photo darling-header_zpswtwkdcas.png
 photo home_zpshvywoptq.png  photo about_zpsydmjl24b.png  photo faqs_zpsuv8jjpbe.png  photo videos_zps0mddtpry.png  photo sledhockey_zpsli4gq33r.png

Friday, October 19, 2012

Only because of HIS divine power...

Days are extra-long here. I don’t necessarily want to pray for our time here to go quickly or the days to pass by because I hate wishing for time to fly…doesn’t it already do that enough?!  
But…it does seem as though time drags on here. My walks to the hospital are filled with a dark sky hardly any movement around and when I leave at night it’s once again dark and quiet. I am getting out of the room some but at this point it’s still important for me to be around as much as possible.
I decided to make posting again today a priority because I need to open up a little more about our struggles and where we’re at. I’m not going to go into details with some of it because I need to protect Cale and myself…but I do need want to share some so you might know more specifically how to pray for us and share more about why we’re inpatient in this program.
Yesterday when I posted I kept it light because I wanted to focus on being so thankful for your prayers and how awesome it was that we were each gifted something special. There weren’t any explosions yesterday but Cale still has a lot of anger and gets upset often. At least every 20 minutes, normally even more often, he’ll ask why we’re here. He just isn’t able to remember why we’re here or to grasp and understand. Every time he asks, it’s followed by him becoming really angry. Sometimes, he just yells and hits the bed or himself. Recently (within the last couple months) he’s been threatening to hurt himself (with words)  when his anger rises. I’ve written before about his anger maturing. Yesterday every time he would become angry, we were able to keep it somewhat controlled and redirect him.
Sometimes, we’re not so fortunate and his anger escalates until he’s uncontrollable. Along with him threatening to hurt himself, he has reached a point that he has tried acting on it. As well as hurting himself, he’s begun hurting me. Up until San Diego, it wasn’t to a point that I felt like he would actually hurt me. Over the last month it’s progressed to a point that I no longer have a choice. I’m not safe and neither is he. I need help.
After returning from Ecuador I was told of this program that helps with medication management. We had already started the process of weaning him off of one med curious if that was contributing to his mood swings. We weren’t really sure where to go and because his neurologist is in Seattle it was left to me to weed through the changes on the med switches and figuring out what was going to be the best next step. Cale was in a coma and unresponsive when he was put on his meds so we have no idea how the side effects affect him. His mood swings could be from medication, brain injury, or a level in his body off. Possibly from something else or all of the above!
At this point because both of our lives have been at risk, even if we weren’t in this program, I wouldn’t be able to have him home. I hate that we’re here in this stage and I hate that he’s having to go through this and I really hate that I have to watch him be so miserable, but I rest in being confident in the knowledge that we are not alone and that the Lord has already qualified me for this moment in our marriage to love Cale the best that I can even if that means watching him hurt.
  I also once again can declare how amazing it is to see God’s hand through each step we have to take. Cale’s anger has been progressing since winter of 2010, but at this point right now, I had no idea it was going to get so intense, but of course God did! Over a year ago He brought a super wonderful awesome woman into my life that has helped multiple times since and then again this last August was able to recommend the idea and possibility of Cale going inpatient again to figure out his meds and to see if we can get him leveled. I was very unsure about him going inpatient again and I knew he was not going to like it one bit. I knew it was going to be hard but I knew it was a direction we needed to go. Now, I’m even more thankful knowing that he’s in this incredible (no other word describes it well enough!) program for his meds rather than us being at home with no hands on support!
I’ve been thinking the last few days about how I walked with Christ and sought Him before ever dating a guy. I prayed for my future husband consistently since I was 13 and chose a man who I knew loved the Lord. I could never have imagined or even thought about how one day a time would come that I would fear him and be hurt emotionally and physically by him. Even as I type this and as I’ve talked with Mama, I can’t even fully understand.
I know that he loves and adores me and aside from his explosions he is the sweetest husband to me.  
We ask that you pray specifically for-
* Wisdom for the doctors and staff here as they learn him and begin to come up with a care plan. I have been told that we could be here a long while…
* Peace, joy and comfort that only God can provide to pour over him.
* That Cale’s heart would be open to this program and that he would gain understanding. Also that he would be willing and open for treatment.
* I’m also praying that everyone we come into contact with here, we would be a blessing to and that we would let Jesus fill and overflow so that they will see Him in us and that all glory would go to Him.
* Patience for staff, myself, and Cale. For Cale’s safety he has been assigned someone to be with him at all times. Even if I’m around, a staff has Cale in their line of vision. He’s also being observed as they watch how he reacts to different things, what triggers cause him to be angry, and why he does some of the things he does. It’s a long slow process and just takes time.
 
* We would be able to leave knowing which med if any Cale needs to be on and that we'd have tools to further his recovery and provide a better life for him.
* Weekends are quiet and very laid back here. There's no schedule and lots of down time. As I've already said, the down time is when Cale struggles the most. Oh goody...!
This afternoon Cale had another explosion. It was his second for the day. This time he was hanging out by the double doors yelling that he wanted to go home. It’s a locked unit so he can’t just walk off. I was trying to redirect and calm him down but a couple cleaning ladies put the code in to come through the doors. As soon as they opened, Cale bolted. I stayed behind and let a couple of the strong Navy guys follow. He ended up locking himself in a room down the hall and wouldn’t let anyone in or come out. He kept asking for me so one of the guys came and led me to my man behind the door. He did let me in and so it wouldn’t just be the two of us, one of the doctors slipped his foot so he couldn’t close it. We were finally able to get him out of the room only by talking about his brother Ty and how he should call him. Once out of the room he would only stand in the hall but we couldn’t get him to budge and head back to the unit. Finally I was able to get a smile and talked him into going back to his room but he would only with one condition…he wanted me to prance down the hall. So pranced I did! Yep, I sure did. Right in front of the two doctors and the navy guys.
While he’s here they are giving him therapy. It’s a couple days out of the week and helps break up the days. Right now he’s locked on the unit and we’re switching from card game to card game along with the iPad games and Xbox to keep him entertained. One of the goals Cale has for PT is to pick up and carry our (someday) baby by himself safely. So, the PT went on a thinking hunt and today she brought in an 8 pound ball weight for him to work with.
Here’s are little family! Isn’t our baby so sweet?! Cale said it’s a girl because it has purple…
 
