Kathryn's Pages

The pictures below are the typical view at Ronald McDonald House :)))
Hey Janina, I can eat all I want of these right??? LOL!

Dave and I enjoyed talking to a mom and dad last night that have been here at RMH for FIVE weeks with their newborn baby in neonatal ICU. They are a young couple who have SEVEN other children at home. This is the first chronic illness they have faced. It was very sweet to have the opportunity to pray for them through the night after hearing their story.

This morning at Carolina’s Pain Institute, Kathryn and I met another beautiful young women who unfortunately also has CRPS. She will also be admitted for ketamine this week. We only got to talk to her and her mom for a few minutes but exchanged phone numbers. Like Kathryn, she has had CRPS for six years but her primary site is her upper right side where Kathryn’s primary site is lower left.

Right now, mid-day on Monday, we are in a holding pattern waiting for an ICU bed to come available.

Will you please pray for caring clinicians at Forsyth Hospital this week for Kathryn and others undergoing Ketamine?

Love and hugs to all!!

We’ve suspected for some time that another week in the hospital would be coming soon. Kathryn asked for hospital treatment to be scheduled in early February so that lowered pain can give her the ability to get through the rest of her school year.

Dr. North will be admitting Kathryn to ICU for 7 days starting February 10.

One day on Ketamine is hard… a week is a bit of a monster. But as Dr North says, “Kathryn has a good team” to help her through it. He is right…. Dave, Joe, John, Janina, and nurses like Ashley Pappas-Minton made an amazing team last May.

Not to mention how sweet, funny, resilient and determined Kathryn was!

YOU are also a huge part of our team through your prayers!!!

God’s help was evident surrounding our last hospital stay and I know His help will be distinct again! We saw God’s ever present help through:

• your love
• wisdom in Kathryn’s caregivers -knowing how to keep her comfortable during treatment
• Kathryn’s physical and emotional strength during treatment
• over-all calm during treatment despite difficulty
• CRPS awareness gained by clinicians
• insurance coverage
• incredible financial help from Richmond Lions Club meant that last year’s hospital stay was paid in full! (thank you for your love and support Dave LaRue!!!)
• many generous financial gifts
• Kathryn had 6 weeks CRPS pain free after treatment and higher function since

Please join us as we pray for God’s help with this year’s treatment!

May 2013 -Kathryn’s sense of humor stays strong during treatment

May 2013 -Kathryn with amazing nurse Ashley
-sooo glad to be done with the week of treatment!!

CRPS pain returned

Snuggled with blankets from home makes treatment easier

Happy New Year Everyone! WOW, it’s been over 2 months since we updated Kathryn’s Pages (thank you Kevin and Tia K for prompting me to do an update!)

We took Kathryn to North Carolina to get a little pain relief for New Years. She did well and we were back in Virginia by 5pm. I think Dr North might have given Kathryn a “quicker” bag of Ketamine for the holiday.

Joe went with Kathryn and I and he is always a wonderful help, we couldn’t do this without him!!

In thanks to you all for your continued love, support and prayers!!!!!!!!!

Kathryn is almost through another Ketamine booster (a one day treatment.) She had some rough moments but she won’t remember them later. She always handles these nightmare rides with great strength and courage!

Dad came to help today! A helper always makes things much easier 🙂

Kathryn had wisdom teeth removed last week which came with BIG jaw pain for her and a spread of CRPS pain and sensitivity to her face and an overall increase of pain.

Like many with CRPS, so much BIG pain and so many confusing misfires of her pain system for so many years mean that Kathryn doesn’t always easily unpack what’s happening with her pain. Through today’s evaluation and treatment we can see that her pain was flaring and spreading. Ketamine has eased the pain for today and, as always, we ask your prayers that this treatment will lower her pain for a very long time.

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart …..When I called, you answered me; You made me bold and stouthearted.  Psalm 138:1, 3

We want to give you all an update on Kathryn – but unfortunately, the jury is still out on the effectiveness of the latest treatments. Only time will really tell whether or not the latest round of treatments will be the answer. We are prayerful that she will continue to improve.

Please continue to pray for her and to pray that her doctors and clinical team will have the knowledge, expertise, and insights to find the long-term answer to her pain. We are thankful for each and every one of you and appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

It has been six weeks since treatment. Within the last 2-3 days Kathryn has had some fairly big pain. Not as bad as before treatment but enough to stand and take notice.

One thought based on our past experience: She got a nasty bug bite on her left arm (her left side is most vulnerable). She’s also had some nasty headaches which often accompany chronic pain. However, all improved with Benadryl so we’re thinking she’s had an allergic reaction to the insect bite. We are watching her closely and thankfully, all has improved tonight!!

Please join us in prayer that Kathryn’s body can fight this without a full CRPS flare-up!!!

Our love and thanks to you all!

You are all in my prayers tonight. -Rita

Revel in His holy name.
May the hearts of the people who seek the Eternal celebrate and experience great joy.        Seek the Eternal and His power;
look to His face constantly.
Remember the wonderful things He has done

Psalm 105: 3-5 THE VOICE