Friday, February 17, 2012

Eye Update!

So, many of you have been asking me via email and private message (yes I do check that still...when I remember...*cough* *cough*) how my eyes are doing, since it has been several years since I last posted or recorded about it. Well, I am excited to report, that I DO have an update - a HUGE praise in fact. For the story, keep reading!

For those who don't remember, in 2007, I was diagnosed with a pituitary lesion/tumor, and they think that may have been what caused my peripheral vision loss. Lots of people prayed for me, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you. God heard your prayers! Here is how I know:

Since then, I have met only two other people who have had a pituitary tumor and lost their peripheral vision. The difference? Both of these people lost ALL of their vision save for a tiny sliver in the middle of their eyes. The first person I met was a young lady named Sarah Harris back in 2008 in Colorado Springs, CO (at the 20th Birthday Bash). She was very nearly blind from it, but was so joyful even in that suffering. The second person I heard about yesterday in the ER.

I went to the ER yesterday (November 8) for the worst migraine I've ever had (first time having to go to the ER for a migraine), and my doctor thought the tumor might be bleeding so he sent me to the ER for a CT scan (came back clean btw). While there, getting treated for the migraine, my nurse was asking me to describe my symptoms, which I did. When I got to the part about the Pituitary tumor, he interrupted me and asked if I had peripheral vision loss because of it. I was slightly surprised he would ask that, but answered that yes, I have lost some. When I asked him why, he told me that his 7 year old son had the exact same thing as me, except he lost all but a pinprick of his vision. I explained that I had only list the side periphery and that I was still able to see front periphery and forward. I then asked if I could pray for his son, and he told me I could. I prayed for him on and off the rest of the day in the ER.

The point of this story is this: GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS FOR MY VISION!!!!!!!!! I don't know how common this tumor is, or the peripheral vision loss with it, but the only other people I have ever met with this problem lost nearly everything. For some unknown reason, I did not. I only lost about a quarter of it, and then it stopped progressing. I am so thankful right now. It could be a rare thing for people to lose all of it, I don't know, and at the moment, I don't care. I didn't lose it all, and I firmly believe it was by the grace of God and through the prayers of all of you. So Thank You!

I love this! I love that for all this time, I thought that God had not really answered my prayers because my vision never came back and I lost vision to begin with. All this time, I was seeing things the wrong way (pun intended). Instead of worrying about what I didn't have, I needed to focus on the fact that God allowed me to keep the majority of my eyesight. That he stopped it from progressing. That He DID answer my/our prayers! How Great is Our God?!

Thank you Father, for knowing the truth even when we are too blind to see it! Thank you for showing me this nugget of truth, and helping me to realize that you do love me and are looking out for me! Amen

Love you all, and thank you again for your prayers!

Sarah

Hello again!

Wow, so it has been FOREVER since I last posted. I apologize everyone! My life has gotten insane! I have tons of news to share with you!

AIO NEWS:

~ Album 54 has aired, and we are anxiously waiting for the release of Album 55 (The Deep End). This album has at least a three part-er that wraps up the story with Jason and Mr. Grote from The Green Ring Conspiracy. It should be available for download in March and should air on the radio sometime after that.

~ There will be another AIO live show this summer! YAY! This year it will be June 16 in Dallas, Texas. We know for sure that Townshed Coleman, Katie Leigh, Jess Harnell, Will Ryan, Andre Stojka, Zach Callison, Kimmy Robertson, and Chris Anthony will be there. This show will not be recorded so your only chance to hear it is in June 16! For more information see
  http://whitsendblog.org/birthday-bash-faq/

For those who are curious, I am not sure if I am going at this time, or not. I'd like too, but financially it is looking iffy for me. I'll try to keep you posted though!

~ You can now listen to AIO 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online! check out http://den-a.plr.liquidcompass.net/player/flash/audio_player.php?id=AIOIR&uid=622 and give it a listen!

~ Finally, have you ever wanted to act on AIO? Well if you are between the ages of 6-15, now is your chance! AIO is running a contest called "Get in the Show" and three lucky people will be chosen to fly to Colorado Springs to audition for a part in Album 58! For more info, check out http://whitsendblog.org/getintheshow/ and see if you too can GET IN THE SHOW!!!!


Ok, moving on to other things

LIFE!

So for those who don't know, I have some really awesome news about Chris, our lovely former co-host and editor extraordinaire! This past fall, he got engaged!!!! He and his fiancee are currently serving in Asia as missionaries still (she joined him there in January of this year), and are planning to get married sometime next year. They met on the ToO and in person for real in Colorado for the 20th Birthday Bash. Can I just say I saw this coming before THEY did? Yup, it is true! Needless to say, I am SUPER excited for them both, and I am sure they would both covet your prayers as they are trying to get time together and serve as missionaries at the same time.

The last bit of news I have is from me, but I think I will put it in a separate post as this one is getting too long. Stay tuned!

Sarah