Healing? Really?

December 27, 2011 By 11 Comments

Megan Dec 2011

I know what you must be thinking -- it’s not real….or she didn’t mean it.

Well, I did mean it and still stand by it. Here is the post that details the event.  November 2009 was a year that Megan was healed, but something more important than her stomach and gastroparesis was healed.

Her Heart, Spirit and Will were healed.

She had been beaten down mentally by the doctors not believing us so much so that nothing mattered.  She was physically exhausted from throwing up everything. She was broken and I watched helplessly, praying and trusting God to mend what I couldn’t. He did.

A year later, her gastroparesis has flared up again. She went back on medicine and things were going well. She still dealt with daily pain, but digested her food.  Now, two years later, It’s not just sever stomach pain every time she eats, no.  She is not digesting solids at all. It’s been since before Thanksgiving since her stomach just stopped working….out of the blue.

Take your worst flu and multiply the symptoms by about 100 and that is what gastroparesis patients suffer with.

We center so much around food and eating.  It’s not noticeable until someone you love dearly is not able to enjoy eating.

She is 17 and has battled this in some fashion or another since she was 12. It was only late 2009 that we even knew what it was that she was battling.

Christmas 2011

As I look at her, wishing I could take her pain, wishing I could change places with her, my heart thinks of all the moms out there that watch their child fight cancer and other diseases.  Their strength amazes me.  Their courage amazes me.

Her strength amazes me.  She deals with this daily but is also enjoying life daily.  She struggles with being exhausted and sleeps more than most teens but still looks for and finds the blessings of the day.  She still would rather not have milkshakes, due to the fact that we are forcing them in her as it is a liquid that will stay.

Recent conversations go something like this…

No….no food today, have liquids. It needs to be a throw up free day.

You ate yesterday, you can eat next week.

My favorite was in a restaurant when the waiter asked if she was ok because she only had a tea, she replied.  I ate yesterday and get to eat on Christmas. (Christmas was a week later)

Yes, she struggles. Yes this is awful and yes -- I’m afraid at times.  But, I can say YES, I’m trusting the Lord with her again…just as i did back in 2009 when so many came together to pray for a little girl they didn’t know.

So, the tests begin again. If medicine doesn’t work, if they don’t find out what caused this flare up (like gallbladder or something else) then she may have to have a pacemaker put on her stomach.

I come to you asking for your prayer for my princess.

Thank you for praying, for boldly going to the throne of grace on her behalf.

Thank you for your friendship, love and care.

You bless me.

Thank you.

To peek at a little of what Megan has endured, other than the chronic daily pain of Gastroparesis, click HERE to read her story

UPDATE: March 2012

I just wanted to update you on Megan’s progress or lack thereof.

Poor choices and extreme stress has caused this episode of her stomach being paralyzed.  The medicine is still not helping but we are praying that since wiser choices are being made that the stress of it being gone will enable her stomach to fully function again.

She has to start over…meaning – liquids for a week or so, and then introduce small portions of soft solids at a time.  After 7 days of liquids only and no throwing up, she may try a scrambled egg.  If that stays, we can keep that and slowly introduce soft solids to her diet.  Should something not stay in the process, we go back a step.

I’m hoping that 3/10/12 we can take her to IHOP and let her have Green Eggs and Ham. Her favorite book as a child was Green Eggs and Ham.  If they stay down (mostly the eggs) then this will be a huge positive step!

This is going to be a long journey and already HAS been as she has not been able to eat solids since 11/2011. 

Everything we do is centered around food.  Teen functions are centered around food as well and this makes the day to day living of a 17 year old girl hard…and makes it hard for her mom to simply watch and not be able to fix it.

I cannot thank you enough for your prayers.  Your prayers, encouragements, emails and messages have not only encouraged us, but it also inspires and strengthens us.

Without your prayers, there is no way I would have had the energy, resources and ability to make Christmas Joy happen last year – as that was happening right in the middle of all of these personal issues.  And we are still being strengthened by them so that we can continue to spread joy and make a difference for others even though we are walking through our own personal valley of challenges.

We are simply going to look up from this valley and enjoy the majestic view. 

We are going to choose and cause joy along the way and continue to be the voice that says there can be and IS joy…even when the tears are falling. 

Thank you seems so small at this point, but it comes from the heart.

Thank you for your continued prayers and for how you support Spreading Joy Corporation.  You enable us to continue to shout that there is no joy like spreading joy!

