially encouraging.  We are praying more specifically about how to best use the time that God gives to our family to serve him.  All activities are not of equal value.  Easy to say that, but harder to live it out. 

Please pray for the logistics of the Mexico trip.  We have no dates yet.  We don't have a sound solution as for childcare.  Jacob does not want to make the trip, and we prefer that he be able to stay here with his sisters.  Thanks for your prayers.  We have seen God work through the prayers of his people over and over again.   

Pressing Ahead

It's been a long time since I posted an update here.  Thanks to you all who have prayed without lots of current information.  Here is where we are.  Melody has a great attitude and is pressing ahead well.  She is gaining strength.  A couple of weeks ago she had a setback in the therapy pool related to her original injury.  Reinjury is a common phenomenon with post-coma patients.  It was disappointing, but it was not a total setback either.  She lost some gains but not nearly all the gains.  She continues to exercise daily.  She will most likely return to Mexico to receive what is called a ketamine booster--several high dose infusions of ketamine.  These infusions provide much higher doses of ketamine than she can receive in Philly because they are administered by an anesthesiologist (Dr. Cantu).  They are also administered in Florida and California, but Mexico seems to be cheaper and we have confidence in Dr. Cantu.  Dr. Cantu has also treated Melody and has a ":feel" for her and how she responds.  We are not sure when this will be. 

People have done a great job of not asking a lot of questions of Melody when she has gone to church.  as a result, she is beginning to rejoin us in the sanctuary for worship and even had the children with her in the balcony last Sunday (the fact that she made the trek up the stairs to get there is evidence of the type of strength she is gaining).

Please pray for continued progress for Melody.  Please pray for my endurance as well. 

Melody With Dr. Kirkpatrick

See the post below this one for additional details on our visit. Dr.
Kirkpatrick draws no salary for his work at the center. He is an
excellent doctor too.

Great Report From Tampa

All the objective pain measures were significantly lower. Melody was able to complete a number of range of motion tests without pain. And, that was after an uncomfortable and very long flight. Dr. Kirkpatrick said that the key was to do heated pool therapy and reduce stress. He spoke more about the heated pool and why it was so helpful. 1) weight bearing is minimized. 2) water exercise is least likely to cause injury. 3) the water acts as a profound stress reliever in itself. 4) the water aids in desensitizing the skin. Melody is supposed to track her endurance for exercise, and measure her need for future treatment according to changes in her endurance level. If after being in the water for three minutes the water still feels cold then it is not hot enough. She should exercise to the point where she will have some pain afterward but not a lot.

Dr. Kirkpatrick also said that functional MRIs have proven that pain in RSD patients is routed through the limbic system first rather than through the cortex as in non-RSD people. The limbic system controls emotion. So, stress increases pain. He said getting yourself into "stressball" can reduce progress and increase pain. Stress needs to be avoided. Dr. Kirkpatrick reiterated to me not bringing up the P word all the time (Pain). "How are you feeling?" is not a good question because it actually can increase stress rather than focusing on positives.

Thanks for your continued prayers. Please pray for continued progress in the therapy and for Melody to get stronger and stronger. We are grateful for where we are at this point.



Thanks for praying.

En Route

On the way to Tampa with Melody for a visit with Dr. Kirkpatrick.  Flight delayed (of course).  Preaching on John 1:1-5 this Sunday, "Christ Before All." The eternal Word in eternal fellowship with his Father.  An ultimate don't stress over the late plane type of text.