The Latest Update....

Went to the Dr. with Raeanna yesterday, the break is healing straight. The cyst is not going away as quickly as hoped. We talked more of surgery to remove cyst and bone graph. Still not sure if that is the road we will be traveling. The Dr. put her in another cast until New Years and then will look again at the cyst and make decisions about the possiblities of surgery.


Please pray that the cyst will go away and the bone will grow back stronger than ever. Raeanna has always been a very active girl and this time of non activity has been very hard for her. (and Vince and I) Also please pray for finances for us as the Dr. bills are starting to roll in. We serve an AWESOME GOD and His plans are not always ours. It is so nice to know that we have all of you during this time..

If you are interested....

I am starting a bible study via blogger with a dear friend if you are interested here is the link!
http://morethanthemotions.blogspot.com/

Mona

Don't Stop Praying!!

Even thou things are getting back to somewhat of a normal - slower pace at our house we still need to pray!!  Raeanna is really getting around good and we have found a routine for getting things done that need to get done.  With that said some specific things to focus our prayers on for now;

1. That where the cyst was continues to strenghen.  And we will not need a bone graft!!
2. That we all keep our attitudes in check (this is really a trying time for our family and lifestyle)
3. That Vince an my jobs continue to be understanding about coming in late and leaving early on a daily basis.  They have been really great!
4. With the bills starting to come in that we will be able to set up a liveable payment plan.

Thanks for your continued support of our family during this time in our life!!

2nd Visit with Dr. Shrader...

Well today was our 2nd appointment with Dr. Shrader.  The pink cast came off and and xray was taken, then Dr. Shrader came in to go over things with us...

He said "That the break was healing fairly straight and looks good.  He also said that where the "cyst" was is starting to darken up. (or fill in??)."  He then went on to say "that if he was a gambling man when he first saw the cyst and the break that it would have more than likely needed a bone graft."  "Now I am not sure, we will put it in a cast for another 4 weeks and then see where we are."  He said "in simular breaks without the cyst that this would be the last cast but, we will probably put another cast on after this 4 weeks and see how the cyst area is healing".  All in all I am believing this to be positive news and I am thankful for the progress.

So she has a beautiful new cast thanks to Dr. Shraders' assitant Rita... A bright orange cast with green strips!! She looks like a green and orange candy cane!!  It really is cute and different, THANKS RITA!!

Thanks to all who have been praying!! Although we can not stop!! 
1.We need to continue to pray for the cyst to be gone and the bone to grow back strong. 
2. That the bone will continue to grow back staight.
3. Safety with the cast, in the wheelchair and on crutches. (we don't want added injury!)
4. Please pray for her attitude and the rest of the family.  This is truly a trying time. 

Praise God for all the progress!!

A Birthday Girl In A Cast.....

Well today is Raeanna's 13th birthday.  I can't believe she is spending it in a cast.  As a mom, I am trying to figure something special to do for a teenager in cast.  After much process time I think we will be taking one of her friends (who's birthday is tomarrow) and go to the mall.  Lunch and a manicure.  I wonder if a pedicure would be 1/2 price for her with only being able to do one foot?? 

We have a Dr. appt on Monday afternoon.  Which always make my stomach churn.  Is the bone healing straight? Is the cyst gone and the bone growing back??  Will they have to put on a new cast and straighten her leg in the process? (this is very painful for her) So many questions and places for miracles and ways to pray.

Last night for Vince's birthday we enjoyed watching Prestin be on the sideline for the varsity game.  He was very disappointed he didn't get to play but it was a great experience for him to be on the sidelines in the "big show". 

Please continue to pray for Raeanna's leg, that the bone grows back straight, that the cyst is gone, and the bone under the cyst grows back strong. 

Making progress!!

Well Rae is really making great strides!! (no pun intended!)  She is really good with her crutches and is moving around on her own with the wheelchair although not good enough to be by herself at school.  (too many doors and kids)  She wheeled around our harvest festival last night and stayed for the youth party without Vince or I.  We moved the hospital bed into her room and hook up a monitor so life is as normal as possible.  Please contiue to pray for healing in the bone and for the cyst to go away. 

Prestin is going to be moving up to Varsity for the end of the season.  We are so proud of him and his determination!!  Please pray for his safety.

You are all so special to us and thanks for all your continued support!!

Back to Normal??!!

