So I was at a campus ministry conference last week and was having loads of fun when I suddenly began not feeling well. Thinking that this sprung from staying up too late and working too hard (yes, we do work in the summers) I skipped lunch and slept and made it back in time for some small groups. Still not feeling well, I headed back to the dorm room at 5 pm and went back to sleep. 5 pm to sleep, do you say? Crazy? I know.
Somewhere in the middle of that, I had a very scary dream where I thought I was having a seizure and couldn’t breathe and felt completely and utterly out of control. The next thing I remember is being on the floor of the dorm room and thinking hmmm….I’m laying on carpet. I crawled back up into bed (oh should have said that the beds were lofted – you gotta love dorm rooms) and then later blew my nose only to find that I was blowing out blood. Yes, squeamish people, this is not the blog for you. If you’re looking for rainbows and leprechauns they are not here. Well, after seeing the blood, I turned on the light in the room and I realized that there was blood all over my face and in my hair because my nose and lip were busted. Some dream! In the midst of this I got my phone and hopeful that morning was soon to arrive, I was saddened to find that it was 12:08 am. The good news is that some campus ministry friends were still awake and hanging out downstairs where I knew there was Tylenol. After a quick run downstairs to them where I’m sure I looked like a mess and crazy because I’m telling crazy stories about dreams of seizures and I’ve fallen out of my bed and I have strange bruises on my arms, I’m back upstairs calling my mom in the middle of the night trying to figure out what in the heck is happening to me.
A very, very wise person called campus police and just as my mom was praying for guards at my door, they literally showed up. I know I must have looked a mess because they quickly unbunked my bed and asked if they could call the paramedics. The paramedics came and checked me out and everything looked good. They asked if I wanted to come with them and thinking that I was finally starting to feel sleepy, I said no, but then I started feeling nauseous and hot again, and so yes, I have now taken a ride in an ambulance. Oh my even in the middle of the night, that is embarassing.
Several blood tests later, I’m checking out pretty well. I think all the ER people thought I was just a crazy girl from South Carolina. Which is true. But somehow in the midst of this the doctor began to listen to my story, and to this “dream” that I had about a seizure and she ran a muscle enzyme test that showed that I had most likely had a seizure. Good to know that I haven’t just started randomly falling out of beds.
So this very wise doctor then does a CT Scan and sees a suspicious place on the scan so decides to do an MRI and lo and behold just before 7 am on Saturday morning I am in the middle of Winchester, Virginia hearing that I may have a brain tumor. Anyone see that one coming? And then here comes my very own McDreamy. Actually it took him several hours and I wouldn’t have described him as Mcanything – steamy or otherwise, but he was very nice and reassuring even in the midst of hearing the whole can’t drive 6 months after a seizure and all that jazz.
So where does that leave me? It leaves me with a waiting game and a fighting game. I get to do a functional MRI in the next couple of days to see how close this low grade tumor is to the extrafabulous part of my brain that helps me to function and then sometime next week I hear that we’ll get to know what the plan of action is. For me, I already know what that is. I’m going to love, I’m going to fight, I’m going to cry, I’m going to feel, I’m going to get mad, I’m going to laugh, and I’m probably going to have some headaches.
I never took the time to write a blog before. Ha ha. But I’m thinking now’s as good a time as any to start. Will post more as I figure things out. Thanks for all of the prayers! You can ask questions, but we don’t have many answers. I think God likes questions though so have at it!
Blessings on the Journey 
Thanks for posting this Narcie. Will definitely be praying for you.
Hello New Blogger person! I am Nayra, your first cousin once removed! You and yours will be in my prayers and as I feel closely involved in your well-being am glad you are blogging to keep us posted! I love you more than a pig loves mud and will be lifting you and your caregivers up to Jesus for wisdom and guidance!
and we’ll be right here to do all those things with you!!!
Dearest Narcie,
Are you there by yourself and doing this is Virginia? Do I need to come?… and I am serious. Sounds like this just came out of the blue and it also sounds like you have a great doctor! God bless you my sister… we will get through this together! I am praying for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you and miss you… and I can be there tomorrow!
Lord in His Mercy… hears our prayer.
c
Love you and your great, great attitude!
