I had been suffering from small seizures since the summer of 2008.  In March 2009 I found out my DBS battery was critically low.  It was originally successfully implanted by Dr. Paul Francel.  I hadn't been feeling well for several weeks.  Dr. Klos kept turning up my DBS device thinking it would control it.  They continued, but were very mild.   However, they became severe, and were thought at that time to possibly be caused by the dead battery.  My neurotransmitter was replaced by Dr. Kim Pratt, a neurosurgeon in Ada in April.  He restored my ability to walk well again, but the new device didn't stop my seizures.  So some more investigating was needed.

I had some seizure testing in Dallas after Christmas 2009.  It was a very difficult experience (10 seizures in 2 days), but it determined what Dr. Klos needed to know, that my seizures are not epileptic in nature.  Also, it allowed Dr. Klos to obtain a video of my seizures. One of my brothers, who also has Dystonia, has seizures now.  I hope these new findings will also help him. 

My seizures have caused a huge hardship on me and my family.  We had to move to Kingfisher to be near my parents who could help us some.  We were allowed by our church to live in the church trailer until we could find a house to live in. 

Please pray that the Lord will give our family the strength we need to get through this.  It has been especially hard on my wonderful husband Daniel, my caregiver, and our beautiful daughter Abby.  I recently told her that she didn't need to stay in the room with me when I had seizures and that she could say the 23rd Psalm and hold her dolly tight if she wanted to.  It is all very upsetting for a little girl worrying about her mommy.

Our former house that was on the market for months was taken off the market, yet sold 2 months after the sign was taken down.  Amazing things keep happening in our lives.

I am still having daily seizures and cannot be around lots of people or noise.   I have had hundreds of them, 1 to 3 a day.  So, I am pretty much housebound.  The Lord has given me the strength and grace to still be alive though.  This has been the most difficult year of our lives, but in some ways the most rewarding. 

We can feel the presence of the Lord in our lives more than ever before.  The Lord has shown us over and over again that he has been with us each step of the way directing our paths.  He has lifted us up when we were down. When we were too weak and broken  to walk, he has carried us.  He has provided for our needs.   With him we are victorious!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills.
 From whence cometh my help?
 My help cometh from the Lord,
 who made heaven and earth.
 Psalms 121:1-2

Our Daughter - Abby Paige Merritt

Rachael Merritt--Victory Over Dystonia