Bell's Palsy

Do you know what this is?  I really had no idea!  I had heard of it, but honestly... I couldn't have given a good definition.

BUT a little over a week ago, I had the opportunity to learn a LOT more about this ailment!

WHY??

Because DANO has it!

In the ER... looking at this, the right side of
his face has a droop not on his left side

Notice how his left eyebrow is up & there are wrinkles on
his forehead.  The right side of his face did not move!

This was his BEST smile.  =0(  

Friday (a week and a half ago) Dano began to notice his mouth wasn't working just right.  He didn't mention anything to me.  Saturday morning when he woke up, the right side of his face was paralyzed!  When he was first telling me, I didn't get it.  I thought his face was asleep or maybe it was a little numb or maybe it was a result of being rearended while we were in Texas.  I thought it was something that would be gone in a few minutes or something that would wear off by the end of the day.

Well, Dano went straight to the computer & was researching it (which is NOT normal for Dano).  By the time I got out of the shower, he was pretty certain he had Bell's Palsy.  I'm like... "whatever!"  A nice, compassionate wife response, huh?  But the more he told me about his symptoms & what Bell's Palsy was, I was beginning to be convinced!

We had brunch with his aunt (a nurse) & his cousins (one a nurse in school, one an x-ray man, & one's wife an OT!)  They were all pretty convinced he had Bell's Palsy!

On Sunday, we requested prayer from our church in Jacksonville (as they had us in front of the church asking us for prayer requests as we said goodbye).

On Monday, we still had no plans to go to the doctor or ER... but before the day was over & through a series of events, Dano decided he did want to go to the ER.  So off we went (with our host keeping the kiddos for us)!

We weren't there long... and he got an official diagnosis that it was indeed Bell's Palsy!  They didn't even run any tests!  Apparently, if your eyebrow DOESN'T work, it is Bell's Palsy.  If your eyebrow works, but the rest of your face is paralyzed... then it is probably the result of a stroke.  (Now don't go using that as medical advice... but that is what the doctor told us.)  So... they gave him a Rx for steroids & sent us on our merry way!

This can last for 6 months!  FORTUNATELY, Dano is already VERY MUCH IMPROVED!!  He already has a lot of movement back in his face.  It was never numb... just paralyzed!  Just looking at him now, I can't tell there is even a problem... unless he blinks... because only one eye blinks!  Of course, if he smiles... he does still favor a pirate (especially if he is wearing the eye patch which keeps his eye from drying out so badly).

Dano "smiling" his best pirate smile!  

Thank you for those who already knew about this & were praying!

Thank you to those of you who faithfully lift us up even when you don't know we have an urgent need!

God is faithful!  Our faith rests in HIM!

Please continue to pray for a QUICK & COMPLETE recovery!