- J
- B
- K
So another year down for the record books. While I am glad this year is over, for obvious reasons, I am also terrified to start another one. This year has been a game changer.
The beginning was pretty uneventful. Chloe turned 5 in April and from there it was a whirlwind of adventures. Mothers day weekend Curtis and Chlo went to South Dakota to celebrate his great grandma's 100th birthday, while I headed to Dallas for a girls weekend with my mom and sister to celebrate my sisters upcoming marriage. May also brought a major change in my life while I resigned from my current position with the school district and made the decision to double up on classes in order to graduate in March of 2016 rather than May of 2017. It was a crazy decision, and has been one hell of load to take on, but I'm glad I did it. We also registered Chlo for Kindergarten, that was both exciting and scary at the same time.
June and the beginning of summer was the turning point. We traveled to Rhode Island for my sisters wedding and enjoyed a week of fresh seafood, beaches and listening to east coast accents. Curtis and I spent the reception tearing up the dance floor, as his limp was barely noticeable. We also danced it up later that month at a Gary Allan concert. Life was simple then.
July brought fireworks and a snowball of events. Curtis finally decided to see a doc about his limp, as he was falling at work. We spent the 4th at the lake fishing, riding jet skis and watching fireworks over the water. Curtis met with a back specialist to determine if his numb leg was a result of an old back injury (like we thought), turns out we were way wrong and he was referred to a specialist in Houston. This specialist saw him for 10 minutes and determined that he needed a Neuromuscular specialist, and was once again referred to another Houston office.
August was pretty much normal, we went to the lake, Chloe and I went to Santa Fe and Colorado. Chloe started Kindergarten, and absolutely loves it. Curtis went back to Houston, and came home with a broken toe, a book full of lab and test orders, and an appointment set for September.
Chloe was loving school, making friends, doing great in class and I love to watch how she learns. She will bring home books to read to me and my heart smiles with pride. September was a month of nothing except me studying, and a trip to the ER for Curtis due to sciatica and a trip to Hosuton that included a 3 day stay, multiple MRI's, blood work, and EMGs,
Octobers Houston trip was little more solemn, an order for genetic testing, spinal tab, and a few other tests. The genetic blood draw took at least 6 weeks to get back, so Curtis was told that once all results were in he would be notified of an appointment. The spinal tap was an ordeal that I will never forget, he did not have a good experience and we spent 3 days in the ER to get pain under control and restore range of motion in his neck. It was horrible, but Chloe handled it like a champ! We spent Halloween at our annual Halloween party hosted at my BIL and Chloe was the cutest Venus Von Fly Trapp (Character from Monster High) you ever saw.
November was filled with family. We hosted Thanksgiving and had a house full. It was great to spend time with everyone in one place instead of eating 3 Thanksgiving meals, we only had 2.
December has been balls to the wall crazy. I traveled to Houston with Curtis on the 14th, I think deep down we both knew the results of the tests but still had that glimmer of hope that we were wrong. His final diagnosis of ALS was given that morning and we both rolled with the punch. We were referred to the Baylor ALS clinic in Houston, and will be seeing them every 3 months from here on out. The flight home from Houston was long and quiet. Christmas brought memories galore and Chlo and I have both enjoyed the two week break from school.
Tomorrow starts a New Year, while I am hopeful that it will be one of extreme medical advances, I am also terrified at the possibilities that come with it. All we can do is take things one day at a time, because looking into the future is not only scary and uncertain, it's also pointless. If anything this year has taught me to enjoy the present because you just never know.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, may it be everything you hope for and more!
The beginning was pretty uneventful. Chloe turned 5 in April and from there it was a whirlwind of adventures. Mothers day weekend Curtis and Chlo went to South Dakota to celebrate his great grandma's 100th birthday, while I headed to Dallas for a girls weekend with my mom and sister to celebrate my sisters upcoming marriage. May also brought a major change in my life while I resigned from my current position with the school district and made the decision to double up on classes in order to graduate in March of 2016 rather than May of 2017. It was a crazy decision, and has been one hell of load to take on, but I'm glad I did it. We also registered Chlo for Kindergarten, that was both exciting and scary at the same time.
June and the beginning of summer was the turning point. We traveled to Rhode Island for my sisters wedding and enjoyed a week of fresh seafood, beaches and listening to east coast accents. Curtis and I spent the reception tearing up the dance floor, as his limp was barely noticeable. We also danced it up later that month at a Gary Allan concert. Life was simple then.
July brought fireworks and a snowball of events. Curtis finally decided to see a doc about his limp, as he was falling at work. We spent the 4th at the lake fishing, riding jet skis and watching fireworks over the water. Curtis met with a back specialist to determine if his numb leg was a result of an old back injury (like we thought), turns out we were way wrong and he was referred to a specialist in Houston. This specialist saw him for 10 minutes and determined that he needed a Neuromuscular specialist, and was once again referred to another Houston office.
August was pretty much normal, we went to the lake, Chloe and I went to Santa Fe and Colorado. Chloe started Kindergarten, and absolutely loves it. Curtis went back to Houston, and came home with a broken toe, a book full of lab and test orders, and an appointment set for September.
Chloe was loving school, making friends, doing great in class and I love to watch how she learns. She will bring home books to read to me and my heart smiles with pride. September was a month of nothing except me studying, and a trip to the ER for Curtis due to sciatica and a trip to Hosuton that included a 3 day stay, multiple MRI's, blood work, and EMGs,
Octobers Houston trip was little more solemn, an order for genetic testing, spinal tab, and a few other tests. The genetic blood draw took at least 6 weeks to get back, so Curtis was told that once all results were in he would be notified of an appointment. The spinal tap was an ordeal that I will never forget, he did not have a good experience and we spent 3 days in the ER to get pain under control and restore range of motion in his neck. It was horrible, but Chloe handled it like a champ! We spent Halloween at our annual Halloween party hosted at my BIL and Chloe was the cutest Venus Von Fly Trapp (Character from Monster High) you ever saw.
November was filled with family. We hosted Thanksgiving and had a house full. It was great to spend time with everyone in one place instead of eating 3 Thanksgiving meals, we only had 2.
December has been balls to the wall crazy. I traveled to Houston with Curtis on the 14th, I think deep down we both knew the results of the tests but still had that glimmer of hope that we were wrong. His final diagnosis of ALS was given that morning and we both rolled with the punch. We were referred to the Baylor ALS clinic in Houston, and will be seeing them every 3 months from here on out. The flight home from Houston was long and quiet. Christmas brought memories galore and Chlo and I have both enjoyed the two week break from school.
Tomorrow starts a New Year, while I am hopeful that it will be one of extreme medical advances, I am also terrified at the possibilities that come with it. All we can do is take things one day at a time, because looking into the future is not only scary and uncertain, it's also pointless. If anything this year has taught me to enjoy the present because you just never know.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, may it be everything you hope for and more!
Organizer and beneficiary
Curtis Adam
Beneficiary