Monday, June 18, 2012, Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, 11:54 a.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana Sandusky here.  I wasn't planning on writing for a little while, but I thought that you'd like to know that my son, Johnathon, is in the hospital. 

He had another seizure.  He had been doing so good, but then last night, Rebekka called me to tell me that my son (and her husband) had been rushed to the hospital after suffering a prolonged seizure.  He is going to be okay, but they are trying to find the right combination of medications to help control them better.  Guess the one he had been on wasn't strong enough.

They have him in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit), where he is currently being monitored and tended to by the staff.  He is holding his own, but still .... a setback is a setback, no questions about it.  Rebekka is here with me and she is understandably concerned about her husband.    I, being his mother, am concerned too; I have a right to be.

We have been having a great summer so far: Loretta Lynn concert (back on May 28th), Fan Fair (last weekend), getting ready for the Fourth of July .... then this happened.  Seems like we are back to square one, but knowing Johnny, he will come out on the winning side.  Seems he always does.  Johnny may look fragile, but his spirit and tenacity is a lot stronger than what most people give him credit for.  He has to be to live this long despite having a progressive neuromuscular condition!

Ronee', Camey, Tammi, Steffi, and Dwerlina (as well as Lightning) have been calling to get the latest information on their brother; they may come home if need be.  I told them that their brother is doing okay, so they don't have to come all this way for nothing, but I can understand their concern.  Besides, Ronee' is coming home anyway next weekend for the Fourth of July, along with her fiance', Michael.  They want to spend the Fourth of July with us. 

If I am not working at Nashville Memorial Hospital, I'm either taking kids to appointments here at Vandy or Nashville Children's, taking care of 'em at home (along with my aged parents, not to mention a whole herd of animals), doing laundry, writing, cooking, taking care of errands, and so forth.  It's a wonder I get any rest at all.  And whoever said one gets rest in a hospital obviously LIED.  So that's why you don't hear from me as much as you used to.  I hardly have any time for myself; I'm always doing things for others!

Well, I'm going to go back to see Johnny and help him with his lunch.  I will write in here again soon; pray that he is out in a few days!  Until later, this is Louisiana Sandusky saying so long!  God bless and keep the prayers coming, especially for Johnny and Rebekka; they are the ones who really need 'em!  Thanks in advance!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May.  :(