DANG, girl! You are certainly in my prayers!!!! Let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do for you. [I’ll even make a trip to SC after this dang AC is over!]
Hey Narcie!
I am going to have my small group to pray for you. Thank you for sharing what isz going on. Please keep posting and let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Loyally
V
Thank you for sharing your story Narcie. Kathleen and I have been praying for you these last couple of days. I can guess that this is a confusing and frustrating time for you and your family right now and I want to let you know that you have friends all over this country who are going to be there with you (if not physically, at least spiritually!).
If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to call me.
Peace!
Narcie, so glad you blogged. Please keep it coming as you find out more. Jack and I will be moving in the next few weeks so things will be hectic for us but we want to stay in contact with what is going on with you. We are going to be living closer to you as we have bought my parents farm in Wingate, N.C.(about 45 minutes away) it has a pond (great fishing for little boys) and a picnic shelter and 44 acres for running and playing. Please plan to visit us when things settle down. We love you and will be lifting you up in prayer though these days of discovery.
I heard about your story from Nancy Dowdle, a friend from highschool and also a coworker here at my job. I just want you to know that I am praying for you. Although we do not know the depths of God’s plans or the when and how’s, we can know that through every adventure big and small he is always there, and has a plan for your future. Just know that where ever the plan leads you, down whichever road you turn, he is already there. So remain calm and safe knowing that you have an amazing Father walking each step ahead of your own. God Bless you, Kylie
Narcie–
You and your family are very much in our prayers. May God’s healing spirit surround and uphold all of you.
Shalom,
Carol and Robert
No questions, Narcie … just many, many prayers lifted up
for you. Will be anticipating good … or at least _positive_
news soon.
God loves you and many, many friends and colleagues do,
too!
Allen
Know that we love you and we are praying for you. Thanks for sharing this with us and for your honesty.
And I am going to cry, and I am going to fight and I am going to pray and I am going to love and I am going to laugh and probably have headaches right along with you. The god I know is bigger than all of this and I am praying for healing in a remarkable undeniable and beautiful way. Love you my wonderful friend.
Hi Narcie –
I saw a post on Mike’s facebook page so I wanted to stop by your blog and let you know I’m sending positive thoughts your way. I knew Mike in high school and I will be keeping you and your family in my prayers as you face this thing head on. Thank you for sharing your journey with us all.
Narcie,
What a shock, but as we know God is good and He will take care of you. Your wonderful attitude shows that you are truly a person close to God, and a person of God. My family will keep you in constant prayer and I will place you on every prayer list that I possibly can. When the Body of Christ is lifting up prayers God will surely give you an answer.
I hope that physically that you are okay for now, and not having any more seizures.
God Bless You and Your Family!
Dave
Narcie,
I am a cousin of Vickie Carroll Jeter and Mary Lee Underwood. My wife Deobrah and I will be praying for you, and those caring for you! May the Grace of God come upon you and those caring for you, In Jesus Holy name! Amen
Praying for you, and claiming the victory!!
Narcie, we’ve been at the beach and didn’t know about all this until I saw it on your dad’s facebook post just now. Please know that Eddie and I will be praying for you!
Narcie, just heard today and wanted to tell you that you will be in the Sutton family’s prayers. Don’t know why things happen like this but I do know that GOD has a plan and a purpose. You are in inspiration with your knowledge and delivery of the word of God. Alec and I both were in awe when you spoke at the Contempary Service at St. John’s. With Christ Love, Alanna
Hey Girl,
I am praying for you guys and I love you all so much. I know I havent been around much lately, but regardless, you know that you are one of the best friends I have ever known and I am here for you. I will see you soon. I promise.
Narcie, I just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking and praying for you and your family!
Adriane Radeker
Greetings from Cheraw from Joey and Trina Mills! Just heard about you from your dad’s facebook page. We will be praying for you. Joey says hello and he is thinking about you. Keep the faith. Trina
Narcie–Steve and I are from your years at First United Methodist Church in Cheraw . You are in our thoughts and prayers–praying for healing and for your strength. I remember how you and Clay teased each other in those good old Cheraw days.
Our best and most positive thoughts for you and your family.
Narcie, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family this week. You are on our prayer list at FUMC in Cheraw. Please know that we are all praying for good news and complete healing.