The Clubines

Tom, Katie, & Maizely

Sandra (grandma), Katie, & Maizely

Katie & Maizely with Aunt Abbie

Tom and Katie (and Ruger)

Katie and Tom's Wedding 5/6/17

10 Years Ago Today - Stage 2 of Brain Surgery

It is hard to believe it has been 10 years! 

Still praising the Lord for the God-given victory for Katie!

Shoulder Surgery for Katie

Katie will be going tomorrow for surgery on her shoulder (her pitching shoulder) to correct the MDI (multi-directional instability) by pulling the ligaments in closer. Today was her last day to enjoy some fun physical activity for the next two or three months. Thank you Bro. Lentz for having the teen church activity today so she could enjoy it. 
We're praying for the surgery to go smoothly and for the Lord to allow her a recovery free from complications.
Please remember her in prayer over the next couple of months. Thank you.

Update on Katie's Shoulder

Sandra:
  Took Katie back to the doctor about her shoulder today. No surgery for now, she just needs to go back to doing her shoulder exercises on a regular basis to strengthen her shoulder muscles. She received a cortisone shot the last time and it does seem to be helping. That we are thankful for. Now we just wait and see and pray.

Bob:
No hard throwing or pitching until Fall; then maybe a very slow process in a return-to-throw program.

New Health Issues Put a Hold on Sports

I wasn't going to post on this topic; it pales somewhat from the previous health issue with a brain tumor, but it seems it is causing some obstacles for Katie. -

(Kaite is on the far left.)

Last year (Spring 2011) Katie did a great job, along with her team, winning the regional title in softball for the second year in a row. However, she did have to pitch most of the season; almost all of it. By the end of the season, her arm was tired and sore. In the Fall of 2011, volleyball started. It didn't take long for Katie to develop sharp pains in her shoulder, especially when she served or hit a hard over-the-head shot. She had to pull out of volleyball, with the hopes of being able to pitch in the Spring.

Long story short, after several doctor visits to specialists, Katie was diagnosed with MDI (Multiple Directional Instability) in her shoulder. She went through two stints of physical therapy and it helped very little. When the time came for preparing for softball, we began a "return-to-throw" program. After much tedious exercises and pitching drills, Katie was still in too much pain and it became clear that she would have to sit out this year's softball season. What a terrible blow this was to her!!

We are still in a place of waiting as we anticipate seeing the doctor again soon to determine if Katie needs shoulder surgery. Meanwhile, her school's softball team won the regional title again this year. She is very happy for the team but very sad that she had to miss out on being a part of it. We are praying that she will be able to have her high school softball career continue her junior and senior years. Please remember her in prayer.

Another Great Year in Softball

Regional Champs for the second year in a row!!!

Remembering God's Grace

After all the enthusiasm surrounding Katie's great experience in her softball season, I decided to read through this entire blog... every post, every comment, every picture. Wow! I had no idea I would respond the way I did.

With every post and it's corresponding comments, all the emotions flooded back into my soul. It was amazing how I remembered so many details. Flashbacks of conversations with doctors, with family, with Sandra and Michael, and especially with Katie. It all came back, all but the pain. Sure the memories caused me to think of that little girl going through all that suffering. But when I got to the end, even the recent posts of a game, softball, the purpose of this journey was evident. To most it's not such a big deal. But to this father who watched his little girl receive the unexplainable grace and blessing from our gracious Heavenly Father, it causes much joy unspeakable, and full of glory... HIS GLORY!!!!!! You see, it's not the fact that my daughter is the greatest softball picture in the universe... OK, maybe a little. JK :-) Really, it's the fact that my God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty, and there's NOTHING my God cannot do!!!!!!!

WE ARE SO BLESSED!

Thanks for letting me share this very personal moment.

By His Grace and for His Glory!

Bob

Three Years Post-Surgery

Well, it has been three years (plus) since Katie's surgery and the Lord is blessing her in so many ways.

To see what's happening lately, go to Bob & Sandra's Place.

Katie pitching on girls' varsity softball team:

Katie pitching

District Championship

Regional Championship

Pictures from Regional Championship

Katie's Doing Great

Just a quick post - All things are going well with Katie. She's growing up so fast. 8th grade, and taller than her mom. She likes the being taller thing!
I'm so thankful for God's amazing grace, and I'll never take for granted what He has done.

Last Dose of Medication

Well, It has been a little over 2 years and 8 months since Katie's journey with seizures and a brain tumor began. Tonight she took her last dose of anti-seizure medication. It has been an amazing journey of ups and downs. Though the down times were scary as we met them, the up times have outnumbered the down times by far. We praise the Lord for His blessings and we are confident that He will continue to pour them upon Katie.
I would like to thank everyone for the prayers and comments on this blog through this whole time. I have been copying the blog on my computer and will print it up and put it in a notebook. The book will have all of the entries, including the many comments that friends and family made. This book will be a reminder to our family, especially to Katie, of how the Lord led in every moment of her journey. I may update it occasionally with info on Katie.

By God's Grace and for His Glory!

Recent Video EEG clear / Weaning off Medication

Well, we heard the news we've been waiting for... Katie's video EEG came back 100% clear! We will now begin to wean her off her medication. This will take about 4 months to complete. During this time of transition, we have to take extra precautions while her body (specifically, her brain) gradually gets used to being medication free. It will be possible for seizures to be triggered as a result of any trauma or extreme tension. She will need to be monitored more closely during times when she is more susceptible to injury (i.e. - bath tub, pool, riding her bike, etc.). The doctor stressed the importance of not allowing sleep deprivation. These types of precautions are important for us to take seriously, yet it is also important not to over concern Katie in such a way as to influence her to hesitate in living a normal life.