Well yesterday went off as normal as possible.  Things are really adjusting well, even so much as Rae not liking the clothes I picked out for her to wear and going and getting something else.  Praise God for that now maybe she can do it more herself... She really is doing more and more things on her own.  I knew she was a strong willed child but for the first time I am happy for it...  I dropped her off at school and made it to work almost on time. She did great at school.  Vince picked her up from school.   We all went to Prestin's game (they lost, first loss all year :( !)  So life is settling in... Hard to believe it has only been alttle over a week since all of this began.  It is amazing to us how fast it has become normal!!  So life is plugging along on our side of the world.  We still believe in miracles and that everything will work out just the way God has it planned.  

Is Anybody There???

Well yesterday was Raeanna's first day without mom or dad!!!   I am sure a relief for her but it was so hard for me to drop her off at school after the almost frustrating day the day before...  When I dropped her off there was still no plan in motion for her to get from class to class.  I was trying to make it accross town to work and still concerned about her.  After arriving to my school and explaining to my Principal the situation and concerns he suggested I call the school and get some answers.  So I did, I called a couple of times and it went straight to voicemail saying they were too busy.  My anxiety started to go through the roof..... I had memorized a phone number of what I thought was the nurse so called it.... It was Rae's math teacher who answered I explained the situation and he looked and found the nurses number.  I called it and spoke with her about my frustrations and that really didn't help.  In fact it made the momma bear in me come out!!  After a emotional discussion with the nurse and not feeling like I got my questions answered I made another phone call to try and get to talk to the Principal...Another recording to leave a message.  By now my mind is racing what if there was a fire?? Who would get my daughter out of a room I could hardly get her in???  With my mind racing even more and frustration building I called the district office and spoke with the Superintendants assistant.  After explaining myself she said she would have the Principal call me back.  Within 5 minutes he called me back.  He explained what was being done and that he had teacher rearrange their classrooms and that he would be frustrated too.  After speaking with him I really felt better and more that Rae was being cared for.  So I was able to go back to work and not worry quite as much...
Well Rae has someone who is in most of her classes to help her get around! So this morning should be less stressful and hopefully a quick drop off and off to work!!
Love to all.....

Back to school ??!!!

Well yesterday (Tuesday) was a very exciting day at our house!!  Raeanna was given the green light to return to school so first thing in the morning I called the Nurse and the Principal to let them know and to see if any arrangements needed to be made since she has to be pushed from class to class.  (don't know how long but she isn't good enough with the wheelchair yet and don't want her to go from class to class with all the other students)  Well they didn't have anyone available to push her... so being the mother that I am (CRAZY) I said that I would come and push her from class to class.... What was I thinking???

Well we got there and went to the nurses office and I signed in a visitor and off we went.  First stop Science.  As I rolled her in the door with every eye on us I thought to myself this is going to be an interesting day??? 
Let me stop right her and say that I will always from now on look differently at those in wheelchairs.  It is really hard work even going thru a door.  Then add a trash can by the door or desk or whatever and it is almost impossible.  So if I have learned anything through this and want to make others aware make entry ways more accessable to all and you never know when you will need to get out quickly.
After Science came Lunch talk about crazy!! They all have to eat in the cafeteria and all in a hurry.  This was very challenging but we did it!  After Lunch to the nurses office to take some medication then to the Library.  It was very safe and more controlled it was a nice change.  After Lunch upstair in the elevator to English then downstairs to Computers then Vince got there so we could change and I could go to work.  As of right now I don't know who will be pushing Rae around school please pray for that situation...

I really had no idea how hard middle school was emotionally or mentally.  When I went to 7th and 8th grade it was at the same school I had been at since kindergarten.  This is soooo different!!! 

Things a mom learned in middle school, I am choosing to pray for these things and hope you will join with me... you know where 2 or more are gathered He is there.  I stand firm in that God really is faithful:
1. Things in this world are not accessable to all.  Look around your world and see where you can make a difference even helping someone out of there car to opening a door is really a help.
2.  If you have a student or know a student in middle school pray for there safety spiritually, physically and emotionally.  It truly is a rough place to spend your day.
3.  Our time in this wheelchair is relatively short.  Please pray for those who will spend the rest of there life in a wheelchair.  It truly is an adjustment to the way we all think and move around...

1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Today I get to go back to work!! We are truly making progress!!  Tonight church, what a great day!!

Meeting Dr. Shrader...

