I apologize for the delay in updating everyone. Let me summarize the last three days as briefly as possible…

IT’S WORKING! IT’S WORKING!

Late Wednesday morning, Jennifer from St. Jude’s Medical came by the hospital and activate Jen’s neurostimulation unit. It is nothing less than miraculous! Jen said she likes it even better than the test unit she had first.

I am happy to report that the migraine is gone!

After the neurostimulation unit was activated, we returned to Dave and Kaye’s (Jen’s parents) apartment. Although the migraine is gone, the surgery recovery is progressing slowly. Tomorrow, the bandages come off and Jen will be able to take a shower. She is looking forward to getting cleaned up and washing her hair. Then, tomorrow night we are going to attempt dinner out with some friends here in Dallas.

Thank you again for praying. Our blessings are too numerous to even count. For that we are grateful.

Grateful. That’s what we are this evening. Grateful that our God hears us when we cry out to Him. Grateful that He answers our prayers and then some. Grateful for the generous, loving, encouraging, praying people in our lives. Grateful for favor with doctors. Grateful for the supernatural power of modern medicine. Grateful for morphine…

God is good all the time.

I suppose you’re reading this because you probably want an update. Right?

Jen’s surgery went very well. It took longer than expected at a little over 4 hours. Dr. Bulger said it would have gone faster if she wasn’t so skinny. Dr. Bulger spent a good bit of time working with the placement of the wire leads down her back. That is causing a lot of discomfort. That is why we are grateful for morphine.

Tomorrow morning, the rep for the nerve stimulator will come to activate the unit and train Jen on the settings.

The surgery was a success. As Jennifer heals over the next few days and weeks, we are believing for a complete recovery and freedom from the migraines. Thank you for all the prayers, encouraging messages, frequent flier miles, generous offerings, meals and celebrations.

God is up to something huge. We are living in the middle of the most amazing miracle we have ever witnessed. For that we are grateful.

The trial stimulator has been an overwhelming success! It is amazing. Today, Jennifer is having the test unit removed in preparation for her surgery next week. Please join us in praying that the next several days will not be a return to the pain she experienced before the trial.

UPDATED: Immediately after having the test unit removed, the migraine returned. Jennifer is once again confined to a darkened bedroom until surgery. Thank you guys for praying. Don’t stop!

Also, mark your calendars!

Jennifer is scheduled to receive her permanent neurostimulator implant on Monday, March 5th at 2pm CST.

Jennifer’s surgery has been rescheduled to Tuesday, March 6th at 11am CST.

I am confident that Monday will be an amazing, miraculous, supernatural day of healing for Jennifer. Thank you all for praying for us and blessing us. God is faithful.

To help you understand what is next for Jennifer, take a look at this video.

When we were at a seminar with Dr. Reed, they showed the video testimonial below. I looked over through tears to see Jennifer crying herself. Why? Because it gave us hope.

To learn more about the Reed Procedure, visit their website at reedmigraine.com.

To read more of the amazing story of Jen’s journey to healing, GO HERE.

IT’S WORKING!!!!!!!!

I strongly dislike when people use more than one exclamation point and write in ALL CAPS. How can anyone be that excited? Tonight, there are not enough exclamation points in existence to describe how I feel.

Today, Jennifer had surgery to put a combined occipital and supraorbital nerve stimulation implant in her head to test its effectiveness. You can read my other posts about Jen’s battle with migraines HERE. We have been praying, believing, hoping, trusting and looking forward to this day.

Would it work? 80% of the patients who undergo this test procedure report dramatic improvements in their migraines with most reporting almost total relief from their symptoms. But that leaves 20% who are left with no other option. We believed for an incredible miracle.

Jennifer has existed in a darkened bedroom for many weeks now. Any light was excruciatingly painful. Noise was painful. Her migraines have been excruciating. But God has still been at work on her behalf.

This evening she emerged from the procedure a different woman! Within 30 minutes of the surgery, she reported total elimination of the migraine in the back of her head and over 50% reduction in the front. The doctors believe she can expect the rest of the migraine to be almost totally gone by morning. They wheeled her out of recovery into a fully lit hospital without sunglasses and it didn’t hurt! She sat up in the car for the whole 30 minute ride home after surgery! Then she sat in a fully lit room to Skype with the boys and me! Check out that picture at the top of this post. Isn’t she beautiful?

