Update on Ann Edwards

I am asked on a fairly regular basis about how my wife Ann is doing. Thought I might share a bit of our recent journey with you here.

Six years ago Ann was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and has had some very difficult symptoms related to it since then - symptoms that have paralyzed her from the waist down.. caused her to be unable communicate.. left her with weakness and currently has limited her mobility to a wheelchair. Since last summer she has had four attacks of this disease.

One month ago she was admitted to KU Med Center for surgery and has been there ever since. The surgery brought on another stroke-like attack which impaired her speaking ability and mobility. During this time Ann's doctor informed us that she was no longer certain of the MS diagnosis and would be running some tests to determine a more accurate diagnosis. After a month of physical and speech therapy it looks like Ann will be released from the hospital next week. Once out she will transition to a day hospital where she will receive physical therapy from 8am-2pm three days a week.

We had a discussion with her neurologist last night about 7:30.. it was a difficult and extremely disheartening time. The doctor told us that none of the tests and procedures that Ann had been through has pointed to a clear medical diagnosis. Consequently she is asking us to consider a biopsy of Ann's brain tissue. This is creating concern for both of us because of Ann's very negative reactions to her past two surgeries. We are also concerned because of the possibility that the biopsy will not extract the diseased cells and they would not know any more than they know now. They could begin treatment soon with chemotherapy but the chemo is a very strong substance and could internally damage Ann's body.

As you can see there doesn't seem to be a magic medical solution. We are not readily open to the solutions presented to us and are hoping to find an alternative path in the coming month. I am reminded of the scripture in Isaiah that instructs us to wait on the Lord and that the main part of waiting is prayer.. to that end we ask you to wait with us.

If you would like to keep current with this situation you can press here to go to my weblog journal where I post updates on Ann's status.

Thanks so much for standing with us in prayer.

Bob Edwards