 

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Megan and Gastroparesis Fight

February 1, 2010 By 6 Comments

Megan 2009

It’s 2010 and many are asking about Megan and how she is doing.  Here are the entries from her journey in 2009.  Again, my heart is amazed at how many people stepped up, encouaged, prayed and still to this day, ask me – how is Megan.  Lets journey back to November 2009.  Shall we? Love having you walk and talk with me.  It inspires me.

It’s November now.  Meg’s doing well.  Her stomach is working again, she is eating and digesting. It (her stomach) had stopped working completely.  No liquids, no solids – nothing would digest, everything would come back.  As bad as that was, as hard as that was, the worst part was that 2 doctors didn’t believe us.  2 doctors said, you are doing this to yourself.  Imagine, one Doctor, that has known her for her entire life, telling her that “if you’ll simply NOT throw up, your food will digest” or this is in your head…etc. etc. etc. Never had we had a problem with our pediatrician believing us, until this. Even though we told her doctor that she “held” her food in – YES – HELD in so she would not throw it up, for SEVEN hours on the fourth of July, sadly enough, he still didn’t believe us.  I could see it in his eyes.  I could see it all over his face.  He thinks she has been purging all these months. She has not. I am with her each time it happens.

Anyway – back to November.  She has been on medicine that cause her stomach to work, but at such a high price.  The pain it brings is horrid.  I see it all over her.  Every time I force her to take the meds, she has to endure pain so that her stomach will work.  I know there are so many parents who are going through so much worse with their children.  I simply can’t imagine some of the grief many parents go through day in and day out.  My heart goes out to you as you hold on to your precious child. As you journey through each day, one day at a time. As your heart is fearful of tomorrow.

I get a letter from a friend. One who is supporting Spreading Joy but feels like he needs to send an extra blessing along with the letter.  It says not to think, just go with the blessing.  I don’t have to think…I know what to do.  I want my princess to have peace in her stomach. I want her to smile again and be your normal, typical teenage girl.  I want her to have some good times of pure joy.

I don’t have Meg with me.  It’s Saturday night. I gaze at the letter. “All who touch it will receive a blessing. ” I want Meg to have it.  She needs to have this. She needs to smile, laugh and have a good time.  I contact Richard Mayhan, a fellow prayer warrior and friend who God has used to help round up prayer warriors on Meg’s behalf many times.  He knows that on Sunday afternoon, when we go to the altar and pray with Meg, we are praying for special healing and pure joy for her.  I take the letter to church on Sunday. I’m not at my own church because of a death in the family.  Many family members are there and I get separated from Steve and Meg.  I’m reading in my Bible in Matthew where the faith of the friends heal the sick.  I message that verse to Richard and he says that he is there, reading that as well and so is another person. To stay there, pray there – keep my faith right there.  That so far 10 people have agreed to pray with us when we go to the altar.  He is tweeting and asking who will pray.  I continue to pray that I would have enough faith. That I wouldn’t wouldn’t be the reason Meg misses out on a blessing of healing.  There’s 17 that have agreed to pray.  All I have to do is say when we are going to the altar and people all across the United States will pray at the exact same time. I sit in my pew in awe at the amazing friends I have, at the mighty God I serve.  Meg has struggled so much this year.  Her heart has hurt as badly as her stomach because we couldn’t get the doctors to believe us.  I hear back, 26 people are going to pray.  The service is almost ending.  My heart is racing as I hear 35 people are going to join us in prayer.   I give the word, we go to the altar – for a while we - Steve, Meg and myself are the only one’s praying.  WE don’t wait for the Pastor to invite us, no..we go.  Both Steve and I pray for our Princess.  Meg holds the letter. We ask for healing for her stomach as well as her heart.  We want her to be a happy normal teenager again. We get done, head back to our seats. I get the word that including Steve and myself 47 total people prayed at the same time for Megan. Amazing love for a little girl that they have not even met.

Now the faith begins.  We leave, go to lunch. I do not give the meds. She hates them. They hurt her so badly. She eats and the food stays. A week passes, two weeks passes. Still, food staying. No meds, no tears, no “but Mom”, no I need pain medicine. None of it.  I watch and laugh out loud - wow!! She is eating me out of house and home.  I’m giggling and thinking goodness….a few months ago I was forcing her to have milkshakes every day.  She says if she never has another milshake, it will be too soon.  4 weeks passes.  She is doing well. Eating. Gaining weight. While she doesn’t like it, I’m loving it.  Christmas Even rolls around.  The excitement of her brother being home, the festivities, the day itself. It gets to her and she is sick on her stomach.  Christmas day, she is sick for several hours.  Am I swayed – no.