 
Again I want to thank you for all your prayers. I have been loaded with such sweet and encouraging words from so many of you. I can’t imagine walking this journey and not having all of you apart of our lives!
If you want to send an encouraging card to Cale send to:
Caleb Darling
8901 Wisconsin Ave
TBI-7East Bldg 10, 7th floor
Bethesda, MD 20889
 
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. -2 Peter 1:3
 
 

12 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry that the season you are in finds threats for both you and Cale. I know you give a hundred and fifty billion percent of yourself while caring from him and I'm glad that part of that care is knowing when to get help from others. I am extremely thankful that you have the care he's receiving as an option. As always, your faith shines brightly and inspires me greatly! Thank you for such a quick and specific update so that I know how to better pray for you.

    -Anonymous-

    ReplyDelete
  2. My name is Sherri Vickaryous and i am praying for you. and your whole family.

    ReplyDelete
  3. :( We love you guys so very much. Praying for you:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. My Sweet Kathleen, I love you and KNOW Father loves you so much more. My heart hurts with you. I am grateful Father has you in this place. I know He will bring healing in many ways. I am trusting Father to give you strength, peace that passes ALL understanding, wisdom, and understanding, the feeling of happiness as well as the JOY that is always yours because it is Christ's characteristic, and therefore in you. You are a tresure, Marion

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kathy Beckett10/19/12, 7:32 PM

    Kathleen, Thanks for sharing so honestly about the struggles you and Cale are facing. I see now why this program is so important for your family & how miraculous it is that God provided this opportunity. We will pray earnestly for the program to bring many, many things to light that will aid the doctors in making wise decisions for Cale in terms of meds and therapies. Love and prayers are with you. Please pass my warmest regards along to your sweet mother. Give Cale a hug for me. I love you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kathleen, this has to be extremely hard for you- and I know that that is an understatement. If you have a chance and don't already have a church nearby, I suggest 4th Presbyterian Church in Bethesda on River Road. 4thpres.org It is so special that we try to go once a month, though we have moved 90 minutes away. At least you would know Christians nearby. Kathleen H

    ReplyDelete
  7. Girly thank you for being so honest. I will pray for you tons. I'm so sorry this is the season you are in. I wish I had words. The only thing that comes to mind is this too shall pass, and that's what I will pray. I will be praying the enemy will have no ground and that you both will emerge from this battle beautifully molded and reflecting Him even more. I hope nothing I ever say hurts you but I also don't want to say nothing because of that fear, because I know how it feels to walk through my valley and feel so alone because everyone is scared of saying the wrong thing, that they say nothing. So I rather risk putting my foot in my mouth, lol, and you know you are loved and cared about. I love you and can't wait for eternity where will be nothing but beaming smiles on all of our faces!! He's got you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. My dear friend (even though we have never met in person)--
    I read this blog post and wasn't exactly sure how to respond other than to pray. My heart has been heavy for you. You have come to mind SOOOO often since I read this. I appreciate you sharing your heart and also the prayer list you gave us. That helps so much. I just keep thinking "Wow...I can't imagine what you are going through." I am so thankful you had the courage to seek help! I feel that often takes a lot of courage! Truly, as hard as all this is for you and Cale both, God is going to use this experience to bless the lives of so many people that may come along your path now and in the future. You will be able to understand people on levels that others cannot in so many different areas. I know that does not make it any easier to go through though. I just want to give you a big hug, cry with you, laugh with you and pray with you! :o) (The thought crossed my mind to get on an Amtrak and come see you but then I remembered I don't have the money to do that right now! LOL! I wish I could!) When I think of marriage vows and what they mean...you come to mind. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do you part...I know you love Cale so much but what you are going through is HARD STUFF!!! YOU ARE AWESOME AND YOU HAVE AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE JUST THIS WONDERFUL TESTIMONY OF COMMITMENT IN THE FACE OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS! God is using YOUR LOVE STORY even now to touch people's lives! NEVER FORGET THAT! God is receiving Glory in your love story with your husband...you both are precious and THIS family here in Sanford, NC are praying for you daily!!
    Love in Christ,
    Emily Jordan

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Darling, Kathleen! Know we love you and that we are praying for you and Cale! Your sisters, girlfriends and CORE team buddies and sea mommas are in this with you:)!!

    Your valiant courage,sweet heart of mercy, faith and commitment is such a glory to our God and an honor to your husband. I am reminded of the 'hope' you have that can only come from faith in a loving God.... Rom 5:1-5.... Hope does not disappoint. This is supernatural!!!

    "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame or disappoint, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

    We love you guys and are praying along with you!
    Julia

    ReplyDelete

Please included at least your first name and know that we are reviewing each comment so it may take up to 12 hours to post. Thank you all for your constant encouragement and prayers.

Blogging tips