If you read this-

My new Blog with some new twists and turns is posted on http://losmarshitos.blogspot.com/
Hope to see you there!

Update Update, Read all about it!

Well, I know that things on this blog haven't been updated so recent and there have been quite a few views on it and so I will spend some time to shortly catch up on what has happened.  As I have been continuing to take the supplements and vitamins recommended by my previous neurologist as well as Dr. Adamson from Idaho Falls, Idaho, I have noticed a great leap in how I feel.  I also have been going to chiropractic treatment to be adjusted and that also has proven very effective.  I am doing a whole bunch of little things that have definitely have produced great progress.  I am still suffering from headaches, but when they get unbearable I usually first of all rub some essential oils on the base of my neck, behind my ears, on my temples, on my forehead, and then smell my hands.  It is an essential oil from Young Living Farms located in Nephi, Utah, and very close to home. Young Living Farms has been a great thing that has happened to me.  Here is a picture of the oil I use the most  and has greatly diminished the severity of my headache as well as all the other treatment I have been receiving.  It has Peppermint, Lavender, Chamomile, Marjoram, and Basil with a few other things that has been blended into a strong and pure oil that relieves migraine pains immensely.  I have been blessed to only have about 3-4 big migraine episodes weekly now instead of constant ones all of the time.  Also, something else has been happening in this process, I have been going to school full time and working part time.  This has been an interesting experiment to see if I can handle being in "the mainstream" again and be able to support the brain pain throughout a normal daily routine.  I love my work and have learned a lot.  Sure, there have been small occasions were I have felt like it was too much to handle but a good oil massage with these essential oils has proven to be so helpful.  Also, I have been looking to move out and so I am taking things one at a time to make sure that I can handle being away and still be able to make visits to massage appointments, chiropractic appointments, and still be okay with all the new changes.  I think that only time will tell.  Until next time!

Happy Thanksgiving

I enjoyed this little short message by a modern-day apostle of the Lord and it is so true, we are truly blessed to have that peace and calm that comes from having an eternal perspective.  Hopefully we can always be preparing to do our best and have that sense of peace in this tumultuous world we live in.  Happy Thanksgiving- Be grateful for your life!  Everyday is a blessing!

When Life Gives you Lemons... YOU Decide!

This Vinyl Lettering has been above my closet
this whole time we have lived in this house
and has meant a lot to me in my life.
I apologize for poor image quality.

A couple of Friends at the Premiere
One of our friends is in the werewolf
Pack for the next Part II of the
Breaking Dawn Movie!

Updated information seems pretty scarce lately- wouldn't want to bore anyone with the absence of information because that is about how it would be ha ha.  I did go and see Dr. Adamson, the wholistic Doctor again today, but this time thank goodness it was in SLC! He did find that the sugar and proteins in my blood have returned somewhat back to normal which was a big concern over the last week or so and it was good to hear that.  Also, he felt that I needed to take another supplement in addition to the many I am currently taking, called Catalyn.  I have felt a lot better but the headaches continue to pound and they definitely are not going away without a fight.  I had an interesting afternoon after I was interviewed for our city newspaper on my story and a little about my condition and how I have continued to stay positive throughout the whole ordeal.  You know, I really do not have a secret to success and definitely couldn't write a book about anything but I have always tried my best. When I reflected upon the last couple of months and how fast things took place and even maybe why things happened, I remember the determination I have felt to serve others.  When I am serving those around me, I am not trying to be a superhero and just tough things out... but have just realized that other people around me might have a more difficult situation than I do and I can be of service to them.  I have realized over the past while that it really isn't my doing that I got sick and there is no pin-pointing when or where I ate contaminated food (if that is what it really was), but God has His Hand in all things.  I cannot choose my life sequences.  I can, although, choose how I will act upon those events in my life.  Many people say, "If God loves us so much, Why do good people have to die?"  Or "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  You know, I don't think we need to know the answer right this second, but I have a personal feeling about the way I understand it.  The way I personally view it is- We don't know and it doesn't matter what happens to us.  God would never want us to go through hardships, as He is a loving and kind Father.  How many parents out there WANT their kids to be exposed to drugs or trials or teasing or bullying.  I hope none.  But we know that the school of hard knocks makes us a better person.  Our Father wants us to return to Him knowing that we did our best and that we weren't the 'complainers' about our life-situations, but that we made lemonade out of the lemons provided.  I like the picture because that has been on my wall in my bedroom for the last about four and a half years and it is so true.  I have been handed lemons- maybe some of them tarter than others and some of them smaller, thank goodness- but God has provided the sugar, the stirring spoon, and the Pitcher... are we going to act and enjoy things later?  Trials are hard work, but in the end, we can enjoy the 'lemonade' in life; even though we may not enjoy the fruit of our labors in this life, it will sure be abundant in the next.  I had a great night last night and was able to go and have some me and friend time.  I was invited to go and see the premiere of Breaking Dawn with some friends- one of them who is actually part of the werewolf pack in the part II of the next upcoming movie and also stars in the TV show The Five.  We had a great time and I enjoyed time away.  It doesn't matter what people say about seeing the light at the 'end of the tunnel' but how we enjoy the sunshine now while we are outside.

My friend, Aaron, and I on the Utah/Idaho Border

Well here is an update on the current situation.  It is in the form of a letter that my mom wrote to update others on my condition.  


So I was talking Marianne (a friend of my mom)  a few weeks ago and she was telling me about this doctor in Twin Falls, Idaho that really helped Michael (Marianne's son) with his asthma (witch turned out to be a vocal chord irritation) and we felt like it was worth a try to have Weston be seen.  This is a nature pathic/ homeo pathic doctor, he uses herbs and natural supplements to heal with. along with acupuncture and muscle reflexology.  He also reads blood to see abnormalities in the blood.  Marianne said he is a blood reader for the blood bank.  We felt like we had nothing to loose except a tank or two of gas! 