Its now the END of January and Megan is doing well. No medicine and yet still digesting.  The Doctor had told us this was always going to be an issue.  That she would always have a problem.  And – maybe she will, who knows….but right now, as far as I believe, her stomach is working, on its own – thanks to My Lord.

Megan 2010

Oh, the wonderful friend that sent the blessing. He was part of the 47 that were praying for Meg, without knowing that I was using the blessing he sent. I had the honor of telling him sometime later that he was more instrumental than even he knew.  That was a great honor and joy.

If you have gastroparesis, we understand.  We believe you. We know how hard you struggle. Our prayers are with you. We will do all we can to help you walk down this path, and to have joy for your journey. WE will walk with you.

I love prayer warriors.  I love the faith of my friends.  I love how God gives us the desires of our heart. What is it that you need?  What are you praying for? We prayed all year long for Megan. Don’t give up.  Gather your friends and pray  – but don’t give up. Keep going before the Lord, don’t give up.  Keep asking, don’t give up.  Keep gathering with your friends and praying – but what ever you do…don’t give up…keep praying.

What do you need?

Thank you for your friendship, love and care for my princess! I’m blessed to have you in my life!

If you’re alone, I’ll be your shadow.  If you want to cry, I’ll be your shoulder.  If you want a hug, I’ll be your pillow.  If you need to be happy, I’ll be your smile.  But anytime you need a friend, I’ll just be me.  ~Author Unknown

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Cheesy Glory of Pizza!

August 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Oh, the Cheesy Glory of Pizza

Is there anything that brings more joy to a teenager than pizza? Really – is there? Ok, yes, there may be something like getting their license or their first car. Maybe driving off for the first time without a parent in the vehicle is better than pizza. Wait…come to think of it, for a teen, anything without a parent may be better than pizza.

But back to the purpose of the blog post.

After not digesting anything other than liquids for 3 months – Megan enjoyed Pizza for the first time AND kept it down Wednesday night!

I’m so thankful for your prayers, your emails and the tweets that have encouraged us through this entire ordeal! The question is what now? Her next Doctor appointment is August 26th and we will find out more then. But until then – she will stay on currents meds and keep eating solids!

The research I’ve done says that she may go back and forth fighting this for a long time. It is probably going to be a long battle and that she will have to make dietary adjustments for the rest of her life, but this slice of pizza – this is a huge win!

Will there be future texts that says – Megan is having a hard day, can you text her? Maybe. Will there be the phone calls that ask for prayer because the digestion has stopped again? I don’t know. Will there be the 2 am tweet that cries out in the night for a hug because the battle has been long and the heart is heavy? Possibly. There are a lot of things that I do not know, but something that I do know is that I’ve had an incredible support group that has held us up in prayer. I know that God is still in control and that miracles do still happen and your love and support has blessed my heart so deeply that I could never express my gratitude completely!

My heart can never say thank you enough for your prayers, love and compassion for a 14 year old teenager that just wants to be a normal kid and that I love with all my heart!

You are amazing at spreading joy!
Kindness in words creates confidence;
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness;
Kindness in giving creates love.–Lao-tzu
Photo: Megan’s actual slice of pizza!

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Gastroparesis – Update

July 30, 2009 By 4 Comments

I realize that the “Spreading Joy Corporation” blog may not be the “best” place for these types of update – but if just one other person can relate to what Megan is going through and it helps them to find joy in their journey, then it is worth it to me. Besides, if we can’t talk about every step of our journey with friends, family, twitter friends and such – then who can we talk to them about? If you are here, you are at the very least a friend.
Here is the latest on Megan and where she stands.
The Doctors office did finally call and Megan did show some digestion on her scan this past Wednesday! Now, its not a lot, but it is a start.
He is going to continue her medication, deep relaxation and pain management techniques. The relaxation and pain mgmt is due to the fact she has been removed from ALL pain medications as they tend to relax her stomach and we need it to contract. Also – the insurance has denied the zophran – which helps to ease the nausea caused by the extremely strong antibiotic that she takes 3 times a day. They will not even approve 1 a day – only 24 for the month and she needs 3 a day. We are in “official” appeal mode but that could take a month.
She has also got to learn to “relax” (in a good way, not medicated) her stomach before eating so that it can do what it needs to do.
She has been eating a few ounces of pudding and yogurt and while it “hurts” her to eat it, she is keeping it down. She is now up to mashed potato type food for the next few days and then we can ease her into more of a solid after that continues to do well. Being the typical teenager that she is and the fact that she loves to eat, she really wants pizza. If she continues to keep down 2-3 ounces of mashed potato type soft solids, then we will get her a very small slice of pizza that she will take an hour to eat.
Jeff over at Bear 2 Care 2009 has issued his readers a challenge to stay away from pizza for 5 days to encourage Megan – to let her know that she is being thought of and prayed for and a time will come when she can have pizza again. It’s a goal to shoot for!
Her next appointment is Aug 26th and I am concerned that the pain of eating that has been there for 2 years is still there and wonder if/when it will ever go away…and if this wasn’t one of the “causes” to begin with. Also she will be starting school around that same time. Right now she lays down and completely relaxes 35 minutes prior to eating and will not be able to do that when school starts. We need wisdom and direction as to what to do for her for that.
Thank you for your prayers, tweets and emails of encouragement. You keep us going! My princess has such a long way to go, but I know she will be one amazing lady on the other side of this! She already is!
Photo: Megan playing w/statue at last Dr. Visit

