Fight with the Martins





My name is Bill Roth, the head coach of  Missouri Bombers Fastpitch.  Kenny and Tanashe Martin's daughter Shayla joined our Bomber family back in May of 2018.  Shay's father Kenny suffered a traumatic brain injury 3.5 years ago and he and the Martin family have been through some very tough times.  Kenny began having uncontrolled seizures on Friday, November 16th  and is now in the ICU in a medically induced coma.   This family has been an inspiration to myself and our entire team, proving that love and prayers can prevail.   The expenses for the family continue to grow as his prognosis is unknown.  We feel this is the least we can do to assist the Martin family through these trying times as Tanashe is unable to work so she can be by her husbands side.     

#Bomberfamilystrong


 


This update is from Vickie, Tanashe`’s mom. Please keep them in your prayers. Tanashe` is staying so strong but Is so very tired.

Update from Tanashe Dec. 1:

Tanashe had a consult with Kenny's team when she got to the hospital yesterday morning. The prognosis wasn't great, the doctors told T that they are working to stop the seizures the best they can. The team gave her some possible options to try, but frankly they're not great options. They said bottom line if they can't stop these seizures they will continue to affect his brain function, and cause his other organs to shutdown, eventually leading to permanent, ireputable damage. SO WE NEED Y'ALL TO CONTINUE FOR THE SEIZURES TO STOP AND NOT RETURN. As you can imagine, T is exhausted and trying to stay strong for Kenny and the kids. As T does, she puts on her game face while the girls were there visiting their Daddy. They had a good visit with only 1 or 2 tremors on his left leg.

Then last night around 11:16 pm Tanashe got a call from the nurses, Kenny had 4 seizures in a 15 min. period. They gave him 4 shots of Adavan on top of the anti-seizure meds to try to calm him down. At that point Kenny wasn't able to speak. 4 doctors called her to consult what is happening and told her at this point to stay tight and they'd get back with her. The Med Vac Team was in with Kenny working on him and things calmed down for a bit. After a bit Kenny had 5 more seizures within 3 hours. T and I text back and forth throughout the night trying to keep up with what is happening. The team moved Kenny back to ICU so they can monitor him closer. I haven't talked with T except for a small moment for her to ask if I would put out an update for folks, so I am.

As a mom it's incredibly difficult to watch your kids and grandkids go through such things. I ask that you all continue to pray for them, especially for T to have wisdom. I'll give another update as I get them. Right now T is trying to get some rest.

Thank you all for your continued love and prayers...keep the faith and hope high...we're not moving off of devreeing what God told us to when this all began...LIFE AND FULL RESTORATION IN JESUS NAME!



Update from Tanashe on Thanksgiving 2018

So I've been trying to figure out how to word my update for about 20-30 mins...
It's not been a Good day!:*(
He vomited alot over night last night, which cause the lungs to fill with nasty, and he is now fighting infection. At the moment we are still excubated but we have high fever and neuro check wise thru out the day we have declined bc his body has fought and worked so hard just to breathe.
They might have to re-intubate to give his body a break which is 5 steps back...
So ramp it up warriors! Lots of medical talk today unfortunately.....highs lows... highs lows... lows...lows... panic... highs....lows... in being real.
I need his lungs to fight!
I am still standing my post..
I will not flounder..
But...I need ur help!

He is still coming out of sedation, tho they stopped it all yesterday to prepare for today.
Its never pleasant. It's hard to watch honestly. Hard on him ...the body and neuro based.Plus the struggle with the lungs,temp, and fever hes consistently fought for 3 days.
Reinforce the wall people! Please.



Update from Tanashe on November 21st, 2018

They are taking away a second sedation medication to continue to bring him out.(@9ish this morning) His eyes are opening and he did respond to my voice!!!!
Removed oral feeding tube and they placed one in is nose bout 4 hours ago.
His body is telling the breathing machine when he wants to breath for last 1.5 hrs. Doc team just came in high fiving me!!!!Holla!!!!! That's big time good news!!
They gave him a dose of a med(and will continue thruout today and tomorrow) to help calm the anxiety and PTSD tendencies patience such as him go thru during this process, to try to keep him relax and not fight against the slow and steady. We are on low to no stimulation to keep him calm for the time being.

I need everyone to be praying with me against Satans attempts thus far today. He is BOUND!! HE HAS NO AUTHORITY! I have prayed up a wall of protection in his room and need u all to pray reinforcement to my wall. This may sound silly to some..... but I am VERY SERIOUS, this is not a joke. I am standing at my post!





Update from Tanashe on November 20th, 2018

Ain't gonna lie... I cried pretty well the entire drive here today....dang human emotions!
Unfortunately Kenny had another seizure bout 8p last night. In the last 30 mins a total of 6... Waiting for doc team rounds here in the ICU to hear the plan of the day and confirm the 24 hr clock starts over.
KEEP PRAYING!
Please cover my babies hearts in your declarations and petitions. And if ya think of it,say a few for the mamma wifey too. I'm struggling a bit...well honestly a lot today.



