Hello Everyone,
We are asking for prayer for Melissa who is 25 weeks along in her pregnancy with Judah Peace. Melissa experienced a Grand Mal seizure or Tonic-Clonic seizure or "fit"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic–clonic_seizure) their Sunday afternoon.
It was quiet severe beginning with passing out and then seizing / culvulsing. Jacob and a friend that was with them had to hold her still/down.
There is a backstory!
During her last pregnancy Melissa experienced low blood pressure/light headedness/fainting episodes. In fact during her last ultra sound 1 week before Eden*s due date Melissa had a seizure. Thus was the reason the Dr*s decided to induce Melissa.
After the pregnancy the symptoms subsided.
When talking to medical professionals there or here in the States nothing was determined due to the lack of the symptoms once she was no longer pregnant.
As this pregnancy began she was concerned about this happening again.
Melissa traveled to Delhi last month (where Judah will be born) to visit the hospital and meet the Dr/midwife/etc.....She told them about the issues she had experienced and they worked with her and came to the conclusion that she has what is called:
Supine Hypotensive Syndrome / Aortocaval compression syndrome which happens during pregnancy.
(feel free to google these)
Her small frame lends itself to this condition as well.
Anyhow, with that diagnosis they gave her some things to do to help keep it in check or to do if she feels an episode coming on.....they also gave her a blood pressure cuff to monitor herself.
Fast forward...About 2 weeks ago they left their city and traveled 30 hours by train to the mountains (Mussoorie, India) to attend 6 weeks of Language School.
School has been going well and they have been enjoying seeing as well as experiencing green grass, mountains and trees as well.
So this episode on Sunday seems so *out of the blue*.......being they were out of the intense heat of their city which isn*t great for her condition and she was enjoying the great outdoors.
In the midst of the fear and unknown .... God continues to show Himself. Here is another back-story:
Just a few weeks prior to Jake, Melissa and Eden were to travel to Mussoorie a new couple moved to their city. they too are *Missio*nari*s*....they are with another Organization. A young couple in their 30*s, no children and She is a Doctor
Over the course of these few weeks they connected and it turned out they were planning to leave the city to travel to Mussoorie for Language School as well.
Through the course of conversation they decided to rent a house in the mountains together. Who knew haw important it would be to have a Doctor living with Jacob and Melissa at this time. God is good!
The Hancock*s had been traveling over the weekend and were on their way back to the house they are staying at in Mussoorie with another couple who also work in their city and their little girl as well. It was at least a 3 hours taxi ride.
I am guessing the taxi was fairly crowded. Jake was not feeling well so Melissa was holding Eden. (if you googled her condition above you will see that this was probably not a good way to spend 3 hours and aggravated the onset of an episode)
Apparently she passed out. Jacob/Jake figured this out and tried to waken her. He yelled at the taxi driver to stop. Jacob got her out of the car. The change of position gave her enough awareness to realize she was going to drop Eden so she plopped her in the taxi driver*s lap
She then began to seize. She convulsed and was screaming involuntarily (apparently this scared Eden...the other Mom was watching both Eden and her daughter as well)....While at this time Jacob and their friend, Josh held Melissa*s arms and legs and Josh apparently prayed over both Melissa and Jordan throughout the 10 minute episode...another Praise that he had this family in the car with them at this time.
The other couple, who are staying with them were called (they too have been away for the weekend with them but were in a separate taxi approx. 20-30 minutes ahead of them) ...this is the couple, where the wife is a Dr....So they quickly turned around and headed back.
They were able to take Melissa to a small missionary hospital in the area where their friend (Dr. Toni) really stepped in and ordered many tests, etc. (we are so thankful that God has put Dr. Toni in the midst of their lives at this very moment)
They were able to monitor Judah*s heartbeat within half and hour of the episode and it was steady and strong...and he was busy kicking and moving about and has been since that time..
Melissa was not in distress and they sent her home. They did find out she has an infection and will go on antibiotics for this (possibly not related at all and could be just the result of living life in India...but it needs to be taken care of before it becomes more of a problem if not related)
When I spoke with her our Sunday afternoon she was feeling pretty beat up from the convulsing. Her throat was sore from the yelling and she was a little slow of speech .
We heard from them around midnight (Sunday Night/Monday Morning)...and she had put in a rough night feeling sick and throwing up....and continuing to have to leave to throw up as we chatted/typed.
Dr. Toni is wanting to run further testing to not just *assume* that this episode is because of her diagnosis (supine hypotensive syndrome)...IN Case....it is something else she doesn*t want to miss it. (most of what happened falls into line with her previous diagnosis but the severity of the seizure causes the Doctor to want to investigate further to be on the safe sid)
Many of you may not know that Melissa has a *chiari malformation* (another item to google).....and this has been the cause of everyday headaches since she was a little girl...with more severe tension headaches, Migraines very regularly on a weekly (sometimes multiple in a week) basis from moderate to severe. (I know she is my daughter, but I must say that she is amazing to do what she is doing with the pain she endures on a daily basis)
Anyhow, some people with this could experience seizures rather than migraines, etc
AND due to her history Dr. Toni wants to cross exam everything. To also rule out epilepsy.
There happens (I don*t believe it just happened but is also God ordained) to be a Neurologist coming to the area where they are staying this weekend. Dr Toni wants to take Melissa to him/her and go from there. Melissa has had many MRI*s .... so Dr Toni would like to do a Brain Wave/Scan? Sorry, it is 1AM....and I have taken in so much information at such a short time that I may not have the wording on that correct.
She wants to do what she can to prevent Melissa from seizing again if possible....to get to the bottom of it.
So, it gives this Mom great comfort being so far away to know that she has a Dr. living with her who has been checking on both Melissa and Judah regularly
They are in crisis mode and just getting her through this episode at this time and have not had a chance to think through what does this mean in the next few days, weeks, months ahead.
The little missionary hospital where they are at does not even have an ultra sound....there nearest larger hospital is 1 1/2 hours away. Delhi is quiet far beyond that.
So pray with us. For healing for Melissa. For protection over both she and Judah. For comfort for Eden if she senses something is wrong with Mommy. For Jacob as he cares for both his precious girls. For wisdom for them both. Praise Him for the way God brought Dr. Toni into the middle of all this. Someone whom they did not even know 2 months ago but He orchestrated the situation for them to have a Dr living with them at this time....They also have other friends who are also up in the mountains with them....who were in the car with them during the seizure who will be a great encouragement to them....along with several other friends who live there and are also there for school.
For PEACE of mind for both of them..Melissa said they were both pretty scared and are shaken up.....and Melissa does not say things like that easily.
They asked if we would put together an email to send to YOU our Praying Friends and Family!!!
Melissa is pretty weak and tired and not up to phone calls.
Jake is still pretty traumatized, exhausted and using much of his energy caring for both Melissa and Eden.
BUT....she said they would love to hear from any of you via email. (their internet is sketchy up there but they will be happy to get encouragement when it does work...even if it something mundane like something you did on the weekend...or to just tell them you are praying for them)...or you could send them a private FB message as well.
I know this would be of great encouragement!
Their email is:
Please note that you should NOT mention their ministry in the body of the email...and definitely nothing about God in the subject line for security purposes!
I know this was long and rambling....Thank you for muddling through it....and....I thank you in advance for your prayers!
Love,
Lisa...(for Doug...and Jacob, Melissa and Eden too)
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