update on Catherine March 19th

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers!

Catherine got out of the hospital today. She is having a combination of problems: epileptic seizures and fatigue/stress related non-epileptic ones. She is on Triliptol and we are to monitor her situation. She can go back to school in the fall barring anything new between now and then. However, she is under strict orders to only take 12 credits, work a job where she does not have to get up before her usual rising time, get 8 to 9 hrs of sleep, and eat regular, decent meals…no getting by on a snack. We have direct contact with the hospital if any further problems should develop.

Both she and Melanie have to go back to Montreal for another test each on April 6th and to meet with Dr. Andermann.

We have a wonderful God! From what Melanie heard from a pediatric neurosurgeon who specializes in epilepsy, the Neurological hospital of Montreal is the top hospital in the world for epilepsy. We could not have been in better hands.

Again, Thank you for praying.

Update on Catherine (and Melanie) March 17, 2009

Melanie took a 6:00 a.m. bus on Monday from Montreal to Quebec City in order to attend her class at the University of Laval on Tuesday.  Up to now we have managed to drive her back and forth.  Because of her own condition, she is not able to make the three-hour trip alone.  Last week, Stephanie went down to pick her up and we both drove her back on Tuesday night.  This allowed both Stephanie and me to be present for consultation with three different neurologists on Wednesday, have blood work done, then drive home late Wednesday night.  Anyway, the original plan for this week was for Melanie to take the bus back to be with Catherine late this afternoon.  However, the hospital called and requested that Melanie herself be admitted for surveillance at 8:30 a.m. today.  Sooo…  since  Stephanie was off work today, she and Melanie left at 4:00 a.m. this morning to go directly back to the hospital.  Melanie will most likely share a room with Catherine and both of them should be released to come home by Friday evening – at least that is the current plan :-).

update on Catherine March 11th

Catherine had a seizure on Monday night, but the EEG was so garbled with activity by her movements that they could not find the “epicenter”. However, they do have a video recording of what was happening to her. Mike, Catherine and I were able to review it with the Dr. and were able to confirm that what was being seen was what we have witnessed in the past.  The Dr. is keeping her through next Friday. Tomorrow, she will undergo at least two other tests and a third will be scheduled as an outpatient once she is released next week. Thank you for your prayers.

update Catherine March 4th

So far nothing has shown up on the EEG for Catherine, even though she had an episode of something at 2am. Please pray that she will have several seizures and that the Dr. would be able to get the data needed. She has several exams tomorrow. Thank you

update Catherine March 2nd

No seizures yet for Catherine. As a matter of fact, her EEG was the «quietest» of the floor. So keep praying that she will have some. On Friday, she will be unhooked from the telemetry and they will run some other tests. After those are over, she will be hooked back up to the telemetry. On Melanie’s end of things, they will do an MRI today, an MEG tomorrow, and a 24 hr or ambulatory EEG on Thursday.

Thank you for your prayers.

Update on Catherine on Feb 27th

Friday, February 26th, Catherine was admitted to the Montreal Neurological Hospital to undergo a series of test.  She is hooked up to a telemetry machine and is being video monitored 24/7. The neurologist is also going to do two MRIs, a PET scan ( a special kind) and a magnetic encephalogramme.

She may be reached at:

Telephone– (514) 398-6644 ext 09238

Mail–Catherine Webster, Montreal Neurological Hospital, 3rd floor, room 338, 3801, University street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4

Melanie will also undergo some of these tests, namely the MRIs, the PET and the MEG, but on an outpatient basis.

Thank you for your prayers. We can see God’s hand in all of this.

Serving with Independent Faith Mission since 1984