Spinal Infection

For journaling purposes I wanted to write down my experience with the last several weeks. I found out that the lower back pain that I have been experiencing for the last year and that has been rapidly getting worse was caused by a very rare infection in my spine. Now to back up to how we found out...As the pain continued to get worse and worse I finally went and did something about it. Went to Orthopedic PA. (a good friend of ours) to figure out what the deal was. He sent me to a Physical Therapist, I went to him once and he thought that my pelvic bones and tail bone were out of line from giving birth. He gave me some exercises to do to strengthen my core. The pain kept getting worse... almost unbearable! We had just gotten home from our annual trip to Lake Powell with the bike patrol, which I spent a lot of the time laying in the hotel room, boo! The morning after we came home I went in and got an x-ray...my spine looked great! Oh well that's good right?? Well the PA said to go straight to the ER! So hesitatingly we went because of the fact that I lack health insurance! We spent a good five hours there. They did all the tests that could help explain the pain. All the tests came out normal. Blood tests, urine test, white blood count, etc. All normal! Well then what the HECK is wrong with me then!! I was sooo frustrated and shed a lot of tears that day! I was getting these "pinching episodes" that were so excruciating and debilitating that I was scared to even move at some point I thought the only thing that could help me through this was Heavenly Father and so Spence and I would just pray! We just had to get some answers! The next day we went in for an MRI. that afternoon we finally had some answers. A rare infection in my spine was eating away one of my disks! Well that explains a lot!! I went in for a biopsy and spent another long day in the hospital. Next, more bad news!!! I would have to take an anti-biotic that cost $7,000 a month. I needed to take it for six weeks! I bet you could probably imagine what state of mind Spencer was in! We came home glad to find out what the problem was and relieved that there was a cure but felt like we got sucker punched right in the gut from the news. Then the blessings started to fall! The hospital told us to contact Pfizer a pharmaceutical company to help with the cost. They excepted us and paid in full thirty days of the meds!! Wow what a relief!! The blessings continued as friends and family came from all around to help our family. Dinners every night came without fail, people came to clean and take care of the kids. I have never experienced more kindness and service in my life! As I have been taking the antibiotics have noticed everyday a great difference in my pain level and the strength in my back! Feeling better everyday, I have to sit in this anti gravity chair for up to 8 hours a day in the beginning and as the days have gone by I've been able to get up more and more! I know the Lord has blessed me and my family tremendously through this trial! I am truly grateful for His love and for so so many others who have given of themselves to help us through this awful time.