March 26, 2010 - Working out the "kinks" . . .

Hello Everyone! This week has passed quickly! We arrived Saturday afternoon and settled into the apartment which is nice for us and an 8-10 minute walk for treatment. Local friends from our home town met us here and brought a glider and a single bed for us to use with Erik which has worked out perfectly! Monday morning we met with the doctor at 8am and awaited our initial treatment scheduled for 9am. Part of the process is to check the pressure the VNS implant Erik has to understand the pressure range that is safe. Well . . . who knew that the versions before and after Erik's versions had been tested but Erik's model had not! This required that we delay treatment until we understood the safe level. We returned to the center at 2pm and they had reached he sales rep/manufacturer and we were ready to go. We were happy that the center offered to stay late and allow us to return at 6 for a second treatment so we would not get off schedule. Whew! Erik also continued to have seizures and actually had 2 on Tuesday/Wednesday. We made a medication change and yesterday he remained seizure free and so far so good for today. Please continue to keep us in your prayers that the seizures will not return . . . EVER!!!!! We have several local nurses who are filling in open shifts for us on the schedule which has been nice. So far they are good with Erik and are jumping into the routine well. Lots of other little "bumps" along the way this week but we are comfortable settling into a workable routine now which is welcomed! We have felt lifted in prayer this week and are most thankful for safe travel and for Erik's stability! We Please continue to keep us in your prayers and we look forward to sharing Erik's progress with you. Love in Christ, Erik's Family

March 18, 2010 - Packing and praying . . .

Hello Everyone. First . . . the yardsale was a wonderful success! Friends from our Life Group at church gave their time, talent, personal belongings, and gave up sleep to make this happen for us! The money raised will go towards housing, treatment and expenses incurred while Erik is receiving treatment. More than the money raised, this was a time for fellowship and sharing Erik's story with the community. Thanks so much! In addition to this financial support, we received additional gifts through Erik's benevolence fund through Northwest Community Church. This is an anonymous venue so we would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you who contributed through this fund. This financial support will definitely help to reduce our stress during this challenging time and will allow us to focus on what really matters - Erik and his treatments. Mom is taking Friday off to pack and get ready for the trip. Many of you will be bringing over meals, have sent meal gift cards, and are helping out with the coordination of activities and care of the children while we are away. We thank you each for this. A month sounds like a long time but we know that this time will pass quickly. We have been offered a glider rocker and a single bed for Erik for use while we are receiving treatment. A local church and friends from high school are helping us out with this. Amazing how God works all things out! Erik has experienced 2 minor breakthrough seizures this week. The enemy just won't stop! Please pray for things to settle in this area and for him to be able to receive treatment with no intervention for seizures required. Pray for safe travel for our family this weekend and we will update you next week on Erik's progress. Love in Christ, Erik's Family

March 4, 2010 - Praying and planning . . .

Hello all! Well . . . the title of this email says it all! We have experienced ups and downs but we continue to push through it all! Your prayers, words of encouragement, and general support are lifting us up! Erik is doing well. He had had a fever off and on since last weekend (this is really rare for him!) and started coughing last Saturday as well. We took him to the doctor on Tuesday and they put him on an antibiotic which we pray will rid him of this illness! Of course with him having a cold like this, his seizure activity has increased. We are hoping this is just because of the illness and fever so pray that this will resolve once he is feeling better. We took Erik this week for his annual vision and hearing screenings and all is well. We need this for a meeting we have next week with the school. We are also attempting to change his school schedule to 3 days per week to allow for additional physical, speech, and occupational therapies during the week. We have been trying for over a year to get services at home but since he leaves in the morning at 8:15 and does not get home until 4:30, it has not worked out that anyone has been available. Pray the school will approve this request and that the right therapists will be secured. We are still praying for God to provide for us financially for this trip. He is answering! Our Sunday School class has offered to organize and host a multi-family yard sale and use the money made to help us pay for treatment/housing for our upcoming trip! Many people have asked how they can help us out so for those of you who are local and want to come by to contribute items for the yard sale or shop, the details are below. This is right near Apex Middle so spread the word! If you want to bring items by to Doug and Kathy's home the evening before the sale, this will be fine. The plan is to get rid of everything by the end of the yard sale so please only bring items that you do not want back! Thanks again for helping pray us through this time and we remain committed to placing our trust and faith in God to get us through it all! Love in Christ, Erik's Family 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (New Living Translation) So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Yard Sale Details: March 13th 6:30am until ~noon 200 S. Mason Street Apex, NC General contributions can be sent to: NWCC Benevolence Fund For: Erik Medlin 7712 Carpenter Fire Station Road Cary, North Carolina 27519 END.