It has taken some courage, and the persitent prompting of my son, to come back and post. But finally, I am here!

GeorgePaul is still PAIN FREE, healthy, happy and thriving. He has not had any nerve pain for nearly six months! We constantly thank God for GP’s ability to enjoy life without pain. Each day is a true gift and we see it that way only because of what he has been through.

GeorgePaul continues to see Dr. Flory and Dr. Weiss at Atlas Spinal Care, but only every other week now. He is holding his correction most of the time. GeorgePaul’s experience has prompted so many others to start Upper Cervical treatment as well. We can count at least 15 people who are being treated by Dr. Flory! What an incredible privilege; that GP’s pain helped others get help. In GeorgePaul’s words today, “The pain was worth it because so many others have been helped because of it.”

So, where is he now? We are homeschooling – an adventure that GP loves. “I find homeschooling better than public school, because it fits my needs and I encourage other people to try it. The thing I like best is that I can be with my family and my dogs.” The teacher loves being able to be with him, and his sister, too! We are discovering life in so many new ways, together.

Christmas, this year, is more precious than it has ever been. We celebrate the birth of Jesus – and we deeply thank Him for the gift of both GeorgePaul’s pain and the freedom from it. We are changed.

GeorgePaul began homeschool this week…yes, he was barefoot. In fact, we were all barefoot! Another gift – to begin an adventure with both Jillian and GeorgePaul. There was a lot of laughter this week as we worked out schedules, lunch, and the ‘how-to’s’ for the Oak Hills Academy. The laughter alone is the thing that makes me most grateful for GP’s continuing absence of pain. Our spirits soar because laughter and hope are the antithesis of pain.

GP has been pain free for 82 days – almost three months! He will start the last ‘de-dosing’ (his name for it) next Tuesday; 50 mg at bedtime. He is holding his correction for long periods of time. The world is opening up more for him each day. He lives in thankfulness and joy which are deeper and sweeter because of where he has been. We are all changed because of this road; a different type of ‘schoolin’ that has resulted in deep joy and gratitude.

GeorgePaul starts a new, lower dose of Tegretol again today. He is down to 50mg/3 times a day. He said, as he took the 1/2 pill this morning, “I’m almost done with these things!” I think that getting off the pills is a psychological thing for him. It is the hope that we’re leaving the Trigeminal/Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia behind.

GP is starting a new school after Labor Day. He will be attending, along with Jillian, the Oak Hills Academy. This is a fancy name for our homeschool. GP is thrilled about this new way of doing things; “You mean we can study anything we want? We can do science experiments every week? We can go to museums? I can come to school barefoot???” “Yes, yes, yes, and yes!” We are all excited about this new adventure!

The other new thing is less tangible, but substantive. GeorgePaul’s personality has changed. He has become more aware of everything – this was noticeable even before the drop in his medication. He is especially aware of and more responsive to people. This is a big departure from the GP that others first met. He often had to be reminded to look others in the eye when first meeting them, or to be encouraged not to hide behind a parent when first being introduced. His answers to questions were monosyllabic until you got to know him. Now, GP consistently has been saying hello to people that we encounter throughout the day – as we walk by them. He engages with everyone he talks to – most significantly by keeping steady eye contact. He gives full answers to questions from people he knows well and from those he has just met. A friend of ours who had not interacted with GP for a couple of months, was with him recently. Her comment: “GP called to me as I walked by, ran up to me, and started telling me about (something he had learned.)” She further said, “I couldn’t believe this was the same boy I have always loved and known!”

It is another gift to unwrap from the giver of all gifts – this new element in GeorgePaul’s character; gratitude being lived out in his response to others.

First of all, GeorgePaul is still pain free. More on that in a minute…Get a cup of coffee because this is going to be a long one!

Thank you for continuing to check in. I think about writing many times a day…and then don’t. Sometimes I feel physically ill when I think about writing more about GP’s journey. I am confused by this; why wouldn’t I want to write about how well he is doing, how thankful he is to be running and playing and thinking? This reluctance to show up here has surprised me and instead of facing it, I have avoided it altogether. You have all been so encouraging and faithful to pray for GP, and for us. We still covet your prayers and your encouragement.

