This Weekend’s Fight for Feet
Asking for Prayers and a Playlist
I’m sending out a short update this weekend because we seem to be at a critical point in what I’m calling The Fight for My Spinal Cord, also known as “Jesus, Help My Feet.”
We’re at the 10-day mark after finishing the radiotherapy, and the biggest concern is that I have an increasing loss in sensation in my feet. I had a check-in with the doctor yesterday, and he is inclined to think that this is an effect of the inflammation pressing on the nerves and not more extensive spinal cord damage. But he also wants to make sure that there isn’t something else going on—if there is additional damage or another area that needs to be treated, he wants to address it as quickly as possible. He’s working on arranging another scan early next week, if possible.
Whether it is due to inflammation or something else, the loss of sensation in my feet has gotten to the point that I’m unable to stand or walk (I say “walk”—at this point it’s more like a tipsy shuffle) at all unassisted. It has been incredibly frustrating to feel like I’m losing functionality day by day, and this is a growing burden on Dave to take care of me. We’re worried about how safely we can keep me navigating around the house, since I am increasingly at risk of falling.
The Fight Plan
- The doctor is doing a short-term steroid blast this weekend to try to win over the inflammation. Pray this is helpful and I can tolerate this dose well.
- The increase in the steroid could exacerbate muscle weakness, which will not help toward the goals of standing and functioning more independently. We have some physical therapy exercises to try to keep the muscles moving—pray that those are effective and I don’t get weaker.
- We need good judgment on how (and how long) I can navigate safely here at home. I really want to be able to stay here—I also do not want to fall or put my family in an untenable position of care.
- Pray that this in fact inflammation and not a sign of more significant damage. Pray that my nerves and feet will recover.
Help Create My Playlist!
Have any good songs to gear up for a fight weekend? Please share them! Any genre—hymns to hip-hop, gospel to grunge, meditation to metal. I want to create a playlist to use while I do my therapy exercises, pray, and think of all of you.
My song recommendation for your playlist Heather is ‘I Won’t Back Down’ originally by Tom Petty, but not that version - the version by Johnny Cash. His voice has so much power in it - he adds layers and depth to that song. Sending all my love and prayers x
Praying with in spirit with you this week (conspiring with the Spirit, as I like to think of it). Three rather different playlist options for your old musician friend: REO Speedwagon's "Keep Pushin'", Bob Mould's "See A Little Light", and The Grateful Dead's "Eyes of the World" (and not just any version--youtube search "grateful dead eyes of the world branford marsalis"--that night was in orbit). All love.