PRAISE AND PARALYSIS
 

 MY STORY  

   
It began with Grand Mal and Psychomotor seizures at age 14. After 2 weeks of unexplained seizures, I was hospitalized for a month in a university hospital and told I had" epilepsy". I was put on medications that intoxicated me, but didn't control the seizures. I was able to graduate from High School with honors despite the frequent seizures. After some college I moved to Alaska to work on Commercial Fishing Boats and construction. I was hired by one of the airlines as a Flight Operations agent so I was able to travel to places like Spain, Africa, Mexico, and Tahiti while living in Alaska! Life was great except for the worsening seizures and frequent brain surgeries( I had 6 operations in a 10 year period.)
After ten years of fishing boats and the bitter cold of the North Slope, I moved to the desert of New Mexico where I became a Christian and started a new life with God. Five years later,  a  neurologist at MINCEP(Minnesota Comprehensive Epilepsy Program) correctly diagnosed my seizure disorder as RASMUSSEN'S ENCEPHALITIS.  He told me that a hemispherectomy could stop the continual seizing.  So, I started reading and studying about it.  I put together a notebook of questions for the neurologist and neurosurgeon to help me make the decision:

1. Let them take out half of my brain and be paralyzed for life in exchange for no seizures.

Or

2. No operation and continued seizures until they paralyzed me anyway.

It boiled down to: When do you want your wheelchair?

Something had to be done.  I was in the hospital weekly for Status Epilepticus.  I had finally convinced the neurologist that I was capable of making the decision.  We set a date for surgery later that year.  Meantime, I had a complete psychological profile and psychometric testing done so I would know what changes, if any , were caused.  God had been with me from Day One of the encephalitis. Testing showed that all mental functions of the diseased right hemisphere (except vision and motor) had already transferred to the left hemisphere.  So, I could have a hemispherectomy and not lose any mental abilities,but I would be paralyzed on the opposite side of my body.  The surgery was successful.  I no longer have seizures and after a repeated psychological test no changes were found.   I lost no memories, my speech was not affected.  I am the same person.  I just cannot move my left arm and leg.  I have been living alone in my own apartment for three years now.  I have learned that I can do everything I need to do with one hand instead of two.  My hope is to share my one-handed techniques with anyone who would be helped.  Most important of all I want to show the world that God is real and He does answer prayer.    If I can use my experience to help you or anyone recovering from a stroke or accident that has left you with only one working hand, please email me.  You are not alone and you are still useful to God.  I would be happy to pray for you .

 HOME | emailPARALYSIS |  SPIRITUAL GIFT |