Post Surgery Update

The surgery went well. The doctor was able to release 2 entrapped nerves and now we just wait. I am still very sore and swollen from the surgery, but the pain is different. So, I am very hopeful that I am on the way to a full recovery. I have a follow up appointment on Monday. I am sure at that time, we will talk about what kind of rehab I will have to have. I am praying that the doctor will release me to travel at that time. I am enjoying the good ole USA but I am ready for my whole family to be in one place!!! Please pray that the nerves will continue to wake up and that I will have a total recovery from all of this!
Noah is still waiting to begin the medicine that the doctors have recommended for him. Because of some of the side effects of the medicine, he had to have to have some tests done to make sure that he was a very healthy boy overall. We expect for them to be just fine, but until they all come back, we can not start the medicine. I spoke with the doc this AM and he is hopeful that we will get to start the meds by tomorrow. Noah is anxious to start. Please pray that they will work well and that there will be minimal side effects.
I will continue to update you as we have news to share. We can not thank you enough for your prayers!

An update from Texas........

THANK YOU so much for all of your prayers and emails to our family. I wanted to give you a quick update about where we have been the past few days, and where we are headed in the next few weeks.

The doctors that I have met with for my leg have been so amazing! The orthopedic surgeon feels very confident that he can fix both my pain and my numbness with surgery. I never even dreamed that would be an option! As much as I dread having another surgery, I am SO EXCITED about the possibility of it being all better! My surgery will be first thing Tuesday AM. The doc will have to see me a week later, and then we will make a decision about when I can return to Costa Rica.

We saw a pediatric neurologist for Noah yesterday. He was so wonderful! He did give us an official diagnosis of Tourettes. He also gave us lots of hope and great ideas about how to manage with this new information. He also agreed to work with us as much as possible via internet and phone. We walked away feeling very good about how to manage this new challenge.

Tim and the girls are, of course, living large! They seem to be managing well with momma gone.

Here are a few specific ways that you can pray for our family in the days ahead:

Pray for the surgery to go well and relieve the pain as well as repair the nerve damage.

Pray for the medication that Noah will be starting. Pray for it to work well for him and for there to be no side effects.

Pray for Tim and the girls to hang in there while momma is away

Pray for our family in general. It is hard for all of us to be away from each other, but we are trying to be positive and remember that it is just a short time.

Pray for my mom as she is having to put her life on hold to take care of us here in Texas. I know she does it willingly, but I also know, we are a lot of work these days!

We are so blessed to have such amazing friends who pray for us. Thank you!

Thanks for the prayers and keep on praying!

A huge thank you to all of you prayer warriors out there! In record breaking time (and with the help of my amazing sister-in law) both Noah and I have secured appointments with specialists for next week! What we thought might take several weeks at best, took only a few days! Praise the Lord! So, we are in a bit of a whirlwind packing and getting ready to head to Houston. We are leaving tomorrow and will be back as soon as possible.
Here are some specifics you can pray for during this time:

Monday~ Tina's doctor appointment. Pray for the doctor to have wisdom and know how best to treat my damaged nerve. Pray for there to be a clear vision as to what is going on.

Thursday~ Noah's doctor appointment. Pray for Noah (and mom) to feel at ease with the doctor. Pray for him to be able to give us practical advice on how to help Noah manage what it going on.

Pray for Tim and the girls as they are at home in Costa Rica.

Pray for sweet time with our family and friends in Houston.

Thanks again for being willing to lift us up in your prayers! You are the best!

Medical Update and Prayers Needed

I want to share a little bit about the challenge our family is facing. I will begin with my medical issue. As many of you know, I have had severe nerve trauma in my leg following a bone biopsy in November. I have been taking a whole bunch of medication, and going to physical therapy almost every day since that time. Recently, the doctors performed a nerve test on my leg. It seems that even with this intense effort, there has been no change in my nerve function in 3 months. The doctors at the International Mission Board have made the decision that I should return to the United States for a second opinion. I will plan to be there a few weeks while I seek medical advice.
Now for the situation that is much harder for me to talk about. Several weeks ago, we began to notice some irregular behavior and actions in Noah. We also became aware that for the past two weeks, he has been really struggling in school. Those of you who know him, know that he has always been FULL of BOY, but he has never had trouble focusing or excelling in school. Noah came to us and shared that he felt as if something was wrong with him. We of course, made a doctor appointment. After several office visits and tests, the doctors have told us that in their strong opinions, we are dealing with Tourettes Syndrome. We have continued to see behaviors from Noah that confirm this diagnosis. Noah is going to join me on my trip to the States, so that we can meet with a specialist who can help us better understand how to manage this disease.
I could type for the next 2 hours and barely scratch the surface of how God has been with us in this time. He has orchestrated so much in our lives to help us handle this challenge in our family. As a mommy, I will say that this is the hardest road I have walked. However, Tim and I have not had to walk it alone. I have walked knowing that there was a purpose in the hill we were climbing. We trust God's plan for Noah and for all of our children. It is just not always easy to watch it unfold.
We have chosen to see doctors in the Houston area. My mother and brother live in the area, as well as good friends who are available to help us as we need it. There are amazing medical facilities in the Houston area, and we are so blessed that the IMB is allowing us to go there. As you might imagine, getting into these kind of specialists can take months. Please pray that God would move mountains and calenders and allow us to get in to the doctors quickly. Also pray for the right doctors to be found for each situation. We will head to the States as soon as appointments have been confirmed.
We know so many of you love us and pray for us while we are serving in Central America. We just want you to be aware of how to specifically pray for us at this time. We will keep you posted. Thank you again for your prayers. Much Love- The Louderback Family