An update on our babes

eeps have been checking in about Larry Bear, and I just want to say how much it means. So many people love and care about him.

As most of you know, his life hasn’t exactly been the “easy route.” Daily pain has just kind of been part of his normal.

Lately, his knees have been giving him a really hard time. When he walks, it’s more like a permanent lunge situation. Knees refusing to straighten, kneecaps not thrilled about it either. It’s not ideal.

The good news (and I almost whisper this because I don’t want to jinx it)

At the end of February, his team started him on Mirtazapine. It’s technically an antidepressant, but they’re using it a little differently, it helps calm and regulate how the brain and nerves process pain (basically turning the volume down, not knocking him out or masking it).

We really didn’t want to go the narcotics route, and Larry jr has never loved how meds make him feel anyway (minus the occasional Valium assist when needed).

I had zero expectations. Zero hope that this would work. After years of “nothing really works,” you get a little guarded.

But then about two weeks ago, Larry Sr. and I looked at each other like wait, something’s different.

Larry Jr. has been doing really well. His pain complaints have gone down. He’s gaining weight.

He looks GOOD.

His doctors think a lot of his pain comes from everything his body’s been through. Multiple surgeries, nerve issues, ongoing bowel obstructions and all the Larry stuff. So this medication seems to be helping with that nerve-related pain.

It’s not a miracle fix. He still deals with obstructions and the pain that comes with that. But the deep, constant pelvic and abdominal pain that used to knock him down is better.

Because nothing in Larry’s world is ever simple, his knees have decided to step up and take center stage.

Part of me wonders if his gut pain has improved so much that he is now feeling the knee pain. He's had me pain before. He actually had a stress fracture years ago on one of his kneecaps. He has an appointment this coming week to get his knees looked at. It is not a surprise that they are giving him trouble.

Sweet grandbaby Elise

She is still home and doing well, and we get to see her often which is the best part.

John and Stephanie are just incredible parents. John took a voluntary layoff so he can care for her full-time, while Stephanie is working remotely and at U of M (she’s a biomed engineer). They are handling all of this with so much strength and love and grace.

Elise is still on oxygen and will likely be for about a year, and she still has her NG tube for feeding but she is gaining weight, smiling all the time, and is just the happiest, cutest little thing.

Today John and Steph with both Larry's and I, took her to my mother's, her great-grandmother and namesake as one of her middle names is Winifred, for my mom's 96th birthday. So grateful for today.

There are still some medical things they’re navigating, so there are a lot of appointments. Sometimes Larry Sr or I go along with John or Stephanie so they have a buddy. We remember those days well. You don’t travel alone with oxygen. You bring backup for the backup. Making sure the tank is working, sats are good, everything is okay. It's a whole operation.

They are doing an amazing job, and she is doing so, so well.

So that’s where we’re at. Grateful, cautiously optimistic, and still navigating the next thing.

Thank you all for loving our family the way you all do. It truly matters more than you know.

Thank you as always for the continued prayers. Prayers work. I'm a believer. And we are so grateful.