(posted by Kristi Corley)

For those of you that have followed Alex’s blog page, I deeply appologize for the extreme delay in updating you on Alex’s improvements.  It truly is exciting news.  Alex has been doing WONDERFUL since her surgery.  There were no complications with implanting the VNS Therapy device, and the healing process went rather quickly… she was back in school by Monday, just 4 days later!  At her 2 week check up we were pleased to report that she had had only 1 known seizure total!  Can  you believe it, going from daily sleeping seizures and unpredictable spells for days on end with 3-4 awake seizures … to ONE seizure in two weeks! And now, it has been 2 months and still only the one seizure.  WOW!

Alex’s VNS device was turned on at a very low “mini-amperage”, and over the next 2 months, the doctors will slightly increase the level to a normal operating level.  We will continue to visit the doctors office every two week over the next 2 months and begin eliminating her seizure medicine.

We are already seeing remarkable improvements in Alex.  Besides the obvious near elimination of her seizures (yeah!!), Alex is already showing huge improvements in her speed of speech, memory, vocabulary, and performance at school.

Thank you for all of your prayers and concern for Alexandria.  We deeply appreciate you.  If it ever takes 6 weeks to update you on Alex again… gently remind us to get on the ball!!!!!

This Monday (Feb. 6th) Alex has an appointment with a neurosurgeon to weigh benefits and risks — and to prepare for the surgical procedure — of her having a VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulator) device implanted under the skin. Alex’s seizure disorder just hasn’t been under control for a while now. So after exploring a number of different medical and homeopathic avenues, VNS therapy (www.vnstherapy.com) appears to be the next best thing for her.

(posted by Andy Corley)

As of tonight, Alex has gone THREE DAYS without any day-time seizures!

Here’s a great word of truth that I read today from John Piper*:

Jesus told a parable once about an unrighteous judge. The point of the parable was that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). A widow kept coming to the judge and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” Finally he does it because of her persistence. Jesus makes this point: “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily” (Luke 18:6-8). God’s sure purpose is to give justice to his elect. And his decision is to do it through their crying to him for vindication day and night.

After I read this paragraph today, I was so humbled by the fact that God is obviously answering your persistent prayers and ours on Alex’s behalf. What a great testimony of His great love and mercy!

Praise be to You, my God and Savior! I praise you for your unfailing love and favor!

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*Indented text taken from DesiringGod.org. Text by John Piper. ©Desiring God. Reproduced by permission.

(posted by Andy Corley)

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to Thy name give glory
Because of Thy lovingkindness,
Because of Thy truth.”

This past weekend at church, even before the invitation was given to have the elders pray for healing according to [url=http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%205:14-15&version=49 new=true]James 5:14-15[/url], both Kristi and I were convicted that we should take Alex to meet with the elders for prayer. And then a clear confirmation came when Alex had a seizure right next to us during pastor Joel’s sermon.

After the service was over we were able to meet with two very encouraging elders who took Kristi, Alex and I into the little prayer room by the front of the sanctuary. Kristi and I briefly shared about Alex’s seizures, and the elders read some key passages of scripture. Then they annointed Alex with oil and prayed fervently that God would heal and restore her.

Kristi and I both understand that God can heal Alex immediately. We also understand that He sometimes heals people gradually, over time. And we understand that He may even choose to not heal Alex at all! But whatever happens, we want to glorify God through each and every situation.

Please pray with us as we continue to seek God’s will in Alex’s life and in ours as a family.

“You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
… as for us, we will bless the Lord
from this time forth and forever.
Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 115:11, 18

(posted by Andy Corley)

Alex continues to do well with no seizures while she is awake. However, it appears that she is still having at least one seizure pretty much every time she goes to sleep. But we are grateful that we haven’t had to increase the dosage amount for Alex’s anti-seizure medication.

Following doctors orders, Kristi took Alex in yesterday for her first MRI in three years. The films from this test should be very helpful when Alex sees her pediatric neurologist later this month.

We’ll update you more later on the details of this future appointment.

Alex’s appointment with the neuro-surgeon went very well.  After reading many pamphlets, watching an informational DVD, and the thorough appointment this last week, we are certain that we should go forward with the VNS Therapy procedure.

Alex’s surgery is next Thursday, the 23rd, at 10:00am.  We are able to have it done here in Orlando and insurance should be covering all expenses!  It is an out-patient procedure that should only take an hour and then she will be able to go home that same day.  The doc said that she should be able to go back to school on Monday!

She has been doing really good these last few weeks… I am really excited at the possibility of Alex totally being off of her seizure medicine and remaining seizure free… it is hard to wrap my mind around!  During the dr. appt, the surgeon was very positive and encouraged that we can predict the majority of her seizures (her sleeping seizures) and that we will be able to closely monitor her to see if those seizures are eliminated.  He said that the success rate is now 80% and is more and more favorable in seizure patients.