Overdue Update

It has been a long time since I have updated Ricki's blog.  The challenges of a chronic illness never go away but sometimes it is just nice to not think about it.  Ricki has some challenging mountains to climb in the coming weeks and we reconginze that we need the faith and prayers of all of our friends and family.  This doesn't have everything but gives you a bit of what Ricki has been through this past couple of months

August 3, 2018
We received word from the neurosurgeons that they want to do a biopsy on the aggressive brachial plexus tumor on Monday, She will have the neck surgery to remove the tumor in her c-1/c-2 Tuesday the 7th, and then she is scheduled for surgery to remove the brachial plexus tumor  the following week on the 15th.  

July 2. 2018

In the past month we have been to 17 different appointments for Ricki. Her legs continue to become week and totally go out on her. They began by lasting an hour but as the weeks have gone by she can't walk sometimes for up to 12 hours. It is breaking our heart. We have been to our neurosurgeon,neurologist,EMG specialist,psychologist, psychiatrist,urologist,physical therapist and occupational therapist. We have sent her images to our neurologist and neurosurgeon in Baltimore and still are trying to figure out her c-1 tumor. A t-12 tumor. A possible brachial plexus tumor regrowth, and the handful of tumors in her quada equine all of which could be We are scheduled for yet another MRI and another EMG to try to assist the doctors in putting the puzzle pieces together. 

June 15, 2018

I just have to brag sometimes....yesterday at Rickis EMG first they put these little patches on different nerves and shock her to see how the nerves respond. From that information they know where to focus and they get more information from how the muscles respond the the shock by putting a needle in the muscle and shock her again. As the neurologist was working on Ricki he was amazed at her strength. He said he had never seen a patient so STOIC ..I had to go home and look it up. The definition is a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining. He was telling us he had grown men covered in tattoos having this same test bawling and yet Ricki  was holding it together and occasionally cracking a joke. She told the nurse sarcastically if she could paint a picture of a perfect day this would definitely be  it.... It broke the intensity of a moment and made us all laugh. I know that it is her sweet faith in God and the many prayers in her behalf that help her endure what she does. I am so proud of her!  The heartbraching news however is that her left hand is becoming paralyzed.

June 4,2018

We met with neurosurgery today. Ricki is scheduled for surgery to remove a tumor at the C-1 level  in August. There are still puzzle pieces that we haven't got figured out and will be meeting with her neurologist to try to figure some more things out for our sweet Ricki. It's been awhile since we have seen Dr Bolllo and his staff but it was like seeing old friends we hadn't seen in a long time. We are grateful for such wonderful people to help us take care of our daughter.

May 28, 2018

They were unable to get the MRI crew to come in so it looks like we will be here another night with an MRI tomorrow. Ricki seemed to be walking ok this morning but when we attempted the stairs it became very difficult. Later in the morning both her legs went out completely again.... I keep hoping it will just go away but it doesn't appear it is. The highlight of the morning was a FaceTime call. Technology is the best! Nothing like brightening up your day with 3 smiling faces.

May 27, 2018

Ricki's legs have been giving out on her several times today. Oliver was sure his slobbery wet ball would make Ricki better but the Drs at Primary Childrens felt like they need to keep her for observation and get an MRI tomorrow. They have had some serious emergencies so we are waiting for them to get her admitted.. We are driving poor Ricki crazy with our old people humor.