I have shouted. I have cried. I have loudly thanked God for His faithfulness. I have jumped up and down. I have cried some more. I have burned up my unlimited texting plan to tell everyone I know that it worked! God has been so good to us. She will wear the test unit until some time next week. After successful completion of the test, they will schedule the final surgery for sometime early the following week.

Thank you to everyone who has already given to help us with the financial burden of this test. The test procedure and final surgical implant will cost $50,000 and Blue Cross Blue Shield has refused to cover any of the costs.

Through the generosity of our amazing family and friends, over half of the $50,000 has already been given in the last 72 hours.

If you would like to know more about how you can help, please watch the video from Pastor George Brantley over at rockwilmington.com. Thank you to everyone who is continuing to pray. The battle is not over yet. We need for this trial to totally eradicate this vicious migraine over the next few days so we can proceed to the permanent implant. Keep the prayers coming. God is up to something amazing!

All glory and honor and praise be to my God who is healing my wife! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Image: zirconicusso / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The only thing sweet about the boys and I leaving tomorrow is that we will be reunited with Jennifer soon. Other than that, it’s just really, really hard. Did I mention it’s hard? It is.

Early tomorrow morning, the boys and I will board a plane headed for home without Jennifer. The process here will take longer than we originally anticipated and it is much to difficult on Jennifer for her to fly back and forth. So, she will be staying with her parents until we are finished with this process.

Here is the latest update:

• We are still in the process of getting insurance approval to undergo the test procedure. Our first attempt this week was met yesterday with a denial by Blue Cross / Blue Shield NC. Needless to say, yesterday was not a fun day. So, we are regrouping with the doctor to appeal the decision next week. Please pray for favor with BCBS. We will not stop until we get an approval.
• My father in law gave me some great advice yesterday when he said, “Don’t accept a no from someone who cannot give you a yes.” We’re gonna keep at it until we find the person that can give us that yes.
• After we receive approval, Jennifer will have a procedure where they will test the process for 3-5 days. WHEN that test is successfully completed and they are confident the permanent implant will be effective, they will reapply with BCBS for the final procedure. That process will take another 10-14 days.
• Once we receive final approval, I will return to Dallas for the final surgery and recovery. Then we will bring Jennifer home.

Please allow me a few observations:

• Our boys have been amazing. Seriously, they are having to step up in a big way. As homeschooled kids, they are having to take even more ownership of their studies. They have been helping more with cooking, cleaning and encouraging their parents. I am so proud of them.
• Our friends are amazing. Tonight, one of our amazing friends will break in to our house to clean it before we return. Jennifer’s friends and colleagues at the hospital have donated PDO’s (paid days off) to her. There are thousands of people all over the world praying for us daily. We are overwhelmed with the love and prayers we have received. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
• With all of that said, this is still an incredibly difficult time for our family. It is overwhelming to think of leaving Jennifer here while she is still in so much pain. But she is in great hands with her parents, Dave and Kaye.
• Tomorrow, we will wake up, say our tearful goodbyes and trust that God is still working on her behalf.

I never cared too much for John Denver, but I find myself softly singing…

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time let me kiss you
Close your eyes I’ll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won’t have to leave alone
About the times, I won’t have to say

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you’ll wait for me
Hold me like you’ll never let me go
Cause I’m leavin’ on a jet plane
Don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh baby, I hate to go

“Leaving On A Jet Plane” – John Denver

You can give by going to rockwilmington.com/give-online and clicking GIVE NOW. Please designate all contributions for the Water Fund.

Last night we attended a seminar with Dr. Reed and his team going over all the information regarding the procedure. There were about 50 people in attendance from all over the country seeking help for the same condition. From everything we learned last night, Jennifer looks like a prime candidate. We will be meeting with her surgeon at 11:00am CST this morning for him to personally examine her and review her case. Pray for wisdom and favor.

What we also learned is that the process will probably take between 4-5 weeks from now before she can receive the implant. So, we are both very encouraged and frustrated at the same time. But that’s ok because God is still working a miracle right in front of us.

We will be making some tough decisions over the next few days about whether Jennifer will stay in Dallas through this whole process or return to Wilmington as we wait. The flights to get here were pretty brutal for Jen and I’m not sure it would be healthy for her to fly back and forth. We need wisdom to know how to proceed over the next several weeks as we see God continue to unfold this amazing miracle.

Thanks again to everyone who continues to pray for Jennifer and our family. We are blessed.