Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Trials & Changes

After a 4-month long silence, it's hard to know where to start.

Fortunately, most of you are somewhat aware of what has been going on in our lives recently - Jonathan's health issues, all the flights into Anchorage, ER visits and doctor visits, etc. Most of you are probably clueless about what's actually wrong with him, but we're all in the same boat there.

I won't go into the details of his various puzzling symptoms or all the tests and "diagnoses" we've had. Suffice it to say, we've gotten "answers" but we haven't been completely satisfied with any of them. None of them really fit. Of course, his symptoms change so often that hardly anything has a chance to fit before something else comes up.

Last week we hit a wall when we had to take another last-minute flight to the ER, this time for chest and abdominal pain. At the hospital they did an EKG, a blood test and even gave him something for acid reflux, just in case. Later, he had a CT scan for his abdominal pain. Everything came back normal. His doctor didn't have any suggestions any more. He referred him to a GI doctor which will take weeks or more to get in with.

So, we sat down and talked about a difficult decision that has been on our minds for a while: going back to Georgia.

It isn't a new idea; of course it has been in the back of our minds all along, but we really didn't think it would reach that point. With this last flight into Anchorage, however, we realized that we can't keep this up any longer.

We've been in Anchorage as much or more than we've been home lately, which means Jonathan isn't working and we're spending extra money on hotels and meals in addition to medical care. Poor little Ethan never knows where he will be sleeping next. And as much as we love and are loved here, Port Alsworth isn't a place for sick people. Even with most modern conveniences available (except for any type of medical care whatsoever), the bush is still the bush and everything you do is more difficult in some aspect.

So, we've worked out a plan. We've arranged to have Jonathan's brother house-sit for us so that we can leave the majority of our belongings, taking only bare necessities down with us. We are hoping to be gone for only a few months, expecting to return to Port Alsworth for the start of the busy season in April or May. Until then, we will be living with Jonathan's parents, enjoying family and friends and seeking better medical care.

This hasn't been an easy decision by far; we love it here. We have a cozy house, we have sweet friends, we live in one of the most beautiful and adventurous places in the world. We've worked hard to make this home and it is now. We are heartbroken to leave it, even for a season, but it simply makes sense.

 We will be leaving very soon, catching a flight to Anchorage tomorrow and leaving Alaska on Wednesday afternoon! Every day out here has become a nerve-wracking roller-coaster with Jonathan's health and it makes no sense to prolong it now that we've made a decision.

I can't close this post without thanking you. Friends from all over the country have reached out to us. We are so grateful for the endless prayers and emails and offers of support from so many of you, even when you didn't understand what was happening. You knew we needed help and that was enough to keep you on your knees until you knew otherwise. Not many can boast such friends. How richly blessed we are!!!

When we returned home from Anchorage on Saturday we found a spotless house, our dirty dishes and laundry cleaned, cookies and a sweet note waiting and dinner on the way! I cried. It was so much what we needed. We are loved and we are not alone.


 

1 comment:

  1. Jenna and Jonathan,

    We had no idea! So sorry to hear about your struggles with health, Jonathan. Jenna, sympathize with your struggles being a mom and facing overwhelming difficulties at the same time. We will be praying for you both as you make this transition and will also pray that the health issues will be resolved quickly.

    ~Jared & Carol

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