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The Joy of Gastroparesis

July 21, 2009 By 2 Comments

Megan had her appointment with Dr. Pinerio with the Levine Children’s Center today and we left hopeful!
He believes this is Gastroparesis.

According to the Mayo Clinic’s website Gastroparesis is “a condition in
which the muscles in your stomach don’t function normally.
Ordinarily,
strong muscular contractions propel food through your digestive tract. But in
gastroparesis, the muscles in the wall of your stomach work poorly or not at
all, preventing your stomach from emptying properly. This can interfere with
digestion, cause nausea and vomiting, and play havoc with blood sugar levels and
nutrition. No available treatment can cure gastroparesis. Dietary changes
and certain medications sometimes help control symptoms of gastroparesis, but
they’re not effective in every case. And the available gastroparesis drugs can
cause serious side effects. Researchers are investigating other types of
therapies for gastroparesis.

He is going to use Erythromycin and Zophran to help treat it. She will take these 30 minutes before 3 meals – which right now is 4 ounces of Ensure (Yummie!!!) She will finish the other 4 ounces a few hours past that. The Erythromycin will also help her stomach muscles to contract – and push the food to small intestines.

In a week or so, we will move towards yogurt. We will stay there as long as we need to – until she feels like she can move to soft foods like mashed potatoes, yummy cheesie grits and oatmeal type foods.
We will keep progressing from there. He explained to her that she will need to re-teach her stomach to accept food – which I had already discussed with her.
She will be doing a 2 hour Gastric Emptying Scan where she eats a small amount of food and then her gift of holding in vomit will have to kick in for 2 hours. They will scan her and see if she is digesting anything at all. This scan will take place July 29th. She will have been on the new meds for 9 days. He will then decide if we need to up the medication or if she still has zero digestion, he said the Gastric Pacemaker would be an option. It is just like a pacemaker they use for the heart – just on the stomach.
This will be a long process. She will have to do some pain management techniques in addition to the meds and thanks to some great people, we already have some relaxation items on hand to help her.
She is tired of the Ensure, but willing to try. She is still skeptical because nothing has helped.
Thank you for how you have rallied around her (and me) and lifted her up in prayer. There is no way that I can tell you how encouraging it is to hear we are praying for you during this time.
I’m so grateful for all of you! I am so blessed to have friends such as you!
Megan is at camp. She will not have the energy nor the ability to participate in the sports but wanted to go.
A million *hugs* and *kisses* would never be enough to say thank you for caring, lifting us up and for being there anytime we needed you!
I am Completely awed by your compassion…..

“I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.”
Pablo Casals quotes

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Completely Awed by the Prayers for Megan!

