We learned a few interesting things today coming and going from our appointments. First and most importantly that the beds at Dr. Fan's have heaters built into them! There is no need for me to be cold anymore during my appointments. In the past acupuncture has made me cold, tired and extremely hungry. Today it just made me tired and hungry.
The cardiologist said my stroke is called a "paradoxical stroke" meaning that there is no reason for it to have happened. And it would be almost i possible to pinpoint the actual cause. However, his best guess is that I may have a small hole in my heart through which the clot may have passed. There are tests to discover if that's actually the case. We must decide if we want to pursue them. The good news is that he said there is less than a 5% chance of me having another stroke. That makes me feel better.
For tonight we are off to have Mexican food with the Franklins. Bring on the chips and salsa!
Joanne (via Toben)
Mexican food. Yumm!
I know it may be hard to accept the "we don't know why" answer - I pray that God will give you peace and courage to move forward from here. Even though you wish you had that concrete "how come."
Posted by: Dionna | October 21, 2011 at 10:23 AM
My husband suffered a stroke on February 5, he's 28 years old. There was no apparent cause for his, either. However, he did have the tests done to see if there was a small hole in his heart. I just wanted to say that it was very minimally invasive and had practically no side effects for him. I can't recall the name of the procedure, but he was put halfway to sleep, and a scope was sent down his throat with a camera to look at the back side of the heart for holes. To look on the front side, he had a simple echocardiogram. This wasn't the cause in his case, but it was comforting to know that we did everything we could to determine a cause.
Thank you for sharing your experience so openly. You've given me an insight on what Jacob, my husband, was going through, and I've related to Toben's posts on more than one occasion.
We're still praying for complete healing fo you, Joanne!
Posted by: Cassie Bradley | October 21, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Continuing to pray....so glad the doctors believe this is a one time event... So proud of your hard work...and God's power and Grace being shown through you .
Rachel
www.inhonoroftheking.blogspot.com
Posted by: Rachelp | October 21, 2011 at 04:25 PM
Have had your lipo protein A tested? My 6 year old is a stroke survivor and we have never found the cause of her strokes, however she does have an elevated lipo protein A which is beginning to be a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. She had a bubble test on her heart and it was a piece of cake. Also, have you been checked for any auto immune type processes, like antiphospholipid antibodies? Glad to hear you are seeing some movement in your left side, praise God! Praying for you often.
Posted by: evan | October 22, 2011 at 12:58 PM
To know that you are in the hands of the God of the universe AND you get to eat Mexican - now that's a good day.
Peace my friend,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Posted by: Kim Feth | October 22, 2011 at 02:07 PM
Thank you for updates, because it lets all of us know how to pray for you. You have been through so much...but I am so thankful that you all pull together and are getting through this by the grace of God, and by the deep family love you all share!
And so many people are praying for you and pulling for you to fully recover.
You are so beautiful Joanne...and your husband loves you so much, and that is such a huge blessing. Cling to that love, and to the love all around you...but most of all to the love of God honey. His mercies are new every morning.
Continued prayers for you and yours Joanne. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. (Easy for me to say? (wink) yes, but His word is truth...and He loves you very much!) (:>)
Posted by: Linda | October 23, 2011 at 06:21 AM
If you were on the birth control pill, it's well known it can cause stroke especially in women over 35.
Posted by: Ericka | October 24, 2011 at 05:21 AM
Joanne and Toben, thank you for taking the time to share with us all how things are going. Yay about the heated beds and the possible answer! Joanne, I have been thinking about you lot recently, and only hope that if something happens to me that Doug will take sure good care of me as Toben is. : ) I know your body is frustrating you, but it is so good to hear every little thing to celebrate--and the best part for me is still "hearing" you, no matter who is doing the typing. I am praying for you, friend, and ask God to continue His restoration!
love, lisa
Posted by: blessed | October 24, 2011 at 01:25 PM
Just checking in to let you know that you are all still in my prayers. But also to let you know that my Memory Monday post is up on my blog... http://butgrow.blogspot.com/2011/10/memory-monday_24.html
I pray that you can find comfort in those verses that you memorized and that you will soon be able to continue with your Memory Monday posts :D
Posted by: Carrie | October 24, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Hi! I've followed your blog since around March and have often marveled at your strength, both individually and as a family. You have all blessed me so much. I received an email from Joseph Prince Ministries this morning and thought of you instantly, so I'd like to share.
"True To Your Assessment
Leviticus 27:12
12… the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.
Your colleague says that this week is going to be a lousy one because the new boss is mean. You disagree and say that it is going to be a blessed week. Both of you will go through the same week, but with very different outcomes. While your friend’s week will indeed turn out to be a lousy one, yours will be filled with the favor of the Lord!
In the Old Testament, when someone brought what he had to the priest for a valuation, whatever the priest assessed the value of the item to be, it was so. If he assessed it to be of good value, then it was of good value. If he assessed it to be of poor value, then it was of poor value.
Today, you are also a priest because of Jesus’ blood. (Revelation 1:5–6) And “as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be”. If you assess your year to be one of financial breakthroughs, so it will be for you. If you assess your life to be filled with divine health, so it will be for you.
There was a stroke patient who was bedridden. While listening to my recorded sermons, he assessed that with God as his salvation, his life would be long and satisfying. (Psalm 91:16) He believed that God would help him walk again. Not too long after his assessment, he was able to walk and was no longer bound to the bed! The next assessment he made about his health was complete recovery with God as his helper.
Actually, you have more authority than the Levitical priests of the Old Testament. They were of the old priesthood of mortal men. But you are of the greater and “forever” priesthood of Jesus! (Hebrews 7:8, 17) Not only that, you are a king-priest. (Revelation 1:6) In other words, you are a king as well! And as a king, your assessment is also binding because where the word of a king is, there is power! (Ecclesiastes 8:4)
My friend, this means that you have a double portion of assessment power. Therefore, boldly assess good things for your life, and it will be so for you!"
Thank you for being so open about your journey. I hope these words are as helpful to you as they have been for me.
God bless.
Mary
Posted by: Mary | October 25, 2011 at 07:11 AM
Hi, the test is a trans-oesophageal echo - basically a standard upper endoscopy and an echo.....as the first comment stated not actually invasive......although bearable not particularly pleasant. Testing for a post-formale ovum (PFO) - a small hole present since birth within the heart chambers, present in approx 20% of the population but not causing bother for all of them. If over a certain size a patch can close the whole, or if clinically indicated the patient can stay on anti-coagulants. Certainly closing the hole removes the risk of a re-occurence. This is the procedure in the UK, not sure if it is different in your area. We only started checking for this in the past few years, the US might have known about it sooner. Certainly if you have it done, and do have a PFO it would provide the answer to why it happened but would leave you with some decisions to make about treatment.
I enjoy your blog, your progress has been amazing.
Posted by: marion | October 27, 2011 at 08:18 AM
Good news indeed! And wow, thank God for all of these knowledgeable readers! I feel a bit insignificant in not knowing much, but thank God for them and their advice! Go on Joanne!
Posted by: Jennifer | November 01, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Hi Joanne, you don't know me, but I discovered your blog before your stroke, and have been praying for you and your family ever since. I now follow your sister's blog too. You all are in my thoughts and prayers constantly. As this new surgery date approaches, I will pray for peace for you, and for complete healing!
Love from So. Calif,
Karene
Posted by: Karene | November 02, 2011 at 08:48 AM