After filling out some paperwork they called us back to meet with Dr. Shrader.  My mind was racing... so many different scenerio... So many things to organize with each scenerio.....  They took her history, how and where did it happen they asked Rae.  As she explained Vince and I listened trying to help her if need.  One cute thing when she is explaining what happend to her she tells the story about walking to lunch and 2 boys running up behind her and "golliding" with her.  And falling to the ground.  Then the assistant says "lets take that splint off" and starts cutting the splint off.  Well she has a real nice green bruise on her leg and Rae says "I need to wash my leg it is so dirty it is green".  Then another assitant comes in and takes her to xray after bringing her back and us waiting for awhile.  In walks Dr. Shrader.  Younger guy maybe a football player in his day.  Greets us and looks at Rae's leg and sits at the computer and pulls up the xrays.  (Let me just stop right here and thank God for modern technology!)  He is very matter of fact and acts like no big deal.  He says the break looks better than the last photo and that we are going to call it a cyst not a mass.  The cyst looks benign... He says he has seen many that are and many that aren't.  He also explained that there is usually only one but could run test to see if more after she heals.  He explained how he would like to not due surgery to see if it will heal on its own since it is so close to the growth plate it would be hard to put pins and plates in without coming into contact with the growth plate.  He also said that in most cases the cyst once the bone breaks under it breaks the cyst up and the bone grows back...if not than would do surgery at a later date and do a bone graft.  Vince and I really could not believe our ears... The Dr. said "yes it is a broken leg but no need to worry"  "we will cast it and come back in 3 weeks and we will see how it is healing and possible put another cast on"  "she can go back to school".  Next thing I know someone came in to take her to the "casting room" (now she is auditioning for a movie??) asked her what color of cast she wanted.  Well they were out of lime green so she went with pink.  Her cast goes from her thigh to the ball of her feet with only toes sticking out.  During casting Dr. Shrader came in and wanted to "set/straighten out" her leg while casting.  This was painful of course to Rae.  And off we went!!

Well we have a few new things to learn... Her leg is completly straight which takes up more room for everything and it is heavier which is hard to balance and us to help her move and her move on her own. 

If you would like to join me in praying specificly these are my prayers:
That the cyst will go away and the bone will grow back stronger than before.
That the break will heal straight and no futher surgery will be needed.
That there will be no problems with her at school (mobility, doing the work and emotionally)
That Vince and my work will understand and help us make arrangements for us to do drop offs and pick ups.
For others to be aware of all in wheel chairs or with crutch to not bump into them/us, hold doors and maybe help in other ways.

This was my devotion the other morning.  
Isaiah 40:4 (King James Version)

4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain
I know it is talking of valleys but I would like to think it could be refering to broken legs and cysts!!....


Thanks again for loving us!!

Appontment with surgeon today.....

Mona Calhoun Wilkinson
is having trouble coming up with 5 things to be thankful for but will try... a neck and back rub, some sleep in her own bed, some alone time with her hubby, being able to go to church yesterday and that Rae could sit at the table last night for Sunda...y dinner. Really I am very nervous/scared about Dr. appt this afternoon.

This is my facebook post for today and would like to talk a little about it.... Rae is really making some big strides with her recovery. She has learned to do so much on her own with the help of some tools we have put in her path. I am very concerned about the Dr. appointment today. Vince keeps telling me to wait until the appointment then do what we need to do. But my mind is racing with questions and situations.

The biggest one is that she has come so far with coping with this and if anything today will cause a set back in her ability to do the things she has learned to do.

And what next?? I honestly am so ready for whatever the next step is so we can help her. In my heart I know to trust God and He is in total control but my head is so of this world that I process, think and worry about everything!!

Why not a blog???

Well at our church we have been blessed with a new Pastor Jim Davey and his wife Mary. I first want to thank them for answering the call of God to come to North Hills.

He did a blog and posted something almost everyday as he journeyed from his home to our home... North Hills. This was so great to be able to know what they were thinking and keep up with their journey and experiences. As I spoke with him yesterday about Rae and our great church I thought Why not a blog??? This would be a great way of communication about our Rae and would maybe help me to deal with some of my feelings. So I am giving it a try who knows if I will be able to do it everyday but will try. I love facebook but there is so much more I want to write then the 420 characters allowed. And Rae loves to read the comments you all post. I print them out for her everyday. Not to mention all of you who are praying for her and our family. So "Why not a blog?"

Thanks for the idea Pastor Jim!!

Message to the youth (ME)

Well before all of this began on Sunday October 18th Jennifer shared with our youth at church about being thankful. I really enjoy hearing her speak and this is my "church" as well so I try and get as much out of it as well. It was a great message and at the end she challenged the youth every morning before they get out of bed to think of 5 things they are thankful for. It has to be something different every morning. I thought this was a good exercise for our youth since that can be alittle wishful for what they don't have instead of thankful for what they do have. I never thought that God had truly intended that message to be for me......