July 18, 2009 By 7 Comments

I’m coming before you to say thank you for your prayers for Megan. People at my work, people at my Church, friends and family members! Your prayers are what is getting us through this time of not knowing what is going on with Megan. Every time you pass me and say I’m praying for Megan – I was encouraged. I also passed that information along to Megan and again, it encouraged me.
I must take a moment to express my utter respect for those that I follow on Twitter! I absolutely can not name ALL of your names, but YOU have touched my heart so deeply today! It is hard to find words great enough to express my deepest feelings!
A brief history on what you are praying for:
Megan’s stomach trouble started 2 years ago. Horrible pain immediately after eating. Her GI quickly diagnosed it as IBS and gave appropriate medication. I never believed it was that but the medicine helped some, so we went on about our merry little ways – dealing with the pain as needed.
In March of this year, we returned to the GI with nausea and he upped her Prilosec. Ordered Endoscopy and biopsies to be taken. All came back clear. No cancer, no bacterial infection no nothing – all “normal”. April Megan started vomiting her foods several times a week. Dr. then upped her Bental and ordered more tests. All “normal”. In May the several times a week turned into each meal that had meats in it and other “hard” foods. Soft foods like cheesy smashed potatoes, good ole Southern Grits, yogurt, pudding, eggs and the like were ok. Megan was given a Gastric Emptying Scan. She was required to eat more food than she has been able to keep down since April. She ate and was scanned. An hour later another scan. The next scan was the hardest. After many tears because she couldn’t “hold down the food” any longer they took the scan and she immediately vomited. She told the technician she threw up less than half of the food. The 4th hour scan showed that only 39% of the food was gone. (Well last time I checked – 39% is less than half!) Finally – a test that showed NO digestion. I just knew that our prayers had been answered and resolution would soon be on the way!
The beginning of June Megan was admitted to hospital for 2 days for observation. She was given Reglan 3o minutes before each meal and still – vomiting of all solids was taking place. So soup for “snacks” it is. Before leaving the hospital – we found out that mashed potatoes and grits were no longer staying down. Even though the Dr. was thinking Gastroparesis – his lasts words to me was – I’ve never seen this and I don’t know what to do. Sent me back to our pediatrician for a referral to another specialists.
We have waited on this appointment for July 20th at 1:3opm for 5 l-o-n-g weeks now. And now – yogurt, as of last week, is not digesting. And as of last night 7-17-09 – liquids are officially having to be “held down”. (she can really hold in her vomit…truly) She wants to drink but the pain of the liquids going into her stomach is to great. The nausea that goes with it is so hard to bear. She is sleeping alot today to get through this. (4 ounces an hour – not working. No worries though, if need be, I will take her to ER for hydration.)
Present day – (finally – you say…get to the point!!!) Ok, already. I sent out a tweet this morning asking for prayer for wisdom for the new Doctor on Monday. Told about the liquids now giving her problems and then it happened.
#prayers4megan being tweeted about over twitter!
I know there are so many children out there with terminal illnesses. I know I can never in a million years understand what they or their mothers are going through! One thing I’m certain of is that I would not have made it through these past few months with out prayers!
Few people knew about Megan way back in March. Then a few more and a few more. This morning, after a sleepless night of prayer – I knew I had to ask for prayer. I knew several would step up and answer but I had no clue how those acts of joy would affect me!
My eyes swelled with tears as I read tweet after tweet of people asking for prayers for Megan. Then – names I didn’t even recognize started showing up. (I must happily say that I am now following those people – because I want to follow great people like they are!)
I showed my husband the outpouring of your prayers and he was in complete awe by what he was seeing, as was I!
I come to you today to humbly say thank you! It has always been (and will always be) my goal to be spreading joy to each of you but today…I was a recipient of such a magical gift! I realize that I must be diligent about spreading joy because of the encouragement and inspiration I received from your acts of joy! I must not tire, I must not fail. I must press on! And with God’s help and your prayers and encouragement – I believe I can do so.
If you have prayed for Megan – thank you!
If you have asked others to pray for Megan – Thank you!
Megan thanks you too!
A million thank yous could never be enough! Never!
YOU are great at Spreading Joy!
“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.” Brian Tracey
Thank you guys for sharing!
Photo: Mother’s Day 2009 Marie & Megan

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For Megan

June 9, 2009 By 8 Comments
The pain in her stomach
Is reflected on her face
Lord, What she needs now more than ever
Is a double portion of your grace

Her laughter and her smile
Have faded away
Now that her blue skies
Are an awful dark grey

Her future is bright
There’s so much love that she gives
But the pain over throws her
Making it hard to fully live

The search continues
For answers each day
Hopefully relief
Will soon be on the way

Then the love will shine
So strong and so bright
I know she’ll be glad
That she fought a good fight

The difference she’ll make
Because she has been there
Will be told for eternity
With luster and flair

A Princess in my eyes
My pride and my joy
Will help those who are hurting
With diseases that destroy

Keep fighting my Princess
Stay strong and devoted
You’ll do great works
You’ll often be quoted!

You’ll make a huge difference
Just you wait – you’ll see
I know this for a fact,

Because you’ve made a difference in me!

I love you Princess. I’m fighting for you!

Photo: by Megan of Megan & Marie

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Filed Under: difficulties, Megan, passion, Poetry