Sunday, February 24, 2008
Happy Returns
We had a surprise visit from an old friend yesterday. While we were unloading from our Macon County trip, a truck with Utah license plates pulled up and out stepped Chris S! After recovery from our shock, we of course what brought him back to our fair state. Turns out, he has a client who moved out here a few months ago, so he needed to come out. Chris and Amy S. and their kids were some of our closest friends here and we were devastated when they decided to move back to Utah. Chris has started his own law firm and doing very well. Chris is probably one of the brightest people and well-traveled people you will ever meet, but you could easily miss this because of his low-key attitude and self-depreciating humor. We're so glad he thought of us when some time became available in his schedule.
Tornado Cleanup
Last saturday, I spend the morning help a friend in the ward chop up his 45 foot pine tree that was blown done in the storm. They were really lucky because the way the tree fell it barely missed their house. At first we only had a few chainsaws and they kept conking out, so we were trying to do a lot by hand, which was slow work. Then we rented two chainsaws from Home Depot and we started ripping thru it. Chainsaws are way fun and way faster than by hand! Still, the trunk of the tree was 2 feet in diameter so it was still slow going and even couple foot section were extremely heavy. I was embarrassed by how tired I was by the end, I must be getting old.
This Saturday, JP and I went with a big group from our ward to Macon County to help them with their tornado cleanup. This was the area hardest hit by the tornadoes and where the most people were killed. The cleanup efforts are being directed by the larger churches in the area, so we went to the Lafayette Church of Christ site. Groups were then assigned to whatever tasks was needed next on the list that they had the tools for. We ended up being assigned to walk through large cattle fields and pick up the pieces of insulation, shingles, siding, roofing, etc... that were scatter throughout the field. Nothing heroic, just necessary.
After doing this for about three hours, we went to a different site at the heart of the worst damage. Driving into this area was simply surreal. Enormous mounds of debris, the only remains of the houses, were everywhere. Some homes still were intact but with "FEMA roofs" (blue tarps.) Former sites of trailer homes were recognizable by the remains of a flower path or an electric boxes outlining space where now nothing else remained. Most debris piles were smoking as burning the wreckage is about the only way to get rid of it. The scale of the devastation felt so much more enormous in person. Hopefully we will be able to organize a few more trips there to help.
This Saturday, JP and I went with a big group from our ward to Macon County to help them with their tornado cleanup. This was the area hardest hit by the tornadoes and where the most people were killed. The cleanup efforts are being directed by the larger churches in the area, so we went to the Lafayette Church of Christ site. Groups were then assigned to whatever tasks was needed next on the list that they had the tools for. We ended up being assigned to walk through large cattle fields and pick up the pieces of insulation, shingles, siding, roofing, etc... that were scatter throughout the field. Nothing heroic, just necessary.
After doing this for about three hours, we went to a different site at the heart of the worst damage. Driving into this area was simply surreal. Enormous mounds of debris, the only remains of the houses, were everywhere. Some homes still were intact but with "FEMA roofs" (blue tarps.) Former sites of trailer homes were recognizable by the remains of a flower path or an electric boxes outlining space where now nothing else remained. Most debris piles were smoking as burning the wreckage is about the only way to get rid of it. The scale of the devastation felt so much more enormous in person. Hopefully we will be able to organize a few more trips there to help.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tornadoes
We're still here. Although we spent most of the night watching the storm tracks, and there were numerous touchdowns in the area, as well as a spectacular fire, our neighborhood was untouched except for the usual downed branches.
Tornadoes are strange beasts. They cause such random, selective devastation. In one block you can have houses that are completely demolished and then houses that are completely untouched. You just never know and there really aren't any protective measure you can take.
I have included a picture of the kids sleeping in the hallway/closet, which is our only truly interior room.
Tornadoes are strange beasts. They cause such random, selective devastation. In one block you can have houses that are completely demolished and then houses that are completely untouched. You just never know and there really aren't any protective measure you can take.
I have included a picture of the kids sleeping in the hallway/closet, which is our only truly interior room.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Diagnosis
We just finish with ME doctor's appointment.
Although we had originally been told that the CT scan taken in Nov after her seizure was normal, apparently the radioneurologist actually found some very subtle areas of apparent decreased density in a few spots. This is suggestive of incomplete myelination (the fatty insulating material that surrounds nerves to help them propagate signals.) Some reasons for incomplete myelination would be head trauma during birth or in the first year of life or a genetic abnormality. The neuroradiologist written recommendation was for an MRI to be performed to clarify what was present in these areas.
Additionally, the EEG that was performed a couple of weeks ago showed frequent sharp slow wave discharges in two areas. One way of thinking about this is that instead of the normal chaotic electrical impulses, there is a frequent flickering burst of current. While this is apparently not usually enough to trigger a seizure, under the right conditions, it did. The clinical interpretation of this abnormal EEG is partial epilepsy with potential epileptogenicity.
One troubling aspect is that the areas of incomplete myelination do not directly correspond to the areas of flickering.
Based on these findings, it was recommended that ME be place on an anti-seizure medication, that an MRI be performed to further analyze the brain structures of affected areas, with another appointment in 3 months and another EEG in 1 or 2 years.
Although we had originally been told that the CT scan taken in Nov after her seizure was normal, apparently the radioneurologist actually found some very subtle areas of apparent decreased density in a few spots. This is suggestive of incomplete myelination (the fatty insulating material that surrounds nerves to help them propagate signals.) Some reasons for incomplete myelination would be head trauma during birth or in the first year of life or a genetic abnormality. The neuroradiologist written recommendation was for an MRI to be performed to clarify what was present in these areas.
Additionally, the EEG that was performed a couple of weeks ago showed frequent sharp slow wave discharges in two areas. One way of thinking about this is that instead of the normal chaotic electrical impulses, there is a frequent flickering burst of current. While this is apparently not usually enough to trigger a seizure, under the right conditions, it did. The clinical interpretation of this abnormal EEG is partial epilepsy with potential epileptogenicity.
One troubling aspect is that the areas of incomplete myelination do not directly correspond to the areas of flickering.
Based on these findings, it was recommended that ME be place on an anti-seizure medication, that an MRI be performed to further analyze the brain structures of affected areas, with another appointment in 3 months and another EEG in 1 or 2 years.