Since we have many new followers and prayer warriors, I have updated the about section of Tonys page. Since it was too long to put everything there, Im posting it here. Thanks again to each and everyone of you. Even though this has been a long and trying time for our family, we do know just how blessed we are! We still have our Tony and he is continuing to make progress every single day. This is a prayer page for my son, Tony Bates. On Thursday, April 3, 2014, Tony was driving to his orthodontist appointment when he noticed numbness and tingling in his right hand and arm. By the time he got to Hazlehurst from Wesson, he knew something was wrong. He stopped at Copiah Medical and was told to go to the ER. He called my sister who works in Hazlehurst and she came and got him to the hospital. During all this, I was still at work and didnt have a clue that my babys life was being changed forever. My sister called me and told me that I needed to get to the hospital NOW. I just knew that he had been in a wreck because I knew that he should have been at his appointment at that time. I called Andy to see where he was and told him to meet me at the hospital. Then, I called Joe. Neither of us knew how bad it was still. I flew to Hardy Wilson. By the time I got there, Tony had already had a CT scan of his brain. Because of his young age and symptoms, Dr. Gannaway had him airlifted to UMC. I still couldnt believe what was happening. They thought he had a stroke. Once at UMC, as a precaution he was given medication to dissolve blood clots. By nighttime, Tony was paralyzed on both sides of his body. But, never did he loose any of him memory. He was able to tell the doctors everything that had happened to him and when each occurred. Tony spent 2 days in ICU and a total of 12 days at UMC. He had so many tests during those days that I lost count. The doctors considered a spinal stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, West Nile, and Neuromyelitis Optica. When he was discharged from UMC, his diagnosis was listed as MS. From UMC, Tony was transferred to Methodist Rehabilitation Center for a month of inpatient therapy. Once he was home, he received home health services for several weeks. At his follow-up visit with the neurologist, we were told that his final diagnosis was Neuromyelitis Optica. There is no cure for this rare disease. Tonys plan of treatment includes 2 Rituxan infusions two weeks apart every 6 months and physical and occupational therapy. After home health, he began outpatient therapy twice a week at Methodist Rehab in Flowood. During his therapy, Tony has progressed from a wheelchair to a platform walker while wearing leg braces. He completed 4 months of therapy there before being recommended for the Quest Program of therapy. Tony started the Quest program Nov. 19, 2014. He will be going 3 days a week. Tony still cant use his right hand (Yes, hes right handed!) His occupational therapist referred him to a new physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor. Tony saw him for an evaluation around the first of Nov. Dr. Blount recommended Botox injections into Tonys right arm to help with the tone in his hand and fingers. We are still waiting on approval of insurance on this. Tony continues to be followed by his neurologist, urologist, physical and occupational therapist, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, and his family doctor. During all of this, Tony has also been busy completing the classes he was taking at Copiah Lincoln Community College at the time he became sick. And, he is taking a full load of online classes this semester also! When he had the attack in April, Tony was finishing up the prerequisites for the nursing program and had an interview scheduled for entry into the program. Because he still doesnt have use of his right hand, he is also taking computer classes and considering a computer science degree. All of his hard work is and will pay off. He was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa this year alongside his brother, Andy. Tony was also honored with being in Whos Who Among Students in Americas Community Colleges 2014-2015. Please leave him encouraging words. We want him to be able to see how many friends, family, and complete strangers he has praying for him during this time. We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. We are just amazed at the outpouring of love!
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 04:34:56 +0000
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