A concern we are dealing with now is Katie's post surgery memory. When the doctor asked Katie if she remembered anything about the surgery, Katie began to break down emotionally. The doctor's assistant said she would mention this to the psychiatrist that tested Katie pre-operative. This is a matter that I have studied and am prepared to deal with from a Biblical perspective. This is an amazingly difficult matter for a young person to handle. However, we are confident that just as God's grace was sufficient during the time of the operation itself, His grace is more than sufficient to deal with the emotional effects of the trauma. Please pray for her and her parents as we help her with this need.

Our key verse that we will hold to is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

By God's Grace & For His Glory!

Katie Playing Jr. High Softball

All Clear!

I've been so busy that I haven't taken the time to update the blog. Today we cancelled the appointment for the video EEG. The doctors told us that if Katie didn't have any symptoms over the weekend, that we should cancel. The weekend was clear of symptoms, so we cleared the appointment. Thanks again for all the prayers.

CT Scan Negative / Video EEG Questionable

Well, we are happy and confused all at the same time. The CT scan came back negative for any fluid build up - no pressure in the brain. That's really good news. Sandra talked with the neurologist's assistant today. She said that if Katie does not have any headaches, dizziness, or rapid eye movement between now and Monday, we are to call and cancel the video EEG. If she has not had any of these symptoms since last Sunday and Monday, it would be a long shot for her to have them during the 23 hour video EEG - and those symptoms are what they would look for.

If there are no symptoms, then we will decide how to pursue the eye problems if they reoccur. At that point we'll probably have her eyes checked.

So, for now we'll wait and see. I think the neurologist just wanted to make sure there were no problems related to the brain surgery first, to rule that out. I think that made us a little more nervous than maybe we should have been. However, as the neurologist said, its better to know for sure, than to be in doubt.

Thank you all for your prayers.

CT Scan and Possible Video EEG

Please see the previous post for details on events leading up to today.

Sandra called the neurologist today and left a message with his office about Katie. Within minutes, the head assistant to the doctor called Sandra back. Katie has a rush appointment tomorrow at Children's Hospital to have a CT scan. The immediate concern is that Katie may have a fluid build-up in her brain. This of course would not be good, to say the least. It is a possibility due to "foreign objects" being in her brain - post surgery.

After the CT scan, depending on what that shows, they want to schedule her for another 23 hour video EEG. This could very well take place this weekend. As I stated in the last post, the eye movement is an almost sure sign of seizure activity, but the possibility of fluid in the brain is scary and potentially very dangerous. We were told to keep a close watch on her tonight and that if there is any more eye movement like there was Sunday night, to take her to the hospital emergency immediately. Katie seems to not be aware of what her eyes are doing. All she knows is that her eyes have been bothering her. She says they have been doing "funny things" and feeling weird.

Please pray for Katie. When we tell her today about what she has to do, she is going to be very upset at first. Now that she's older and has experienced what she has in the past, she understands how it all works and knows it is very scary.

We'll update the journal as we get results and information. Thank you for praying!

Possible Concerns / Please Pray

Well it has been a while since I've posted anything on Katie's journal. For the most part she's been doing really well. The medication has seemed to be side-affect-free and Katie has been busy with school and church and just doing fine.

Well, last night while I was preaching, I looked over at Katie (she was sitting in the second row, off to my right) and she was rapidly moving her eyes left and right. I noticed her early on in the message and she was sitting there, paying attention, taking notes, etc. Then I noticed that she was just sitting still, making those rapid eye movements. At first it tickled me and I had to look away from her to keep myself from letting out a little burst of amusement. Then about 30 seconds later, I looked at her again and she was still doing it. I immediately felt a sense of panic come over me and without hesitation, I looked at her and said, "Are you okay?" I repeated myself because at first she didn't respond. She nodded her head, indicating that she was okay. I went on preaching.

I have since found out that while she was visiting with her grandma last Friday, she had done the same thing. Today, Katie experienced severe dizziness and headache at school. She came home from school and did her homework, but she was very run down. Tonight Sandra told me that Katie told her that in recent days she had caught herself doing it on more than one occasion.

Needless to say, Sandra and I are now concerned that something abnormal is going on. These are all signs of seizure activity. Sandra plans on calling and consulting with the neurologist tomorrow.

So, at first we thought it was just a little thing, but now we're wondering. Please keep Katie in your prayers. We will make updates as we find out some answers.

Thanks!

Doctor's Report / Another Year of Meds

We took Katie for her appointment with the Dr. on Wednesday. The V-EEG showed some spiking in the readings which showed slight potential for seizures. The doctor was reluctant to begin slowly taking Katie off the anti-seizure medication. So, Katie will continue to be on the meds for another year. We will schedule another V-EEG for sometime in the early part of summer of next year. It was kind of a disappointment but we trust the doctor that it is necessary for Katie to stay on the medication. Please continue to pray for her.

Home From VEEG

All three of us were awake by around 7:30 this morning. I stayed up most of the night, with a few moments of drifting off here and there. I think I stole about an hour all together the whole night. The EEG technicians told us they should have the recordings analyzed by next Wednesday. That's when Katie's appointment with the doctor is.

Katie did very well considering all she went through with the prep and being confined to her hospital bed the whole time. Of course it took a while to wash out all the sticky stuff from the electrical leads. We're tired. During the testing Katie attempted to play on the laptop, but it kept on interfering with the EEG. I think for the most part she was quite board the whole time.