The truth; it is hard to think about the monumental pain he was in. It is always in the back of our minds: mine, David’s, Jillian’s, and most of all GeorgePaul’s. We are enjoying life and doing normal things every day, but the question of “Will it come back?” sometimes stabs with stark clarity into spoken words and actions. Then we know that we are all still more connected to the fear than we thought. If I don’t post, then I don’t have to think about it.

GeorgePaul. Wow – he is coming back to us in full. We are weaning him off the Tegretol!! The neurologist gave the go-ahead and GP calls it ‘de-dosing’. He was at 150mg/3xday. This medicine is an anti-seizure medication, so it is vital to go slowly when coming back off of it. A sudden withdrawal can actually cause a seizure. He is almost done with his first ‘de-dose’ of 100mg/3xday. Next Tuesday, he will start two weeks of 50mg/3xday, and then the last two weeks will be 50mg, only at bedtime. Each day we see more of his mind, more activity, less fogginess!

Dr. Flory and Dr. Weiss at Atlas Spinal Care continue to be a tangible gift. We asked Him for a specific direction, and the answer was given that next day. GeorgePaul had his first correction on the 25th of May. He has only had two corrections since then. His body has held each correction for long periods of time and his muscles are ‘re-wiring’ themselves to correspond to the new position his atlas is in – closer to where it should be each time.

We returned from Mt. Hermon on Saturday, July 30th. The next day, GP had a headache – not a TN headache, but the normal kind of headache. This headache intensified on Mon., Tues. and Wed. Some tylenol helped, but did not remove the headache. Even though this was not ear pain, or TN pain, GP started asking for windows to be shut. This was the lingering fear showing itself. He refused to go outside on that Tuesday…The next day, Wednesday, was his appt. with Atlas. Dr. Weiss examined him and found he needed a correction. He performed the gentle NUCCA correction of ‘nudging his atlas bone’ (far more complicated than I make it sound!) and within two minutes of that correction, GeorgePaul remarked “Hey! My headache is gone!!” It did not return. This Upper Cervical Chiropractic – not the same as a regular chiropractic work – is what we believe has taken GP’s pain away. It is not usually as dramatic as this visit was, however, but we were so thankful that the correction eliminated the headache as well!

There are nine people that we currently know of that are seeing Dr. Flory because of the change in GeorgePaul. What gifts – to know that a result of GP’s pain and the relief he has received might be helping others too! One of the people that is being treated told me that Dr. Flory and NUCCA have “changed her life.” She had intense migraines and debilitating dizziness. The migraines are gone. She does not have dizziness.

Here’s the wrap-up:
GeorgePaul is pain-free. He is ‘de-dosing’ from Tegretol. We are thankful for your prayers and encouragement.

 

Discovery Grove ropes course. This is GeorgePaul on his first time across. He proceeded to do this course two or three times every day for the next 3 days while at Mt. Hermon. The last day of camp found him with his Uncle Tim and his cousin Brennan on the “Big” Sequoia ropes course: 80 to 100 feet above the ground! Such joy for him at conquering his fear and squeezing the marrow out of life! Such fear (and thrill) for his mom watching from below!

GeorgePaul is still pain-free. We know and give deep thanks to Him. We asked, specifically, for direction in how to help GP and He led us to Dr. Flory at Atlas Spinal Care.

GP had been holding his corrections for long periods of time. Vacation meant missing an appointment. The day we left Mt. Hermon, GP had a small headache. This headache increased over the next three days, significantly. This was still only a headache, not a return of the former pain, but it was definitely bothering him. GP went to his appointment, and his feet and hips were uneven which indicated the need for a correction to his atlas. Dr. Weiss performed the correction. Within 2 minutes, GeorgePaul’s headache of the last four days went away completely.

He has held this correction, the third of August, since that time.

WWe are all here!  We did not think that this event was going to happen this year, and yet, here we are!  GeorgePaul feels like Mt. Hermon is the closest you can get to heaven while on earth.  Several people have remarked to us that they have tears in their eyes while watching him run around and laugh and enjoy life to the fullest.  He has been saying hello to everyone we walk by, while looking at their eyes.  This is The opposite of GP’s normal MO.  We believe this is a result of his new appreciation for the details of life and relationships.  This is clear evidence of his understanding of Who is charge of his life.  

GeorgePaul is still pain free.  He is still on Tegretol, which makes him spacey and tired.  We took him to a doctor on Friday, in northern California, because of a swollen tonsil.  He did not have a fever, but had been coughing for a week or so.  They cultured it for strep, and we have not heard the results, but believe he is fine.  

