Myasthenia Gravis(to those who know the story-skip this one)

Listening to my profile song prompts me to tell this story. And I'm a detail kind of gal, so don't say I didn't warn you.

The 3rd wk. of January '03, I noticed I was having trouble with my vision. Ever sat to close to a movie screen in a theater?? That's how it was for me, and toward the end of the week- I was seeing double. By then, I was also having slurred speech and having trouble eating. Talking to a dr. friend- Wayne took me to the ER. Because of my age-51 they assumed I had suffered a stroke or an anurism. All the necessary tests were done with no answers in the end. Stupid dr. said I had an asaphalgic headache. (non-pain headache) I thought he made it up until I googled it when I got home 2 days later. He was sure a little pill would take care of the problem. 3 different pills later, I was no better and even worse b/c of the last 2 pills.

I previously had been going to a master herbalist and made a visit early March to her. She told me it sounded to her like Myasthenia Gravis (which her mother had). Had they tested me for that? she asked. There's another word I'd never heard of before. Asked the dr.'s nurse could they test for that, she quickly told me the test cost about $2000. Well, I knew where she was going with this, as we didn't have ins. Someone recommended another neurologist and I made an appt. After telling her my symptoms, I was about to ask her about this disease I'd heard of and she took the words right out of my mouth. I knew I had found a good dr. I felt in good hands. A simple blood test (which btw was only $400) would tell if I indeed had MG. Meanwhile she gave me a prescription for the symtoms and said if 30 minutes after taking this pill, the symtom went away, it was a pretty sure thing. The pill worked wonders, but it only takes care of symtoms. The disease is an auto-immune disease that has no cure.

This is a muscle fatigue disease. My facial muscles (eyes, lips, cheeks, tongue, eyelids) with repeated use would get fatigued. It also affects my arms and legs, so no more cleaning houses and walking 4 miles a day. :( !! She wanted me to get a chest ct scan in search of a thymoma (tumor of the thymus gland) another new word for me. Never knew I had a thymus gland. lol This gland sits in front of the heart and has to do with the immune system mostly as a child. As a child grows- the gland shrinks and bone marrow is the main immune system then. (as I understand it) I didn't have this done until early August. I hated to spend the money. Not everyone with MG has this tumor so I was gambling. ..

It turned out, I had a thymoma and the best way to remove it was open-chest surgery. A very well known and respected surgeon agreed to do my surgery free. Can you believe that? I just had to work a payment plan with the hospital. That took some figuring as my early 03 stay in the hospital was $21,000 with them already.

The ct scan showed the tumor to be contained and not spread, so that was a good sign. My surgery was not til early October, my fault trying to find other means in Galveston. UGHH!! Thank God that didn't happen. In the 2 months time the tumor had grown and attached itself to my heart lining and it turned out to be malignant. After 6 wks of healing, I had 6wks daily radiation as a preventive measure. Christmas Eve was my last treatment. What a gift!!

The expense of it all was just killing me and now I couldn't even help out cleaning houses. I felt like such a burden. Wayne worked so hard to provide for us. Hospital human resources called me Jan. 04 to say if I could bring our 02 tax returns to her, she might could get the amt. owed to the hospital reduced or erased. Result was the amt. was erased. Praise God! again and again.

I believe God had everything to do with how things turned out for us, all thru this ordeal, the right people at the right time was put before me. Him nudging me to get the ct scan, b/c in just 2 months it had started growing on my heart. As it was-- part of the heart lining had to be cut away. I had bookoos of people praying for me and I was really trying to listen to God's leading. Hard as that seems to be at times, He is there, we just have to listen. Sometimes it's thru his word, or a teaching or a friend. Sometimes it's that still small voice like the one that kept nudging me to get the test done. (money or no money)

Anyhoo, the song says it all for me, I feel I've lived every word of it and still do, ck it out:

Even though I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death

Your perfect love is casting out fear

And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life

I won't turn back, I know you are near

And I will fear no evil. For my God is with me

And if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear?

Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, you never let go, thru the calm and thru the storm.

Oh no, you never let go, every high and every low.

Oh no, you never let go, Lord, you never let go of me.

And I can see a life that is coming for the heart that holds on

A glorious life beyond all compare

And there will an end to his troubles, but until that comes

We'll live to kno you here on the earth

Still I will praise you, still I will praise you

(back to--Oh no)