August 13, 2022 Erik's Geocache!

Hello everyone. Well, we are learning that the "grieving" process really never ends. We also know that this "process" is unique for everyone and, although challenging at times, is exactly as it needs to be. As a family, we recently decided to create a Geocache for Erik. It is located in Lillington North Carolina and we hope anyone near this area will stop by to see it and leave a message for the family. Will not give it away but it truly is quite impressive! Let us know if you stop by! Here is the link: https://coord.info/GC9YEDH Also, I remarried in 2016 so am now Wendy Oglesby. :) Many thanks, Wendy

December 23, 2016 · Erik's Passing

We apologize for taking so long to post but until now, just could not find the strength. Early on the afternoon of Saturday, December 23, 2016, our son Erik peacefully returned to his Heavenly Home. Erik was deeply loved, leaves wonderful memories, and we will miss him more than words can say. Erik's Home Address: 85 Bayridge Drive Willow Spring, NC. 27592 Secure donations in memory of Erik Douglas Medlin can be made directly to the Duke PICU by check through the address below or to Duke Children's Hospital by selecting the link below and typing Erik's name where prompted. Checks (MUST note In Memory Of Erik Douglas Medlin in memo): We appreciate prayers as we continue to navigate "life" without Erik. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit ATTN: Heather Harrison Duke University Hospital 2301 Erwin Road Durham, NC. 27705 Make a Gift to Duke Children's Your support will help Duke Children's provide invaluable research, child advocacy, and family support programs to help children and families heal both physically and emotionally. Duke Children's depends on generous supporters to help miracles… WWW.GIFTS.DUKE.EDU Love to all, Erik's Family

June 5, 2017 - Accomplishments

Hello Everyone! Things are continuing to improve for Erik. We are enjoying watching him get better with time. On October 2, 2007 his Speech Therapist was working with him on taking some thickened liquids by mouth with a spoon. We suggested she try the cup because Erik has always loved drinking out of a cup. He opened his mouth when he saw it coming, he took a sip, and he swallowed immediately! He did all of the things he needed to do to successfully drink. It was awesome since we have not seen that in 18-24 months!!!!!! Erik also is rolling all over the place now. If we place him on the floor, he rolls and rolls, and rolls! This is unbelievable! He has to learn everything all over again and this is what makes all of these successes so important. The good thing about this accomplishment is that he is also changing his position during the night. We position him on his side and he wakes up on his back or even on his belly! He was waking up during the night and we are now thinking that maybe he was waking up because he wanted to re-position himself but couldn't. We would change his position and then he would sleep more. This was fine but still interrupted sleep. We are still trying to stabilize his seizures and are changing his medications. This is always tough and he has had some seizure activity. it is good to see that although this is a challenge, he is still motivated to do new things and show us what he can do. He is so proud once he does something too and this is awesome to see! The week of October 14th, we noticed that Erik was actually trying to keep something in his right hand. To date, his right hand has not been able to hold onto things. We placed something that he liked in his hand and when he felt/heard it slipping, we could see his fingers move in an attempt to not drop it! This was wonderful! Especially since we have been told that he may not be able to have full use of his right hand as a result of all that he has been through. We have continued to stretch, help him hold things, and not give up and it seems to be paying off! You may be like us wondering why all of this is happening in a matter of 2-3 weeks. We cannot say for sure but we are thinking that he is just feeling better now that the infection has cleared his body. He also may be at a place where he normally would be making progress for his age and is finally able to do new things because he is infection free. In case you want to join in with us, we are specifically praying for: - continued/consistent laughter and emotions for Erik (he shows us more of this daily!) - speech/communication to return - for his back to strengthen allowing him to sit on his own and eventually walk without assistance - subsiding of seizure activity Thanks to all of you who continue to sincerely pray for Erik and us and know that God is answering our prayers. Love in Christ, Erik's Family

July 29, 2011 - Erik's Rights . . .

Hello Everyone! It has been a while since we posted but that just gives us more to share! Erik had a great year at school. He became more and more alert and engaged in the classroom and even was administered end of grade testing. He did well. He is making choices and wanting to stand more (with support) which is great. Teachers also shared that Erik became more appropriately engaged by listening to questions asked, waiting for others to respond, and vocalizing when the teacher called on him (instead of when others were asked t respond). He was fairly consistent which is great to know. We also have changed the agency that provides nursing care for Erik as well as multiple changes with therapists. Erik now not only receives physical therapy but also speech and feeding at home as well. There are adjustments with getting to know everyone but so far all is going well. Thank you for your prayers that we would find therapists to work with Erik and please continue to pray for progress in all areas. Now for the BIG news . . . On July 17th Erik surprised us ALL! While enjoying a snack and we noticed him raising and using his right arm! It was unexpected and extremely exciting! We watched him for a while and even recorded a video. We were capturing the moment with the video so it is really dark and hard to see but his right side is toward the camera and you can see him moving his arm/hand all the way up to his mouth! Even his right leg is moving! Before this he would extend it some and move it a little when excited but moving it to his mouth and out repeatedly is truly God's work! Here is the video link which seems easier to see when the screen is small. You may have to copy the link below and paste in your internet browser to view. http://youtu.be/otXI4aoAgC4 Please keep up the prayers as this progression is truly God's work. In fact, it has created many opportunities for us to share our faith through sharing Erik's progress which is a welcomed opportunity. It would typically take months of focused therapy to see Erik voluntarily move his right side like this. We saw this literally overnight. Erik's nurses and therapists immediately commented on the change too. This for us was another moment where we stopped and said, "Wait God . . . this is not even what we are praying for right now but thanks so much!" Truly God's timing is perfect! Enjoy your summer! Love in Christ, Erik's Family

February 24, 2011 - Positive Updates . . .