Well on Thursday morning I was updating my facebook status to try and keep everyone informed and praying for Rae when Jen's message came ringing in my head. How could I be thankful at a time like this when my daughter was so badly injured??? She was so athletic and now has a broken leg and don't know how all of this is going to work out.... God how can I be thankful??? Well I really felt God pulling not just tugging but PULLING at my heart strings so it took me awhile but I did find a few things I was thankful for and posted them: Bar stools and folding chair, ER doctors that coach volleyball, pain medicine for kids, family and friends that pray and a loving dad. After I got through the first one it was really much easier to think about being thankful and we were able to see God's Hand in all of this. Let me share some with you:

1. We didn't know about the mass on her bone.. The leg really could have broken anywhere but it broke in a somewhat controlled place with a school nurse close by. Not on the softball field with her sliding into a base and the wound being opened and infection on top of everything else.

2. Her being comforted by her assistant coach who is an ER doctor ... Thanks be to God for Dr. Kurbat he was on top of everything for her and the staff of ER nurse and techs were fabulous.

3. Our dear friend "Daddy Dwayne" as Rae calls him works for a company that fits people for wheelchairs so he was able to get a wheelchair for Rae. Vince and our neighbor Artie were able to fix it with some plywood so that Rae could go to Prestin's football game. She loved getting our of the house. One of her friends from school went with us. Our youth pastor Ryan with his family Jen and Coden came and it was a great time. Prestins' team won which makes them 7-0.

next are a few of the posts from facebook:
Mona Calhoun Wilkinson
is thankful for friends with hospital beds that share and deliver, that Vince and I have jobs and bosses that understand, Wal-Mart they really do carry everything, Rae's friends that make house calls and that nothing is on the schedule until Mon...day afternoon when we go to the surgeon. Today we are going to try and wash her hair..... Could get interesting!!

Mona Calhoun Wilkinson
is thankful for brothers that love their sister, Goodwill having plastic stackable chair when everyone else has all their Christmas decorations up, Rae getting enough strength and confidence to do more on her own!! A little bit of sleep in my own bed,... Raeannas' hair is clean and last but not least Raeanna feeling well enough to want to go to church this morning!!! So much to be thankful for this morning!!

Thanks Jen for the reminder!!

Raeanna's Broken Leg

Well this story began on Tuesday October 20th, 2009...... I was teaching a class and couldn't get to my phone when it rang. The message was from the school nurse that Rae fell and her leg needed medical treatment, since I didn't answer she would call her dad. After I received the message and called the nurse she said that dad (Vince) was already on his way. I called Vince and he said he was on the way and would keep me posted. Before I go any further let me just say right now what a blessing cell phone are and if you haven't learned to text yet you really need to!! I went back to teaching and checking for messages,,,, Phone call from Vince saying the Dr. was her assistant volleyball coach from school this year...First message going to ER, 2nd message going to xray, 3rd message looks broken to me...then the phone rang. Vince explained that there was a mass on her bone which made the bone weak and that she broke both bones in her lower leg. Was waiting to hear from the surgeon may need surgery. This phone call came during a fire drill so instead of being outside by myself the teacher was there. I said my goodbyes and covered what I needed covered and off I went.

On my way to the hospital I started to melt down....First few calls don't remember the order, Lori B. from church to put Rae on the prayer chain, Charlie M. my dear sister in Christ who lives here and loves us like real family and my dear sister Mary Jo to let all of my family know. I had a hard time and still do telling the story over and over again... It truly breaks my heart every time I have to tell it but I want people to know so they can pray for her. As I was driving to the hospital, which took FOREVER!! I remembered that when my brother was about Rae's age he was pitching and when he threw the ball his arm broke due to a mass on his arm. This reassured me since he healed completely from this.

At the hospital she was in pain from her leg which layed there lifeless as well as from the IV. This is so hard for a mother to see her child lay in a hospital bed in such pain. We tryed to keep her comfortable and waited for the surgeon. Lori B. came to be with us. While there Charlie M. and Lori S. poked there head in to say hi. The ER (coach) came and told us that he was able to talk to 2 surgeons 1 on staff and Thunderbird and 1 at Phoenix Childrens. It was like an instant 2nd opinon. They both said to put a splint on it and that the surgeon from Phoenix Childrens would follow up with us on Monday... Lori B. prayed with us before the splint was put on and what was so awesome when she was done I noticed the ER assitant was praying with us. He was so great and did a wonderful job. They tryed to remove Rae's favorite jeans without cutting them off but one move and she said "CUT THEM OFF!" I assured her we could always get another pair of jeans. I was so concerned and didn't want to leave the hospital she was still in so much pain but they perscribed us some pain medication told us to keep it elevated and ice it and to call the surgeon for an appt. and we went home.

That night was horrible she was in so much pain, we didn't know how to keep her comfortable it was a mess! She rested/slept on 1 couch and I was on the loveseat we didn't get much sleep that night.