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Background

Around 12/21/23 I started experiencing numbness and weird sensations in my feet, as though they’d “fallen asleep” but wouldn’t “wake up.” I could walk fine, and continued with my daily walking regimen as my schedule allowed.

Over the following week, the numbness continued up both legs, a little more each day. By 12/28 the lack of sensation had progressed to the lower torso. I knew something was wrong and that it was time to seek medical help. At a previously scheduled chiropractic appointment, my doctor confirmed that I should immediately make a beeline to Urgent Care.

Seeking Answers & Treatment 

12/28 Thursday evening

Urgent Care quickly directed me to the ER department where better diagnostic tools would be located. Presenting symptoms at the ER department included dizziness and balance issues, numbness and weakness in my feet and legs, progressing upwards from the feet to the lower torso. A full spinal MRI and a partial CT scan were performed to see what’s happening in my spine, and a lumbar puncture ruled out virus or other infections in the spinal fluid.

12/29 Friday  

In the dark hours Friday morning, I was admitted to Sutter Heath’s Eden Medical Center. The staff has been taking fantastic care of me. I had an OT and PT consult, have been able to get a few accompanied walks around the floor to keep moving, have already received two rounds of steroids to offset inflammation, and have been relocated to the neuroscience center, since my situation has been deemed neurological in nature. A second MRI was performed late this evening. My symptoms have been perplexing, so the neurological team has been working to figure it out. At this point, they’re calling it Transverse Myelitis, which is simply a condition that describes an inflammation of the spinal cord. No causation has yet to be determined for these symptoms.

Not what I expected

As I looked forward to this week, time in the hospital was certainly not on the calendar. Proverbs reminds me that “The heart of man plans his steps, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). James cautions us to be too confident about the future (James 4:13-16). We make plans, putting appointments in our digital calendars. Digital task apps are set to automatically repeat at a designated time in the future…all under the assumption we’ll be there to work through those future plans, make those appointments, or complete those bumped tasks. But will we?

As I’ve recently been setting up my 2024 planner, it’s felt strange looking at those dates that are weeks, months, and even a year away. I wonder to myself,

What life will be like on that date?
What challenges will I be facing during that month?
Who else in my world will no longer be there? (We’ve lost a LOT of precious people in 2023.)
Who is next to stand before their Creator either as their Judge (Revelation 20:11-15) or Lord (Revelation 20.12, 15; Matthew 7:21-23) ?
Will I be here?

I’m so grateful for the prayers of loved ones who have been praying. God has given me a peace that passes all understanding during this adventure (Philippians 4:4-7). Thank you for praying and upholding us before the Lord.

Moving Forward 

Of course, one of our first questions upon being admitted was, “How long till I go home?” The answer is still unclear, but hopefully soon. We need more tests, conclusive answers, and a treatment plan.

We’ve been trying to keep up with the personal texts and messages, so we’ve bypassed the Facebook platform and will be posting here to have one central announcement board.

See Part 2.