Update from Tanashe on November 19th, 2018

2 seizures this morning started the 24 hour clock over again. BOO!!!
They introduced a 5th anti seizure med now he will get every 12. His first dose was about 8a.
They did confirm they found the root of the seizures and its in the very deep right hemisphere of the brain. The whys we might never know. Do to his trauma/surgeries/stokes n seizures over the last 3.5 years he could struggle with seizures for the rest of his life(I'm believing he will be healed tho!).
Plan is more drugs. They all concluded and agreed we can walk this path a while longer under sedation to get the seizures completely gone before bringing him out of coma. During the meeting they stated once we get him to the 24 hour mark... they will start slowly taking away the sedation meds to wean him off but leave him on the anti seizure meds. They were gonna start that bout 8a tomorrow...
HOWEVER at 1:25/1:28 and 1:29p this afternoon.... he had 3 seizures. So now we have to reconfirm this afternoon if the clock starts over yet once again. GRRR
Infectious specialists is coming in to look at head to see if he wants cultures or if he feels the yellow coloring on pillow case etc. I found, is his craddle cap oiling off scalps etc. Wound care will be in with Jannsen(infectious specialist) bc they only wanna unwrap the head with wrap once. Its holding and securing all the EEG wiring and placements on his noggin.
They upped all other meds this morning also bc of a seizure he had last night bout 6:35p. Still trying to find the 'right cocktails' of med combo to halt the activity. The team said that the good thing for Kenny is that he isnt continuously in a seizure pattern while under like they 'have' seen in past cases. So at least be able to see there is a resting point of the brain encourages them they can eventually get a handle on his brains activity and get them stopped.
We did discuss at some point if they cant get it to stop that it could lead to opening him up to find where it's at and assessing of where its rooting from if he needs that 'portion' of the brain and remove/cut it out to eliminate the nerve and its firing that's triggering the seizure patterns and activity. We did discuss Barnes has a smidge more options that Mercy practices. per my research they have an outstanding epileptic center/program there. They all feel they will let me know if they get there, but we weren't yet.They did seem confident that they can get him turned around. They REALLY dont want to have to get to a point of reopening his head up, for obvious 100's of reasons. But that is a technical next step if they cant get handle in his brain and its activity.
They are also ensuring his body catheters, IV's entries, breathing tube entry, mouth/oral care is being efficient and all things kept as clean as possible to ensure he doesnt get infections. Being hes prone to infection. 
Our nurse Rachel is AMAZZZZING, however she will now be off for the next 4 days after today. Makes me sad bc we have had her for 3 straight days! But hoping and believing we r outta ICU when she returns for her next shift! We will miss her care and love. She is DEFINATELY walking in the calling on her life!

So that's the gist. Wait n see game,which is annoying! I have to plan out the rest the weeks care, with kids last day of school being tomorrow. Addie is running out of clean pants to wear, and I'm tired! So I am now currently home to tackle the needs here and be with my kids dor some extra cuddles. The team sent me home bout 2;30-3p to rev up my energy for tomorrow, believing and anticipating he will hit that darn 24 hour bench mark!


Update from Tanashé on the evening of November 18th, 2018

Ok sorry folks... I know I have been quiet today!!
So... day started off as 'planned'. However bout 1:45p even under 3 sedation meds pumped and the 3 anti seizure pushes continuously (very high levels already bc of yesterdays shenanigans)
He started seizing again(4 in a 30 min span).
Unfortunately we have no cause still. We are lacking to know how deep in the brain these seizures are stemming from...
The bench mark was 24 hr seizure free in medical coma to get his brain to relax and reset. And per the happenings and ALL that's being pushed it's not working to this point. 
So I'll be blunt.
7 specialist are at a loss... so heres where we stand at the end of today.
1) they can only keep him in a medical coma for so long before the brain will start deteriorating and loose function.
2)if his brain cant stop the cycle of seizures and they bring him out and he continues to seize.. he will loose brain function and major organ function etc. which would result in death clinically speaking.
3)if his body isnt able to stop 'all this' under these parameters, we possibly if able, would have to seek possible outta state facility that can try to keep him alive.
I dont say this to be brash. But its clinical truths per the team at about 5 PM today. 
So what we NEED to happen, is his brain to get with it and STOP IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
The team n I are gathering tomorrow bout 10-11a to figure out a plan to halfway(at this point) know what is next. Per the medical staff they are perplexed and he is 'different in all things' clinically. Which honestly isn't what a wife wants to here.
So I call on u all my friends and family. We NEEEEEED answers of the why n where's!
And we need him to meet the prolonged bench mark of 24 hrs seizure free.

I am torn bc there are so many unknowns still. I am frustrated bc we have never been 'here' before bc his body hasnt done 'this before'... tho there have been other and many severe and emergent trials we have faced.

I need his brain to stop it! I need answers of the whys so a plan can be set for his duration.

I WILL NOT AND DO NOT ACCEPT I would/will have to 'let him go'!

So continue to declare! I feel as tho tomorrow will hold a session of lots of heads coming together to even know what to do and where to go.

I'm severely frustrated. A lil mad to be honest.

I came home bout 4:30 to be with my kids as they havent seen me since the ambulance and I drove away Friday. So im getting snuggles/convo in with them that are needed and healthy...and needed mommy time to regroup. But PLEASE cover my children!
I cannot even begin to tell u their trials individually ,and the dealings with all of this over the last 3.5 years. Frankly... emotionally we are all tired!

I will not give up. I will fight!
I/we need u all to join us in declarations...and to help hold our armour in tack and our arms held high at the moment.

Love,
Kenny's person....
Tanashe'