Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
November 17, 2012
It’s been a long time since I’ve updated the blog. And, thanks be to God, it hasn’t seemed necessary. Meg has been doing great in school and this past week even made principal’s list — straight A’s! She’s on the cheer squad and the Salem football team just played their last playoff game last night, and, while a heart breaker, it was a great game (below is a short vid of Meg cheering earlier in the season with a little bit of our neighbor Khalib thrown in). She has started to play softball again and has played a few games already with her High School varsity fall ball team.
Last March someone from the Eastern Virginia Medical School (they are the teaching school associated with Norfolk General) approached us about doing a short video for their website to help promote their school. Seeing that they saved Meg’s life we were happy to do it. As a result of that video Meg has become a bit of a local celebrity. A couple of weeks ago one of her friends saw her picture on an advertisement for EVMS on the Norfolk Tide and snapped the above picture.
Meg hasn’t had a full seizure since September 2011 and has been off the anti-seizure med Keppra since the end of the summer. So, this past week I sent paperwork to her neurologist so that she could be cleared to finally get her driver’s license and move up from a perpetual learner’s permit. Things have been looking up and Meaghan has been in many ways your typical High School senior.
Then last night while cheering Meg started to complain about a headache behind her eyes and needed to sit out for part of the fourth quarter. She took a couple of ibuprofens and started to feel better. After the game we got Taco Bell and everything seemed fine. This morning she woke up complaining of numbness in her left hand and tongue. Not good signs. Tracy and I decided to give her half of a Lorazepam, a med that we’re told can help stave off a potential seizure. Better safe than sorry. Unfortunately, about ten minutes later as I was laying besides her waiting for her symptoms to subside, one of her fingers on her left hand started to twitch uncontrollably as she turned to me with a look of helplessness and horror and immediately started to seize. The whole episode lasted a couple of minutes as I yelled for Tracy. Tracy and I held her as she fell into a deep stupor. After she came to Tracy called the neurologist who said giving her the Lorazepam was the right thing to do and that we’re to follow up with her regular neurologist on Monday.
As I write Meg is resting and recuperating. Thankfully she seems fine. I think the impact of what happened hit her as tears started rolling down her face when she realized that her dream of getting her driver’s license any time soon was now back on hold.
Please pray that Meg doesn’t have to go back on Keppra, although I suspect they’ll want to put her on some sort of prophylactic anti-seizure medication. Pray that, Lord willing, this might be the last seizure she has to suffer through. Also, and as I’m sure you can imagine, having a brain injury can be stigmatizing and Meg has seen any number of friends come and go. So, please, pray that through all this Meg will develop some true and lasting friendships, or rekindle old friendships, with people who will accept her for the blessing she is.
On another note, the young man responsible for the accident plead guilty to DUI/maiming and to an unrelated charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana in August. As a result of the drug charge he’s been in jail since May and will be sentenced for both crimes in December.
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Hope for Meaghan 
Thank you for the update… I pray that Meaghan is feeling better and is not discouraged by the events of the last 24 hours. She has to focus on the positive things, the progress she has made and where she is just a year and 5 months later! She is blessed, and I love the picture they used for the advertisement! She is beautiful and strong…. she has inspired a lot of people, near and far. Send her my love, and thank you again for sharing with us all. I am in awe of how you have handled everything, you and Tracy are wonderful people…. I know it has been rough, stay positive!
Meaghan you are in our thoughts and prayers and wishing you a life without seizures. May God keep you safe in your journeys in life.
I read your post, and stopped to pray. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time these past few years searching for the answers to life’s pain, and I don’t have them for you. But I believe as you do that God never abandons us, that he is always with us, and every prayer is heard. I pray that Meaghan heals fast and whole, and that he sends her friends, who will lift her up. I pray this with all my heart. I hope to see you guys again soon.
With love.
Hang in there guys, you’ve gone through the worst…it’s behind you.
Thanks for the update Mikey at 22 now has over ahead to go seizure free before he can even try to get his lisence back . For now he is on depakote and we are just so grateful that he is here and we rejoice at his quirkiness. Friends come and go , mostly they go but true friendship and family endures. Mikey’s older brother Brian is taking a three month assignment in ALASKA as biologist /observer on a commercial fishing venture . Change is inevitable. We just roll with it. I try not to worry about the future and rejoice in the here and now which is a gift–that’s why it’s called the present. Until next time prayers for you and yours!
Over a year to go
Thanks for sharing, Sean. How devastating this last development must be! All the progress Meg has made and then to have this happen. Very, very sad. We are continuing to pray daily for you, Tracy and Meaghan.
I love to read the updates on Megan. As i have mentioned before, my son has suffered from a TBI as well. He was shot in the head by a fellow soldier. I continue to pray for your family often.
Oh, Sean, I am so very sad for Meaghan….I know how much she was looking forward to getting that drivers license. I am going to pray that this is only a minor blip and that the Dr’s will give you guys a good report. My heart goes out to all of you…you have been through so much over the past 18 months, and it is just so unfair that the poor kid keeps getting the wind knocked out of her when things seem to be going so well. I have been so inspired by your strength and attitude during this whole ordeal and am praying this nightmare will come to an end soon.
As far as the friends are concerned, Meaghan is learning early what we all learn eventually…. That only a handful of our friends are true, and when the ones who we counted on the most are the ones who let us down, it’s a hard blow.
At 17, Meg has been through more that most adults twice her age, but she is also smart enough to see it for what it is and not let it destroy her spirit.
And congrats on her newfound celebrity! I have to remember to get her autograph!
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”. He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:24-26)
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. (Psalm 18:29)
This is only a trifle in the sight of the Lord. (2 Kings 3:18)
Thank you for the update. I have never taken your family off my prayer list. It has been a long row to hoe for all of you. Thank you, also, for including the update regarding Carter. Meaghan was never my student, but I knew of her because many of her friends were my students. Carter was one of my students, and I often wondered what came about for him in his role in all of this. I am glad he took responsibility for his actions. God bless you and your family.
I still remember to send up a prayer every once in a while for you guys.
God does indeed grant his grace for us to hold up under the burdens he ordains for us, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get rough. If it offers you any hope, we are in year 4 with my dad, not much progress to speak of, and still we have the daily grace to perservere.
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The comment about friends. Yes, yes, I will make certain to pray for you guys there.
WOW, do you ever find out who your close friends really are when you or someone in your family suffers this kind of injury.
You also find out who the snakes are who will try and take advantage of you too…
We go to the neurosurgeon in the morning to hek on getting the (frozen) bone flap replaced. Our daughter had a stoke at age 34 in December, 2012. We have been to TIRR in Houston and to CORE in Austin and she is progressing well. When she had the stents put in her carotid artery the neurosurgeon said there was a 1 percent chance that something could go wrong … It did and a massive stroke occurred. We know The Lord has brought her this far and we have confidence that he will see this through. You can read her story on Caringbridge under Sarah Henry. Please pray with us.
Bill and Anita Thomas