The Final Chapter to Michael's Medical Mysteries!!

It's funny--while I was writing my huge post about Michael's summer, I was starting to realize why I had no energy or even motivation to update my blog! I knew it needed to be done, but I really didn't have the energy. It was something I was feeling really guilty about, but now I feel okay with it! I was tired, and worried, and confused!! It's funny how fast this summer went by. The other day, someone asked me what I did this summer, and I honestly couldn't think of anything at all to tell them!! I felt like such a dud. But, now I know--I got my prayers answered!!

So Tuesday we had the appointment with the Pediatric Cardiologist. I didn't realize that we'd get to meet with the cardiologist that day; I thought we were just going to do the EKG and then meet later on in the month or something. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that she was actually there and met with us about 10 minutes after the EKG was finished.

She was great, and actually sat down and listened to everything that had gone on in the past few months and my concerns. Then she listened to Michael's heart and was very good with keeping him still and feeling like he still had some control of the situation. Then she told me that everything appeared fine with his heart! She didn't notice any holes, or murmurs, the valves were opening and closing right, everything looked great!

The most surprising part of the visit was learning that, in her opinion, the seizure Michael had was not a seizure!! She said that with seizures the individual comes out of it feeling very tired, quite confused, and just wanting to do everything they could to go back to sleep. She also said they are very red in the face. Michael was not any of those. When Michael came to, he was pretty aware, incredibly pale--almost sickly, even--and certainly wasn't tired!
Since there is a family history of passing out from pain, she believes that's exactly what happened with Michael! He just passed out!! I was so relieved, and almost giddy, to hear her say that.

We feel so blessed that we were able to get all these answers!! I know that things happen for a reason, and I know that one of the reasons we are still living in Rexburg is because of these services that we have! I mentioned to Nathan a few weeks ago how interesting I found it when I look back on our lives together.

When Nathan and I met, I was trying to get into the elementary education (eled) program. I was not having much luck, so the first semester after we were married I decided to take a child development class as a pre-req. for the eled program. I fell in love with child development that semester! I vividly remember sitting at our kitchen table reading out of my book for that class, looking up at Nathan, and just saying, "I just wish I could major in child development!" He looked at me and said with a 'well-duh!' sort of tone, "You can." It had never occurred to me that that was a possibility.

So I enrolled as a Child development major, started to learn about children and the different theories and behaviors that are typical in young children, received an internship with the Parents as Teachers program that gave me more of an in depth look into the typical development in children before they enter into kindergarten as well as the different screening tools to identify any developmental red flags. It was during that time that Michael was beginning to show signs of a speech delay, and I started to notice it before a lot of people around me thought it was a big deal. But I persisted, and because of my internship I knew where to go to start the process of getting him speech services. Shortly after this, I got offered a job and was able to find work before the down turn of the economy.

Through Michael's therapies I gained some contacts to give me support and guidance after Michael's "seizure"/fainting episode. These contacts let me know about Dr. Lawson, the behavioral psychologist and warned me against the crazy neurologist that I was originally going to take Michael to. I hate that Michael had to have that scary episode where he passed out, but I'm grateful for it as well, because it's what led us to these answers!

It's just been made really clear to me these last few weeks that my life has a plan. This particular plan was started 7 years ago! Who could have known that so much would have come from me enrolling in one little class! I had no idea that I would have a child with special needs! I needed to take Child development from that particular teacher and that particular time to help us get to this point.

I'm excited in another 7 years to look back and to see more of how this plan has rolled out!