New meaning in the word “Happy” for us this year!  GeorgePaul is 11 years old today and is pain free.  I catch myself during the day, just watching GP doing an ordinary thing, and I am cognizant of his enjoyment and ability to do whatever it is.  David and Jillian have both mentioned this same type of  ’in-the-moment’ observation.  I am grateful for the chance to know this on a deep level; that being pain free is a gift.

We will be leaving for Mt. Hermon soon.  This statement, in itself, is not one I thought I would be writing a month ago.  GP is especially excited to go to our annual family camp.  He has held his correction for a long enough time now that we can miss a week in between appointments.  Jillian will have her first correction when we return.

I have been studying (I know, big surprise there) about the history of NUCCA and upper cervical care.  It is fascinating – and makes so much sense!  The body was created to work as a whole – the skeleton supporting the muscles and nerves.  When the structure itself gets ‘out of line’, there is an effect on the muscles and nerves.  Correcting the very complicated malalignment in GeorgePaul has clearly affected his nerves and muscles.

We are so blessed – beyond any measure – to celebrate the life of our son today.

We are back home from visiting beautiful San Diego.  We met with two Kaiser neurosurgeons that we originally requested to be referred to by our neurologist.  At the time of GP’s diagnosis, we were just starting to research this whole condition, and their names came up in a forum.  We had not come across any other names yet, and so asked for the referral to these doctors, and the appointment was made for July 12 (rescheduled from June 21.)

These doctors were professional and very nice.   We spent quite a bit of time with them, going over his whole story: they reviewed all 3 MRI’s, and asked many questions.  The most recent MRI (July 5),  did not show them anything new.  This is good news/bad news.  We don’t want to find anything wrong that could signify a bigger problem for GP, but our human nature desires to find relief in a specific, clear, smaller thing to fix and eliminate the problem!  In the end, they said they did not know to how to help  because they had not seen this in anyone so young and would be hesitant to perform surgery.

David and I came away feeling discouraged.  I think we had held this appointment in our minds as one that would provide even deeper insight into what has caused such intense pain for GP.  This was not the case and we really struggled emotionally yesterday with the end result of the discussion.

This neurosurgeon visit did another thing for us, however.  It confirmed and solidified our commitment to Upper Cervical Chiropractic care even further.  This is what has made the most difference for GeorgePaul.  He has not had any TN/GPN pain since June 20, and he has not had any ear pain since June 1.

The main thing is that GeorgePaul is not in the nightmare of pain that he lived through!  We keep learning that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not ours.  This is what faith is for us in this situation:  being given a direction to follow that came about when we asked for it, and following through on it even when both David and I were skeptical (referring to UCC.)  We continue to listen to God – and are beyond thankful that He cares for all of us.

We will be seeing Dr. Flory today for both GeorgePaul’s weekly visit, and for Jillian’s first correction.

It has been 22 days since GeorgePaul last had eye pain on June 20.  He last had ear pain on May 31.   Wow!  I love writing those words – and we are thankful, consciously, many times a day for this!

We drove to Crestline as a family on Saturday and met friends in order to watch the hangglider ‘fly-in.’  There is a launching point on the rim above San Bernardino.  The freedom the hanggliders must experience up there while they are soaring must be similar to the freedom we felt at having GP with us; outside, in a lot of wind, and up on a mountain.  It was one of those perfect afternoons and we were paying attention!

The day before our Rim of the World adventure, David and I had our first date since  February. It has been just shy of 21 weeks since we have been away from the house together, without our children.  This was a milestone for us; to be able to leave GP in the loving and capable charge of his sister and have a great time together away from our home.

We have an appointment in San Diego tomorrow with two neurosurgeons.  This trip will include a visit with my aunt which makes the focus much more enjoyable!

 

It went well.  The technician was compassionate and helpful.  The ear plugs were placed properly in GP’s ears, there were pads between his head and the halo cage, and he gave GP a short break between two of the three tests. Remaining absolutely still for 14 minutes at a time is not the normal condition for a 10 year old boy! GeorgePaul started hiccuping about 10 seconds after he got up from the table.  He has very strong bouts of hiccups, so we were glad that he didn’t have them during the tests.  He would not have been still!

We are traveling back down the hill to Atlas Spinal Care today.