Well here it is, another year and another letter. Hoping this finds more of you out there in cyberspace! This years letter is not as difficult to write as last years. It has been a year of recovery, restoration, and reflection....for many of us, in many different ways.
YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAHI have to start the letter with our biggest news.....each year when I update Marah, it boils down to ...."still passing out, and still not sure why" Well, PRAISE GOD, we believe we have discovered the "why" and believe it has been corrected! In May, (during finals week!) Marah began wearing an event monitor. Any episodes at all; dizzy, passing out etc, were to be recorded.
She had a dizzy spell on a Tuesday May 18th. We decided to send the recording in on Thursday...something which is done over the telephone to a place out west. After the cardiac recording was sent in the woman on the other end asked to speak with Kevin or I...."Not to alarm you, but Marah's heart stopped for at least 6 seconds" Of course we weren't too alarmed...that happened on Tuesday and she was okay at that moment. Burlington was called and they called me with an appointment for Monday 24th . The new doctor thought we might continue with the event monitor and see what happened for an actual passing out spell, but that a pacemaker may be what we were looking at. Tuesday morning before 9 am the office called. "The doctor was able to get her actual strip and read it....Marah's heart paused for 10 seconds. We won't wait for another spell. Do you want the pacemaker implanted Wednesday or Friday?" WHOA! So we opted for the next day! We went over at 5 am. While having the pacemaker implanted the surgeon got to see Marah's heart do "it's thing"....stop....for no apparent reason at all...and then start up again...for no apparent reason. His words to us were "it was a very dramatic thing to see!" She did well, and we were home by Thursday the 27th in the evening! And she has not had a passing out spell since!!!!!!! She has had dizzy spells, but that is all at this point! We feel this was the root of the passing out and it has been taken care of. At the 3 month mark they "interrogated" the pacemaker and found that it had "kicked" in....65 times. Meaning her heart paused at least 2 seconds 65 times in 3 months time!! Again there is uncertainty as to whether or not this is part of her Allgroves. I believe that it is a part of it, since it does affect the autonomic system. We are grateful for how this all came about and is working out.
She had a dizzy spell on a Tuesday May 18th. We decided to send the recording in on Thursday...something which is done over the telephone to a place out west. After the cardiac recording was sent in the woman on the other end asked to speak with Kevin or I...."Not to alarm you, but Marah's heart stopped for at least 6 seconds" Of course we weren't too alarmed...that happened on Tuesday and she was okay at that moment. Burlington was called and they called me with an appointment for Monday 24th . The new doctor thought we might continue with the event monitor and see what happened for an actual passing out spell, but that a pacemaker may be what we were looking at. Tuesday morning before 9 am the office called. "The doctor was able to get her actual strip and read it....Marah's heart paused for 10 seconds. We won't wait for another spell. Do you want the pacemaker implanted Wednesday or Friday?" WHOA! So we opted for the next day! We went over at 5 am. While having the pacemaker implanted the surgeon got to see Marah's heart do "it's thing"....stop....for no apparent reason at all...and then start up again...for no apparent reason. His words to us were "it was a very dramatic thing to see!" She did well, and we were home by Thursday the 27th in the evening! And she has not had a passing out spell since!!!!!!! She has had dizzy spells, but that is all at this point! We feel this was the root of the passing out and it has been taken care of. At the 3 month mark they "interrogated" the pacemaker and found that it had "kicked" in....65 times. Meaning her heart paused at least 2 seconds 65 times in 3 months time!! Again there is uncertainty as to whether or not this is part of her Allgroves. I believe that it is a part of it, since it does affect the autonomic system. We are grateful for how this all came about and is working out.
Truly shows us how God is sovereign and in control!
Marah is doing well! 3rd semester of college ended with a 4.0! She is truly enjoying her Early Childhood major! She has become a member of the Early Childhood club, and will graduate in May with the same degree that her mother has....and Associates in Early Childhood. Marah did her student teaching at our local Head Start this fall, and enjoyed it very much!
Rachel is keeping busy while waiting for a full time job to open up. 
She is watching children at our house,
and she is a substitute at our local school.
sound familiar! (another one following her mom's footsteps!)
She very much likes her role as teacher's aide substitute
and is hoping a full time position opens up at school.
Her photography is going well, she did a couple of
weddings this summer and has
had some photos
sell at a local florist shop where she has her work displayed.
She and Thomas have been together
2 years this past November!
Luke has had a busy year, after such a difficult fall last year. On November 8th this year he got a vehicle (FORD!) and a job....all in the same day! He is feeding calves after school at a large dairy farm about 13.5 miles from the house. McKnights treat him well.....he works full days when there is no school, and is able to do some other duties around the farm. He is doing Environmental Tech at BOCES afternoons this year and liking it. They are in the woods with chain saws, they drive equipment etc. At the end of his senior year Luke will get his CDL to drive dump truck! He also has a special young lady in his life, Talitha Vaillancourt, she is a sweetheart. She also happens to be the middle daughter of our Pastor and his wife. They have become a very special family to us!
Kevin is a working fool! (said with much gratitude and love!) He is in high demand. He is a good nurse and is truly in his calling.
He is working lots of hours, even picking up a few more at another hospital ER. He has a "2 year plan" to pay down some of the debt we seem to have accrued in the last 3 years since buying the new house! Hopefully I can contribute a bit more once Marah graduates!
He and Luke did find time for a few hikes, as well as a family hike this past May.
That brings us to Tracey.....what do I do???? I taxi Marah to college and for the most part (because gas is so high!) I stay on campus. I do my medical transcription work....if there is some. It is not making me much at all....but I keep at it in hopes of getting some good accounts later on.
I watch the kids for Rachel when she gets called to substitute at school. Right now, Marah takes over the kids when I get called to substitute as well.
We are still very involved in our church. As I said earlier we have a new pastor as of this time last year and they are wonderful! Our church family is very much a part of our lives.
As for my family....Mom and Dad are loving being grandparentsof a little one again!
They see Allan when they can! He is growing so quickly!
Leah
finished with her chemo and radiation in the early spring and at this point has a clean bill of health! And she is the picture of health! Tim built a beautiful barn so that the horse could come home (instead of being barned some place else).
finished with her chemo and radiation in the early spring and at this point has a clean bill of health! And she is the picture of health! Tim built a beautiful barn so that the horse could come home (instead of being barned some place else).
Kevin's family is doing well. As busy as ever!
Trying to keep the snow piled high,
the animals fed
the animals fed
and the fire roaring!
As I have said, this has been a year for recovery, both emotionally and physically for some of us, a year for restoration of health and spirit and reflection on past memories, and the things that are most important, not just this time of year, but the whole year through.
Living and learning through difficult times, relying of our wonderful God through all of it. Because He is worthy of our trust, our faith and our praise. When we are so unworthy, He still pours out mercy and grace!
Have the most blessed of holidays.....and may the Light of Christmas follow you through 2011!
Thomas, Rachel, Luke, Talitha, Marah, Kevin, Tracey, Allan, Barbara, Leah, Tim(9/2010)
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