Short but sweet

Save The Date: February 4, 2012

Hello Family and Friends!

An amazing group of people have gathered to host a fundraiser for my little family. It sounds like it is going to be a truly enjoyable evening out! Silent auction, live entertainment, dessert, drinks and more. It is also a great opportunity to gain awareness about this preventable disease.

When: On February 4, 2012, from 7:00 pm -10:00 pm

Where: In the O'Leary Hall at St. Joseph's Basilica, 10044-113 Street Northwest, Edmonton, AB

RSVP: If you are interested, you can buy tickets for $20.00/person or $150.00/table of 10

Contact Megan at (780) 249-0416 and leave a message

If you can't make it and would still like to make a donation, they have set up a Paypal account here:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=LDUGHYPW65BFQ

And since I am not involved enough to answer most of your questions (like, "what do I do if the Paypal link Kate installed on her blog doesn't work?" or, "what should I wear?") you can direct them to whenlifegivesyoulyme@gmail.com and one of the coordinators can help you out! You can also get more info on the Facebook page here.

And last but not least, a small update on my travels and surgery: it has as of two days ago been post-poned until we can find a doctor in Edmonton who has priveledges at a hospital that can monitior and flush my picc line weekly (the catch is they must be willing to work with a long-term Lyme patient!) Any leads in that area and prayers that we find the doctor/hospital we need are greatly appreciated!!

 

Blessings and love!!

 

Kate

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
   for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
   for to you I entrust my life."

~ Psalm 143:8

This comes long overdue, although I am sure with Christmas and such that you all were at least as busy as I was and didn’t notice the lack of update.

To be honest, these are getting harder to write (less motivation for some reason) but I do feel bad for keeping you all out of the loop.

Most recent updates: The month of December was very busy, with us making the long drive to Southern Alberta to see our doctor again and get updated prescriptions, exams, etc.  We again were hosted by the Denis family, and I can’t say enough kind words of praise or gratitude towards them. We spread the trip out (as was necessary; I could barely move to get into the car for the trip home), but it was time well-spent. We were able to connect with their son more this time, and get real and valuable advice from him. Sometimes it is hard to hear; sometimes it is just what I want to hear; most of all, it is the truth about what I need to hear, and for that I am glad to have a source like him. Jack, as always, charmed his way into everybodies hearts while we were there, directing his audience to participate at his whim.

Upon returning home, I began my heparin shots. Derek’s advice to freeze the area beforehand continues to be much appreciated; as the area was so numb when my mother-in-law performed the first injection, I didn’t even feel it! Talk about a confidence-booster. Here: give yourself a needle—don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt one bit! In truth, it was one part freezing, two parts skilled nursing hands (of which I do not possess), so the next one didn’t go without pain completely.  With shaky hands I learned the gross truth about just how hard you have to push on a needle to get it to go into your skin (which was a lot harder than I anticipated!) They since have become routine and easier, but not yet to the point where I don’t get nervous and queasy whilst sticking myself!

Next week we make the long trip out to Lethbridge  to  get my PICC line inserted; we will stay for a few days or so after to learn proper care and how to give myself IV treatment, and then backtrack over to see our doctor and make sure all is well before returning home. I’m feeling really nervous about the surgery, and the commencement of IV antibiotics. I think my fear lies in three places; first being the unknown; second, the amount of pain and worsening of symptoms that is to come with the stronger drugs, and bacteria die-off; and lastly, an ever-greatening relinquishment of abilities and control. Time will clear up all three, I suppose.

This song has been stuck in my head and my heart for the past week. I struggle a lot with feeling stuck where I am, worrying that life will always be this way. Yet I know God is in this: He is in ALL of it. And He will be Lord over it, and beauty will rise from it, and I will be made new. Just like the song says. Here it is:

Beautiful Things-- Gungor

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me newYou are making me new

Happy New Year, everyone!