Hello. We have some exciting news to share. After several years of praying for thorough OT services for Erik, we are pleased to share that Erik now has a speech/communication AND a feeding therapist coming to the house weekly to work with him! We are so happy to have the addition of these 2 individuals to our team! Timing is everything and Erik is at the point where he is fairly consistently responding to things like pushing a button to indicate interest in an activity or to make a choice. This makes securing the 2 additional therapists key enabling us to take advantage of the interest and motivation he is showing towards progress. Please continue to pray for Erik to positively respond to these interventions. We continue to struggle with seizure activity. The spells are brief but he seems to be having them daily (with a few days here and there without anything we notice) and we need to figure out the best approach for reducing or eliminating these all together. Please keep this in your prayers . . . actually our prayer is for the seizures to stop all together! :) We were able to schedule a second appointment with another contractor for an estimate on converting the dining room downstairs into a bedroom with shower for Erik. Of course when the contractor arrived he immediately said they are not going to approve it, I will prepare an estimate but I can tell you that it will not be approved. So . . . what this does is make the prayer for this to come together for Erik more of a priority! We will keep you updated as things progress. As always, thanks for your continued prayers and encouragement. Love in Christ, Erik's Family

January 13, 2011 - Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone. Hope the holidays were great and that the new year is starting out well. Erik had a good Christmas and we are pleased he did not have any seizure activity on Christmas day. Past month or so have been challenging with seizure activity. Very few days lately without recognizable seizure activity. Makes things rough because even if they are brief, they exhaust him and make it difficult for him to eat, make him less responsive, and just bum us out! We have had 2 adjustments to his VNS which have possible reduced seizure activity down to 1 time per day (that we see) but we are suspicious that he is having them when we are not aware - especially at night. He has been very tired all day long for the past 5 days and we just don't see anything that could be the cause. Sleeping all night, no medication changes, etc. We are praying for a solution so keep this in mind as we know God will carry us through this. We are asking for the discernment to know what actions we should take. Erik has been doing well in school and seems to really enjoy his instructors and classmates this year. They are working with assistive technology and encouraging him to make choices which he appears to be intentionally doing! This is great to see as it does appear he knows what he is doing and is happy to be able to communicate with us through the tools available. Thanks to all of you for continuing to keep us in your prayers . . . Love in Christ, Erik's Family

October 25, 2010 - Erik back in school . . .

Hello all. So sorry it has been a while since our last post. We have had some ups and downs but the ups way outnumber the downs! Erik returned to school the end of August and is doing really well. He was moved to the older class and weekly reports indicate that he is really working hard! A focus for this year is on communication and they are using tools and strategies in the classroom allowing him multiple opportunities to make selections, decisions, and choices. He loves it! Health wise Erik has been doing okay. We have had periods of increased seizure activity but all in all we have kept them at bay or now. He is getting 4-6 molars which seem to be causing him quite a bit of discomfort. Thanks goodness for Motrin! August 25th, we did make a trip to the Emergency Department but it was not for anything we could have anticipated! Strange thing . . . his nurse was doing his regular stretches and he cried out in pain. We have not heard Erik actually cry in over 2 years! Seriously! The nurse stopped his stretching and waited a bit and when we touched his foot after he settled down he cried out again. We had to get it checked out. Really swollen and red and hot to the touch. X-rays were fine and blood work was fine. The days after involved follow-up x-rays and staying off of his foot but in time, it all worked out. We are thinking it must have been a torn ligament or over stretched muscle. He was a trooper though and kept on going! The only other bit of a challenge we are trying to work through is that we were told that effective July 2010 we would be able to receive $10k for home modifications. This is a part of the program Erik is enrolled with and is a 1 time offering. We set things up and began working to be ready to make changes to the home turning the formal dining room into a bedroom with a bath for Erik on the downstairs floor. Erik is getting so big that it is becoming a safety issue taking him up and down the stairs. The date for this to begin moved from July 1 to September 1, to October 1. When we had everyone come to the house to talk about this late September we were told that we could not add a bathroom to the existing room because this was considered an "addition" opposed to a modification. Our understanding is that an addition would represent additional square footage which is not what we would be doing at all. Please pray that we can identify some solution before the program is no longer available! Thanks for all of your prayers and support. As each day passes, we see Erik continue to interact and respond in new and fun ways. This confirms for us that he is indeed progressing. Love in Christ, Erik's Family