Ketogenic Diet

We went to see Dr. Farrell, the ketogenic diet neurologist today.

The appointment went so smoothly!! But it didn’t happen without your prayers!!

When we went into the appointment, the Dr. reviewed the seizures, charts and medications, looked up at me and said, “So, what would you like to do next?” I was expecting him to tell me his opinion first then ask me that question! I told him I wanted to go off the diet. It had worked in the beginning, but it has now lost its effectiveness. He said, “OK.”. Simple as that!!

Then he talked about how long to take to come off the diet. I was expecting them to say 2 or 3 months. He said, 2 or 3 weeks. That means Mason will be able to have turkey dinner with us at Christmas!!!!!!!! He won’t be eating cookies and stuff too much then yet.

After that has settled down, we’ll continue going down on meds, as it works.

The Dr. also asked something to the effect of what I’d like to do in the future. So we talked about a couple of things.

So today I felt like I received everything on my wish list, and more! Going off the diet without any opposition from the medical professionals, and doing it quickly. And just in general having increasing input in the direction of what to try in the future.

Although it may seem that we are back at square one again with the seizures, we have did have a short reprieve from the severity of them. As well, we have seen some significant development progress compared to the previous four years, in which there has been very limited advancement. He has become a little more alert and aware of himself and what goes on around him, picked up a few new words, and learned routines (although current tantrum behavior interferes with that).

His current stage of “terrible twos” tantrums and screaming are excruciatingly hard to deal with, yet they are progress in development. ( no I haven’t lost my mind . . . permanently) I believe there was enough of a reprieve from the seizures this summer and fall to allow Mason to move forward into this next phase. A toddler throws tantrums and screaming fits because he is exerting his new awareness of self and will and becoming more aware of his ability to control and make “decisions”. So there, . . . . the terrible two’s are a good thing! The hard thing is that Mason tends to stay in a stage about ten times longer (or more) than a typical child.

So this Christmas, as you sit at the dinner table with your families, remember Mason for just a few seconds - eating foods like turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, corn, and just a taste of a cookie for the first time in half a year. He will not have to eat any butter and oil that day!!

So now I wish you a most wonderful time preparing for Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus!

THANK YOU so much for your many prayers, and please continue. The future is still filled with great uncertainty, but God has each day planned for us, and He will prosper us with hope and a future. We have called upon Him, and He HAS answered!!!! Jeremiah 29:11 & 12

Blessed be the Name of the Lord!!!

Love Shirley