Friends,
I want to share a series of emails that Dian has sent to me AND that she has asked that I share with you, and asked for your prayers. I know you will jump on the prayer wagon with me in asking God to help Melissa. See below:

#1
My sister is in serious condition at the hospital - she went in for a major headache, nosebleed, chest pressure and ringing in her ears - they did a spinal tap with TOO BIG of a needle - and now she is losing spinal/brain fluid. She is also having seizures. Please pray. They are going to try to patch the TOO BIG hole with a clot of her blood - BUT she has to wait until all traces of infection leave her body from a cold she had a couple weeks ago.

She has diminished feeling on the left side, intermittent mouth drooping, confusion, and other stroke-like symptoms, plus heart palpitations.

During the seizures, which last less than a minute, her blood pressure registers high - immediately after, it falls low.

MRI, CAT Scan, Ultrasound and blood tests show no evidence of stroke at this point.

#2
It's been a rough couple days with no end in sight, yet. The blood patch to
patch the leaking spinal fluid was postponed. Melissa is having what
presents as grand mal seizures, and we have no explanation why. I was able
to film one today and show the neurologist, who wants to try to move her
tomorrow or the next day to Morgantown University Hospital where they can
video, check brain waves, blook presure, etc., when she has an episode.
Today, she had three. Her headache has not lessened at all, unless she lies
totally flat. However, right before the seizure, the top of her head hurts.
Immediately following the seizures, she crys, and then slurs, "I'm so
tired," and falls into a deep sleep for several minutes.

Because she is a medicaid patient, I fear she is not getting the care she
needs and finally contacted social services at the hospital to intervene.
Her primary doctor has only seen her for 5 minutes, today, and pronounced
that she had no headache. Her first appointment with him was to have been
this week, but when she had problems last Thursday, the nurse at his office
instructed her to go to the ER. Then the doctor was off that weekend, so a
covering doctor was on call.

It's been very frustrating just trying to get a concrete answer. I have
Medical Power of Attorney and it looks like it will be needed. She is quite
out of it after the seizures and cannot concentrate or remember.

A nurse came in and started injecting a drug into her IV, and I asked what
is that? Prevacid, it was - but here's the deal - my sister has NO stomach
ailments of any kind. No acid reflux, ulcer or complaints of her stomach.
It's her HEAD! And seizures.

Finally, when I was able to video the last few seconds of one of the
seizures, the neurologist came over and took a look and wants to move her
to Morgantown for better monitoring, but she cannot go until the severe
spinal headache is gone. So, hopefully, tomorrow am, if the headache is
still present, they will quickly do the blood patch and she can be
transferred to Morgantown.

I have two of her kids to get ready for school and on their way - whoa!
It's been 10 years since I dealt with someone just 13, let alone 7! And the
7-year-old is ADHD, but a cutie.

I'm worn out, completely.

#3

My sister was just transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV, to the neuro unit, so I've come home to get her kids and arrange for them to stay here for as long as needs be. It's heartbreaking to watch someone you love go through these things, as you know. And sometimes, its hard to just put on the brave face when all I want to do is fall in a heap and cry. We fear she has had some sort of stroke which is now sparking the seizures. Dr. Tellers, the neurologist, is at a complete loss at what is causing the seizures, and since they did a spinal tap, the hole didn't close and she has a worse headache. Two days in a row the blood patch to patch the hole was discarded. Fingers crossed they will do that at Ruby Hospital in Morgantown (it's one of the best in this area), so they can see how her symptoms present without the spinal headache. The doctor was not comfortable having her at this hospital, either. I'm so glad she's there. They should be settling her in and getting all the preliminary work done by now. Her boyfriend followed to stay with her and he also has Medical Power of Attorney. So either me or him wants to always be near, because she has such confusion and doesn't understand what's happening.

It helps me tremendously to know I have people praying for her, because God is in CONTROL! Praise the Lord.

#4 - I asked for her first name....

Melissa is her name, I never thought to post it - PLEASE DO!

I KNOW YOU WOMEN AND THE SURGE OF LOVE YOU FEEL WHEN ONE OF OUR OWN IS IN TROUBLE. I know you join me in praying for Melissa, Dian's sister. God's listening.

Love you all, JJ

This is horrible. That poor woman. My word. I will be praying like crazy.

Oh my goodness.....I certainly will be praying constantly for Melissa, Dian, and the whole family. What a tragedy. Let's hope she gets the help she needs in Ruby Memorial Hospital. JJ if you get any updates, PLEASE let us know.

My prayers are with you all.
smile

Thank you JJ for letting us know. I am joining in the circle of pray for Dian, Melissa and her children.

chick

Me, too. Thanks for filling us in.

Donna

I add my voice.

Mine, too!!

jj, thanks for posting this. I am also praying for her sister. Don't forget to pray for Dian too.

My prayers are in too.

Count me in too.

Anything new on Dian and her sister?

This just in from Dian...

The hospital discharged my sister with a diagnosis of complex migraines and are blaming the seizures on her blood pressure being lower than normal: 134/76 ????? She's had high blood pressure for 11 years and has been medicated for it. On two occasions she was hospitalized for it spiking to over 200/100, but her normal, with medications runs around 145/85.

The crazy part is this: She was monitored on video and brain wave leads during three seizures. The hospital had her on seizure medication during the testing. When they discharged her, they took her off the seizure medications. But, they gave us a grand mal seizure paper to help us recognize the seizures and what to do.

We are keeping someone with her at all times and of course no driving. Too many unanswered questions yet. Plus, she's a big woman, and if she would fall....

Good news is that her spinal headache has finally diminished. Bad news is that the seizures are continuing.

Please keep praying as we continue to seek solutions.

She is a Medicaid patient, and I wonder if that's the reason for not aggressively looking for answers?

She is extremely tired (of course!), groggy, confused and definitely not well. In addition, she also contracted an infection from the catheter.

I am putting her in God's hands, as He is the Greatest Physician.

Thank you all for your support, and as things change, and I'm counting on God for a healing, I'll keep you posted.


Dian Moore

Thanks for the update on Dian's sister JJ....Continuing to pray!

When it rains, it pours...poor Dian. So many things one right after the other. Let her know we're praying for her - always, and always, and always....

I'm amazed she's home. Unbelievable that one can go through so much in such a short period of time and be discharged. She still needs our prayers, and she has them.