Cherie

Those of you who have read this blog for awhile have read about our friends Andy, Cherie, and their son Zach. I've known Andy since I met John, and Cherie and I got along right away when she began her relationship with Andy two and a half  years ago. John, Hannah Grace, and I always make sure to spend time with them (along with our friends Michael and Amber) every time we come to Middle Tennessee. The six of us have formed a bond so strong that the line that used to mark the distinction between friend and family has been smeared and we don't even know the difference anymore.

On January 1st, Cherie was rushed to the ER with a sudden, severe pain in her temple. The medical staff at that hospital dismissed the pain as an odd migraine and sent her home with some painkillers. 

The pain still lingered and worsened into the following evening, so Andy drove her to another hospital about 45 minutes away from their apartment in hopes of getting a (more extensive) second opinion. After waiting several hours in the ER, they were finally able to see a doctor who could tell the pain was severe enough for Cherie to be admitted to the hospital for further testing. 

To make a long story short, Cherie was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. You'll want to click on the link for more information, but basically she has severe pain on one (and sometimes both, which is rare) sides of her face. While the spasms can be triggered by several things, nobody knows what set it off in the first place. Heart breakingly enough, the squeals and loud jabbering of nine month old Zach can cause the pain to increase, so it is very difficult for her to be around him for long periods of time.

There is no guaranteed cure for Trigeminal Neuralgia, but it can be treated. Right now they (Andy, Cherie, and the doctors) are searching for the best medical treatment for her. Surgery is an option they are considering, and she will be consulting with a neurosurgeon at the end of the month.

Cherie is in a lot of pain, and while she is on medications, the lingering pain greatly affects her day to day life. John, Hannah Grace, and I have seen her twice since the diagnosis, and while she is able to talk with us, it's evident she is uncomfortable. Being a girl of such spunk, joy, passion it is really hard to watch her go through this. Cherie is as strong as anyone can be in this situation, and I admire her faith as walks this long, difficult journey.

We pray for her daily, and I am writing this in hopes of it reaching as many people as possible. If you are reading this, please, even if it's just for a second, pray for peace and healing for Cherie. All she wants to do is get better so she can take care of her son and allow Andy to resume a normal work schedule.