The Journey
Let me start off by introducing myself, my name is Jay Bryan Thompson. I am the oldest of 4 children. I always wanted a big family growing up so I guess the fact that I have 22 kids is a bit of a surprise but not totally. The story of how I came to be the father of 22 children is for another time.
I am writing this in hopes of helping you understand the situation I find myself in today. I have to start a few years go so bear with me. I think all of my health challenges started about 17 years ago. That is when they found a growth on the base of my brain. It turned out to be an orange size arachnoid cyst that was growing on my brain stem.
The Neurosurgeon did a great job removing it in June of 1999. The only problem is that it came back in 2000 so I had my 2nd brain surgery in October of that year. My scar was not too bad since they cut long the same line as when I cracked my head open at the Lagoon Water Park in Utah. I ended up getting bout 15-20 stitches, not sure how many but seems like every time I tell the story, a few more stitches show up. If you want a laugh, watch about 10 high school boys try to drag a 330 lb man out of a wading pool.
I ended up having one more brain surgery when a month or so later I came down with an infection in the area and they had to reopen the area and clean out the wound. I was able to continue to work because I had a great boss, first from home and then once I was on my feet I was able to return full time. I worked at American Express for almost 18 years, it was a great experience, good people and a good company.
I digress, so all of my life I have had back issues. I think it stems from weight lifting in high school but finally in 2006, after physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and multiple homeopathic remedies tried, I went under the knife. Six back surgeries later and three fused discs I was still working in Corporate America. I was on high level pain killers throughout the process and finally in 2013 I decided enough was enough and I went off of my pain meds. Well, that was not the happiest month and a half of my life, detox is painful and helps in reminding you for years to come why you are never going to use them ever again.
I was lucky, 5 days after I quit using them, I had a massive gall bladder attack. The pain meds had been masking the pain caused by the bad gall bladder and if I had not quit taking them it most likely would have killed me. I finally applied for disability. I was rejected as most first time applicants are as they attempt to sift out the fraudulent claims.
I tried getting a job for over a year with no luck. I was almost hired 3 different times but it did not work out. Meanwhile my back pain was getting worse as I attempted to handle the pain on my own. I finally decided to move my family to Arizona at the start of 2014 to do real estate. I did not want to keep applying for disability if there were any way I could continue to work and I figured being my own boss I could manage my back pain.
Things were going well until October of 2014 when I had my first seizure. I went for about a month before I had my next big one, losing consciousness for a short period of time, 3-5 minutes. I also started spacing out for 30-60 seconds, not losing complete consciousness but not being aware of things around me. These started happening more and more and then the seizures started happening closer and closer together.
I have been to 4 different specialist over the last 2 years and they still cannot find a cause for the seizures. They have put me on 4 different types of seizure medication with no success. I have been in the hospital 3 different times for a week at a time trying to figure this out. I had a mild stroke as a result of a seizure and I always have 5-10 minute memory loss during the time right before the seizure occurs.
I have had multiple concussions as a result of falling from the seizures. I have had two incidents at church, one of which I had 3 seizures back to back to back as we waited for the paramedics to arrive. I have gone to the emergency room multiple times as I need time to come back to my complete senses and since I am more or less out of it mentally, they are required to take me in to be checked. My blood pressure plummets and I become deathly grey.
About this same time, every joint in my body starts to ache. First my shoulders, then my hips, then my knees and then any and every joint. I went to the doctor for this as well and found out I have deteriorating joints and I then went to a rheumatoid arthritic specialist to treat that and try to get pain relief of my joints. Needless to say I have not been able to work since I am unable to drive. I have spent my entire retirement trying to keep afloat until I can get my disability to be approved.
We are still appealing and providing medical records and hoping to get a decision soon. My attorney is pushing to get a decision without a hearing and I am hoping they are successful at getting that done. Meanwhile, life at home has been extremely stressful for all concerned. My kids have found me face down on the floor totally out, my wife has found me on the bathroom floor, bleeding from my forehead with a huge bump on the back of my head.
I need a service dog that will help alert me when I am going to have a seizure so I can sit or lay down, they can alert others so that I can get help if I am alone. She will help my rising anxiety and help me feel like I can go places again without the fear of falling on my face and getting hurt.
I had an experience when I was at a friend's home visiting. Renee Calkins has a service dog that she has trained and her name is Gypsy. I had had a seizure while in the car getting ready to go to my son Bryson's graduation. Renee and my wife Misty helped me into the house and laid me down in a bedroom. Gypsy jumped up on the bed at Renee's command and help me regulate my breathing, leaned against me providing comfort and help my heart rate slow. She also allowed me to hold her and licked my face multiple times I think to check to see if I was ok.
She had never let anyone do that before and you could tell she was doing what a service dog does, usually for their owner but Gypsy just stepped up and was amazing. You can see pictures of her here on the web site. She is currently pregnant and going to have puppies in October. I am raising funds to be able to purchase one of her female pups, she will be AKC registered pure bred, and Renee will pick the female that has the right temperament and would be best in terms of training as a service dog. Renee will then mentor me on training Nadja to be my constant companion
I picked the name Nadja because it means hope, and she has already provided me hope that I can have somewhat of a normal life with her help. I am not asking you for big donations but if enough people provide small donations, I feel I can get enough to purchase Nadja, and create an account for her care, which will entail vet visits, food, and training.
I am also raising money for any medical expenses I have that is not covered by insurance. I know this was a bit long and I appreciate those that have read the entire post. I want to also offer anyone that donates a chance to follow my journey with Nadja as she grows, I train her, and she provides the much needed companionship and service that is needed as I deal with these seizures. I will be creating a FB page so please include your FB information if you want to be added to the group. I am hoping that one day they can figure out what is causing them, but until then, I have to have a plan where I can get back to some type of life where I am not living in fear of really hurting myself in a fall, and having one of my kids find me.
Thanks in advance for your contribution, it is very much appreciated. May the Lord bless all of you for your generosity and contributions that can make this happen for me and my family.
Sincerely
Jay Thompson
