Im going to take a chance here this morning that my wife wont mind if I share her personal struggles with all of you for prayer purposes. Also, I hope to convey why and how much I admire her strength and courage. She rarely whines or complains, and when she does share her troubles it is from desperation for others to understand and for her fellow believers to pray for her. Some years back, through batteries of doctors too numerous to count, her symptoms were finally diagnosed by Duke University physicians as Syringomyelia (sear-IN-go-my-EEL-ya). It is a disorder in which a cyst forms within the spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, expands and elongates over time, destroying a portion of the spinal cord from its center and expanding outward. As a syrinx widens it compresses and injures nerve fibers that carry information from the brain to the extremities. Damage to the spinal cord often leads to progressive weakness in the arms and legs, stiffness in the back, shoulders, arms, or legs, and chronic, severe pain. Other symptoms may include headaches, a loss of the ability to feel extremes of hot or cold (especially in the hands), and loss of bladder and other functions. Each individual experiences a different combination of symptoms depending on where in the spinal cord the syrinx forms and how far it extends. Signs of the disorder tend to develop slowly, although sudden onset may occur with coughing or straining. (National Institute of Neurology and Stroke) The neurosurgeon we last spoke to at Duke tells us the condition is non-surgical and we can only wait for it to worsen. Thankfully, it is a very slow progression. Over the years the neurological pain and weakness has increased in severity and frequency. Lately, it has been almost debilitating. When most people see her, she looks entirely normal and she works hard to cover her pain. A simple trip to Walmart or an extended walk takes a toll that increases pain for days following. This is all very frustrating and even depressing for a woman who loves so much to be active and relationally engaging. So, needless to say, I not only love my wonderful wife, Barbara Park Williams, but she is one of the bravest people I know and admire most in all the world. Simply put, I hope this helps people to understand what she endures daily, and I ask for you to pray for her.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 10:55:58 +0000
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