Update on Katie

All,

This is Paul, Katie's big brother, writing on her behalf to all of you who have written to her thus far. I've hidden the list of recipients, but there are around 80 of you who have written to express your best wishes and convey your prayers to Katie and to her family. We have been reading them to Katie with faith that she can hear us and hope very soon that she can read them for herself. I can't express how much it means to all of us to know how much love and concern there is out there for Katie and for all of us. Many of you have come to visit. Others have sent prayers or asked for prayer from others. We are so very grateful for all of your support throughout this trying time.

So this is the first of, God willing, very few updates on Katie's condition. Unfortunately, today brought a bit of a setback. Up until this morning, the doctors were feeling very confident that things were progressing as they normally do for a variant of viral encephalitis caused by HSV, the same virus that gives us cold sores.The theory was that the virus had somehow gotten into the brain and caused it to swell up, which is what was causing her seizures. The condition isn't a good one by any means, but at least we knew what it was, how it progressed, and how best to try and treat it. However, this morning, results from testing some of her spinal fluid did not find any trace of HSV. Further, contrary to initial findings, results from the EEG (the device used to measure brain activity) showed that the treatments that she had been receiving were not helping to curb her seizures. So the doctors were thrown for a bit of a loop and have had to take a more aggressive posture in treating her condition.

At least for now, doctors still don't know exactly what is causing Katie's problems. But they are proceeding with medications and with treatments that they hope will fix her vicious cycle of seizures regardless of the exact cause. Most of you might know that doctors have kept her in a medically induced coma for the past two days. In this state, her body was paralyzed and her mind was numbed but still active and probably aware of her surroundings. This is why we believe that she has heard your e-mails. Today doctors decided to take this one step further and actually put her bran to sleep, as well. In addition, they have placed her on two additional anti-seizure medications. They hope that tomorrow when they allow her brain to wake back up, her seizures will have stopped. If they have, then we hope that they will bring her out of her coma soon. I hope that I will be able to write to you again tomorrow night and with at least some good news. Thank you all again for your love and support, and please continue your prayers. We know God is listening...

Sincerely,
Paul York