Kathryn's Pages

Kathryn is home from school today- hurting, resting. She did a few things over the last few days that she could not have done before Ketamine, but they have left her hurting and tired.  She went out to eat with another family, she went to a large event (a wedding) and she’s been walking a bit. At school, she has been completing a full day with little rest in the clinic (most of last year, she could not do that.)

We are so thankful to see her able to do more -it is also sad and difficult to see her body need a rest after doing things that most of us could do without hesitating, without planning, or without suffering the consequences for pushing through the pain to participate.

There are millions of Americans who suffer from many types of chronic pain (and other illnesses) that affect their lives in this way.

Here is the final edit and verse form of Kathryn’s English assignment….

I am pure.

I am from a brother of inspiration, a mother of faith, and a father of laughter.

I am to be carried on Eagle’s wings,

And to watch all those I love carried before me.

I am from the willow tree that tore my clothes

A picture perfect house lined with lavender and greenery

I was raised in a house that was always sunny and light

I am from a home that is even more beautiful on the inside because of the hearts and minds of those who inhabit it

I was born into unconditional love,

And whether that be from the Father, or just who those loved ones are,

It is the bulk of why I am me

I was hoped for by a brother who was way too fair for a selfish whipper snapper like me

I was adored by a mother whose wants for me surpassed the moon.

I was loved and protected by a father that was willing to sacrifice anything for his family

I am from the insignificant memories, the polaroids of my experiences

 The routine of walking in the door from school, to the scent of hair color and perm solution

To cordial strangers or lifelong friends being pampered with beauty and a good listener that has always been my mother

I am from raw potatoes with salt, Gama’s mac n’ cheese, scandalous games of Dirty Santa, and Thanksgivings filled with faces I could always be more than thankful for.

I am from those memories and experiences,

The people who would die for me as quickly as I would for them.

I am of the Willow tree out the front door and the fort my daddy made out the back.

I am of the love that I have been graced with by the people I call family.

I am Katuran, I am their Yil’ Missy.

WOW- I am blown away! When I came home from work tonight, Kathryn shared something that she did for school and she has given me permission to share it with you. As I hear Kathryn’s amazing heart in this piece, I see the Lord’s boundless love and grace and His beloved attentiveness to your countless prayers for Kathyrn. We love you all and are so thankful for your continuing prayers.

UPDATE: Three days of school done, only 178 to go! Kathryn is making it through a whole day of school with little clinic time. Pain medicine is a little lower than before Ketamine. No crutch being used. She is still dealing with much pain (worse at night) but she is handling all very well.

Joe prayed for a baby sister,

Dave and Rita deemed her pure.

I am always and forever their Katuran, their yil’ missy.

They brought me into a loving house where love was unconditional.

Into a picture perfect home where it is always sunny and playful.

My cares were few and far between.

The ones that have watched me go through the beginning walks of life,

will also be the ones that reserve a special place in my heart until my dying breaths.

The ones who instilled in me my nature and character.

And when I look back, even though my memories are about as plentiful as my cares were,

The insignificant tastes, scents, phrases, and scenes come to mind.

The sound of the blow dryer would drive me crazy, and the women’s laughter would always spark my curiosity.

The scent of hair dye and perm solution is always distinct.

Raw potatoes, Gama’s mac n’ cheese, being silly with the entire clan,

Always longing to inherit their wit and humor,

Slowly realizing as I grow taller and my joints weaken,

How close the apple really does fall from its branch.

The acts of kindness I’ve been so lucky as to have received from the people who love me most,

Are the treasures my soul is most fond of.

My face, red with hysterics

And the boy in my life who stereotypically should be annoyed by my existence,

Holding me, asking what he can do to make the booboo better, is the brother I’ve been so thankful for,

The best friend that carries my burdens as much as I carry his.

The woman who gave me life abandoning everything she worked for,

To make my pain go away.

The man who gave me my gender and most of my facial features,

Teaching me that it’s okay to laugh at your own jokes, and sometimes be the only one who’s laughing.

The one, who taught me to laugh through all of life’s curveballs, is someone I’m proud to call Daddy.

These three people, knowing me better than I believe I know myself,

And all of the people who love me just as much

Have molded me into the respectable human I hope I have become.

So yes my genes are the code for what I am, my brown eyes, and pale skin.

However it’s the memories like these that have taught me all that I know.

The people who have taken every step with me that have given these precious times to ponder,

Are the very reason I’m able to walk on these achy limbs and tired heart with a smile.

-Kathryn MacDonald

Hey Everyone

Kathryn is enjoying some relief from pain but she has more pain at this time than we hoped.

She has been able to do her 20 minute water exercise better by starting slowly and gently. Before this Ketamine treatment she could not tolerate a swim at all. Now after mild exercise, her pain response system settles back to her new norm in 12-24 hours, so that she can think about the next swim without the dread of escalating and unrelenting pain.

She had a good day yesterday visiting with friends and was able to attend church this morning. All friends got to see her feeling a bit more like her old self.

BTW, please CLICK HERE to check out today’s sermon. God always gives Pastor Seifert the words that lay open and comfort our hearts with His loving grace. Today was no exeption! God has allowed very tough life events to challenge some of my church family (please pray for Lana Clark and family) and many of us were moved to tears today as Pastor unpacked God’s unwavering faithfullness.

Our love and thanks to you all!

Kathryn’s left leg and arm were on fire with pain after only 10 minutes of exercise in the pool last night. It scared us all very much. We were reminded that Dr Kirkpatrick’s advice is to take it slow.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord—
and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.   Isaiah 11:1-3

We arrived home at 3am this morning tired and thankful.

Kathryn’s pain is much lower- very tolerable- no crutches!

Again, we are “enjoying the moment” and praying that this relief will last

for a very loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time.

DONE WELL, KETAMINE ALMOST ALWAYS “REBOOTS” THE BRAIN SO THAT THE RSD PATIENT HAS MUCH LOWER PAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TREATMENT.

Kathryn has already begun warm water exercise now that it hurts so much less.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS!! PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY!!

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,  I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.   Rev 3:20

Ketamine leaves the body very quickly allowing the patient to come out of it quickly. When Kathryn realized this series of Ketamine was over she cried in relief. For most patients, including Kathryn, the treatment gets very hard during the last 1-2 hours.

Most RSD patients treated by Dr Kirkpatrick, including Kathryn, experience lower pain very quickly after Ketamine. Kathryn is walking slowly without a crutch and she did some gentle PT in a pool without the tears of suffering that usually come when she swims. This is the same result she had after her last treatment. This time we are taking it a day at a time. We aren’t getting excited but we are enjoying the moments as best as possible.

Kathryn is so tough and she has been amazing but this disorder is very tough on the emotions and the body. We are enjoying her having less pain in this moment today. And we pray that this treatment will last allowing her some relief and helping her to regain some activities in life that she has lost.

Ketamine treatment # 3 went very well, as expected, no surprises and that is very good- we are all getting good at this and Dr K has been very good at this for a few years 🙂

Please pray that Kathryn’s pain response system “re-boots” to so that it produces no inappropriate pain. Please ask God’s help in this. Please pray that through these treatments her pain response system stays re-booted!

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR LOVE AND YOUR SUPPORT!

Love to all!

Yesterday, for the last 2 hours of Ketamine, we had to work a bit to keep Kathryn breathing deeply so that her oxygen stayed up; most of today went smoother.

Kathryn works very hard to tolerate high doses for an extended time.

GOOD WORK Kathryn, Joe and the whole team at Dr K’s!!

Here we go STARTING DAY ONE- Kathryn is doing very well so far.

We miss you Daddy!