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Madisen's Share Site 
Welcome to our site where you can stay updated on how Madisen is doing. We will try to update weekly. We have been on this recent journey with Madisen since December 2nd. It's been a tough ride, but we are blessed to still have her with us today. "Thy will be done." Our journey began when Madisen came home from school on Dec 2nd sharing she had a bad headache, dizziness and was very tired. We later learned this had been going on all day at school. She wanted to take a nap at school rather than go out for recess. This was not the Madisen we knew and loved! A visit to the ER on the 3rd sent us home with a diagnosis of "it's probably viral. Wait it out." Her symptoms stayed consistent until early Monday when she had a Grand Mal seizure. She was transported by ambulance to the hospital where she was put on Phenobarb to calm her brain and hopefully get the seizure to stop. After 4 days we were transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center where they put her into a drug induced coma. This was done for 12 weeks with 3 attempts to wake her up, all resulting in seizures as the level of drugs were reduced. An incredible list of drugs were used during this journey to control the seizures. Some unusual drugs were used with mixed results. We are now in our 20th week and she is awake, alert, but with many challenges ahead. We just found out last week the seizures caused significant brain damage in the short term memory, language acquisition, emotional & behavorial categories. We are working hard on rehab to get her physically back in shape as well as the cognitive issues she faces. We have been in great hands with the professionals helping Madisen get better. Still no diagnosis to this day as to the cause. We are blessed to be home in Spokane with family, dear friends, and many we don't even know supporting our family. Thanks for all your caring, support, and prayers.
Journal
Thursday, October 30, 2008 11:49 PM CDT Oh my gosh dear friends...has it really been almost 3 months since we last connected? Sorry about being MIA...I thought the first year was rough, but am finding the 2nd year is harder. I think it's the reality that Maddie isn't coming back. She is staying in heaven. I understand that once we each get there, we will wonder why we wanted to stay on earth so long? :)
Everyone is used to me being "up" all the time, showing a positive, upbeat attitude...but I have to be honest and share that many a day I am on my knees racked with endless sobbing. The pain of Maddie's absence cuts so deep. Honestly, it still doesn't feel real most of the time. There are so many times when we see girls her age and reflect on what she would have looked like as a teen. What a beauty she would have been! I know she would have loved the tight fitting styles of today's fashions. She had that 'lean mean' body. :) I can just imagine how much she would have loved to be allowed to wear a touch of eyeshadow and a little mascara. She always dreamt of that day.
The family goal is to work on getting the 16 years worth of photos into albums and creating some memories to cherish our times together. I still can't believe I am that far behind - stopped after Cassie was born. Where does time go? I guess playing with the kids was a bigger priority than making scrapbooks. So glad I have those precious memories to hold tight to.
Our family has been so busy with lots of moving forwards. Amanda is a senior, so we are going through all the 1st kid senior duties. Senior pics - they are gorgeous! Cap & gown & invite ordering. Amanda is pulling great grades - thank you Amanda!! We are very proud of her. She wants to go to college and talks lately of being a teacher. She loves little ones. We look forward to watching her grow, mature, and spread her wings.
Cassie is having a good year being a Junior and fun playing Varsity soccer at school, along with Scotties select soccer. She did encounter a concussion this year and followed it one week later with another hit to the head sending her to the ER. Prayers were answered with the news no brain bleeds, BUT she needs to keep her head from the ball...Doctors orders! She loves all the social activities that high school provides and seems to attend them all~!
Mark was in TX for 3 weeks for CAT duty (Catastrophic) due to Hurricane Ike damage. He works for Safeco - now bought out by Liberty Mutual. Just picked him up yesterday and we are thrilled to have him home. He could use prayers that his job will work out as the future is uncertain. He is well liked and well respected, so there are others in the company requesting him to come to their dept. He is back into his football reffing now that he is home. It's his 'winter love'. :) It's been 15 years...amazing how time flies when you're having fun!
I am so enjoying being at SENT - Spokane ENT Clinic. I still find the vestibular testing very interesting and am evolving in my "Patient Advocate" position. Lots of wonderful information to gather and share with our patients. We also started up a parent/caregiver support group, F.I.S.H. Families In Support of Hearing. Pretty 'catchy', huh? :) I am thrilled to be able to use Maddie's journey to support others. Great place to work too - next Tues, Dr. Giddings has a "Pumpkin Toss". We bring our pumpkins and he tosses them off the 3rd story roof into the parking lot with a giant slingshot. Cool, huh? Yes, that was Maddie's cochlear implant surgeon. :)
We also have another new addition in our house. We have a foreign exchange student who came to live with us the day Mark left for TX. Felipe is from Brazil and his brother, Gustavo is also here, but lives in Mead with another family. We have so enjoyed getting to know him and hearing about his life in Brazil. He is thrilled that Mark is home as he has been living with only women (even a female dog!) for the last 3 weeks!
Better head to bed. I have cried enough today with a dear friend recently finding out she has a brain tumor. Please keep Joan Ambriz in your prayers. She will be having surgery Nov 12th in Seattle. She is Cassie's Scotties soccer coaches wife and an amazing lady. Here is her caringbridge page if you are interested in reading her story. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joanambriz
I truly believe all your amazing prayers during Maddie's 6 mo hospital stay brought her home to us. We continue to be blessed with wonderful memories and creating new memories with our family and friends. One day we will meet again - beyond the heavenly gates.
Much love to you all!!
Kim, Mark, Amanda, Cassie, and angel Maddie
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