Wednesday May 29th

Hello all
It has been awhile since we updated but we have been busy with family here. Teresa's dad left last week, Jon's sister and her family arrived Monday and they head out tomorrow. The kids have enjoyed having their cousins here.
Jon continues to make progress . His MRI was negative last week and the neurologist was content with it. He is walking without a walker now. He has been five days without vomiting. PTL that is the longest stretch to date. He is maintaining his weight and all bldwork is improving. He has had some outings over the last week and has tolerated them okay. While they tire him, it is a good tired and have helped his emotional state greatly, so thank you to those who have taken time to take him out.
We still face challenges of reading, driving and the potential of relapse now that we are weaning off the prednisone.
Thank you again to those who have provided meals, driven to appointments, minded and children and prayed for us as a family.
Your continued prayer is appreciated as Jon continues to recover fully.
Thank you
The Craig's

Saturday May 19th

Hello all, just a note to let you know Jon is very happy to be home, not that we didn't get great care in hospital because we did. There is just no place like home. He continues to throw up once a day, but he has not lost any more weight since Tuesday. My dad arrived on Wednesday and the kids are enjoying wrestling with him, playing games and even baking (Sam). My dad has been walking with Jon twice a day weather permitting around the neighbourhood. Again please continue to pray for patience for Jon as activities of daily living remain a challenge. Being at home allows him to be with the kids and he is enjoying that also.
The Craig's

Tuesday May 15

Jon is home from hospital!!! That is great news. He will have the repeat MRI Friday and there is some bloodwork and follow-up appointments with the Doctors next week. Jon still has been vomiting some. The Doctors are not concerned, but it weighs heavily on Jon of course, as he is desperate to feel better.

Teresa's Dad arrives tomorrow from Ontario to be a help here.

Pray for rest for the whole family. Pray that Jon will not be discouraged in this recovery period.

Thanks to all for your prayers and practical help.

Monday May 14th

PTL they are going to discharge Jon tomorrow, providing he remains status quo overnight. He had a good day today. He has not vomited since Sun at breakfast. Walking and reading still remain a challenge for him. Please continue to pray for complete healing and recovery. We are booked for his MRI on Fri am as an outpatient. Pray for the kids as they adjust to dad being home again after 2 and half weeks and not at his full capacity. Thank you to our family and friends for all your support and generosity we could not have come this far without it.
The Craig's

Sunday May 13th

Hello all
The weekend was a busy one for the Craig's. We saw Jon's parents off to the airport on Saturday and Jon had a day pass on Sunday to have Mothers day dinner with us at the Moore's. We all had a great time and Jon was encouraged to be outside the hospital walls ( especially since he vomited breakfast Sun morning and was feeling discouraged ). The TPN is off now with the assumption Jon can keep down solid food and enough calories ( which prior to today he went 3 and 1/2 days without vomiting) . He had an ultrasound on Fri to check his liver and it was normal. We are still awaiting an MRI early this week. If it is good and he is still eating okay they will discharge him this week. Please continue to pray for Jon's peace of mind as we continue this journey and suffer possible setbacks that they told us might happen . Pray for us as a family as we encourage Jon. Pray for continued healing for his walking, tremors and eye movements.
The Craig's

Thurs May 10th

Jon has had a good day in the sense that he had not thrown up for 24 hrs as of 5pm tonight. He is eating a regular diet in the attempt to wean him off of the tpn. They figure about another 4-5 days. We saw a neuro opthamologist today at the Alex. He confirmed the diagnosis of opsoclonus ( he basically said the pathway between the fixation point being his eyes and the cerebellum in his brain are mixed up )and felt the tests had sufficiently ruled out a tumour. He feels the opsoclonus is either infection or autoimmune, but the IV steroids cover this therefore he agrees with the current medication regime. He could not however give us a definitive time frame for the relief of symptoms, nor could he tell us if he would be left with any cerebellar dysfunctions or any of the current symptoms. Please continue to pray for the symptoms to clear, strength for Jon both physically and emotionally. We are still awaiting a MRI this week or next.
Thank you again for all your continued support and prayers
The Craig's

Wednesday afternoon May 9

Jon's file was reviewed by the special clinic and they have now ruled out the vestibular neuronitis that the Doctors had thought might be happening. Therefore, he is not a candidate to be seen at the clinic. Instead, Jon will see a neuro-ophthalmologist at 1 pm tomorrow at the Royal Alexandra hospital. He also awaits the repeat MRI.

Jon continues to vomit anything he attempts to put in his mouth; twice last night and again this morning. They had tried to give his medication via mouth, but have switched back what medication they could to the IV route.

Thanks for praying and continue to pray for a diagnosis and relief of Jon's symptoms.