Fist thing they found was that Weston's blood sugars were elevated as well as other things they found pointing to the liver not working at full capacity.  He said that the Chemo therapy can really cause havoc on your liver as well as other internal organs.   Blood sugar pointed to the pancreas and adrenal glands not working like they should.  

He took a drop of Weston's blood and put it on a microscope slide and then he put it under a microscope and showed us on a TV screen what he was looking at.  He said most labs when they draw your blood let the blood sit too long and then it is a Dead product when they are reading the results, this Dr reads the blood fresh so you can still see it moving and interacting.

this is what he found:

Neutrophils: Higher than: indicating inflammation usually inflammation of the Liver and other organs

Basophils: Higher than normal: basophils play a role in both parasitic infections and allergies

Fungus: he feels like the body's balance is off, you should have 80%good bacteria in your body and 20% fungus, and probably because of all the pills Weston took in Mexico it threw off his balance in his intestines

Red Blood Cell Parasite (bacterial) I can't remember what this meant, he didn't seem overly concerned with this, he said it was not from a worm, but bacteria based

Uric Acid in the blood: means the kidneys are not filtering out as good as they should and can also be because of high or elevated blood pressure

the doctor also looked at how his blood clotted, it had abnormal clotting cells due to a hormone that is usually secreted when you have neck pain ( i thought that was interesting) it also showed digestion problems ( due to the amoeba bugs he picked up in Mexico probably)

Who knew they could find so many problems from just looking at your blood!

he then checked the calcium level in his muscles, and it was 160, the normal person is 240.  He checked and rechecked his blood pressure, once while sitting, once while laying down and then going from a laying down position to a standing position,  there were several points higher than normal when he went from sitting to laying down, and then laying down to standing, probably the uric acid? The Dr in Mexico thought he might have high blood pressure, but this Dr doesn't feel like he does, probably because the other organs are no functioning like they should.

He did say that perhaps the pressure of the cerebral fluid in the head is being affected by the calcified worm in his head.

He did acupuncture on his ear (the other neurologist he saw recommended this)  He said that some people do not respond to acupuncture, Weston didn't feel any better with or without it, so who knows.

He did a muscle reflexology test on him to see if he could figure out what was causing the headaches, the things that Weston's body tested weak on were his liver, pancreas and adrenal glands and swelling in his neck.  The DR said that your body heals one step at a time, but prioritizes the step that is needed first, because of the combination of liver, pancreas and adrenals, we are focusing on this area first. He doesn't think this is what is causing his headaches, but once those are better then the body will manifest what the next step will be.  

Weston has been taking vitamin supplements from the other neurologist he saw last week,  they said his body was depleted because of the chemical therapy he was on and needed to repair the cells.

The other day Weston forgot to take the supplements and vitamins and he had a very noticeably stronger headache, so we know the supplements are helping, but they do not take it away

This Dr is going to have Weston add a liver enzyme supplement to help heal or detox his liver, it also aids in digestion.  He is to stay away from sugar and focus on eating a lot of vegetables and protein.  We have a follow up appointment next week in salt lake this time instead of Idaho. 

We were not disappointed with the outcome, and he gave us some insight on other things that may be contributing to his headaches.

His headaches remain about #4-7, but do go into the 8, 9, and 10 range.  He is very good about working through the pain and keeps a good attitude about his condition witch always helps a lot

Neurology appointment

Well went to the neurologist today and I know that a lot of people have checked this page and so I decided to keep everyone informed as well as say that things are still not found and a solution has been added to the list among many others.  I have tried just about everything but am excited to try whatever is available to get rid of the migraines.  Things have been well as I have been re-adjusting back into home life and being very dependent on my family to take me places or look maybe for a part time job.  I have also talked with my bishop and we have decided he would submit my name in to be a temple worker at the Provo, Utah, temple.  I also will be able to have a calling as a facilitator to assist with the 12 step addiction recovery program locally and serve the Lord there as well and am excited about that opportunity to serve because as I serve others, I focus less on my pains and trials and don't get depressed or discouraged as often.  So the Neurologist was more of an herbal remedy type of person and wants me to try a bunch of vitamins along with medication to see if that will help. She agrees with the infectious disease doctor when he said that he doesn't feel the calcification in my brain would have anything to do with the fact that I suffer from severe migraines.   She prescribed me Zinc, Magnesium, COQ10, Vitamin B, and others that I cannot name off right at the moment.  Also she sent me an anti-depressant, not for depression but for the side effect that it gives as a preventative for migraines and a sleep aid all in one, as well as a pain medication live Aleve. I am ready to fight whatever battles that come my way as I know that through the Lord's help all is possible.  Something that has helped me to get through this hard time in my life is reading my Patriarchal Blessing, reading a book called Hard Times and Holy Places by Kristin Warner Belcher which is an amazing life story about a lady who had cancer in her eye and how she dealt with things as well as a video that is by Elder Quentin L. Cook called, Hope ya know, we had a hard time.  It is a great reminder that I am not the only one with problems and with the Savior's help all is possible :D  We will let all know how the progress is going as well and know your prayers are felt and I am grateful for all the support from all.  Weston

Heard from the Doctor!

We heard from the Doctor and he said that all my labs came back normal and that nothing was bad.  He also said it still doesn't explain my headaches and that he would like me to talk to the family physician and a neurologist to see what help can be found.  I hope the answer comes up soon because it definitely is hard not knowing what you have nor how to manage the pain, but God will provide.  Short update.  Thanks for all the prayers on my behalf !

Dr Visit Update

I know that you are all probably waiting to hear about what happened at the hospital today and so I am here to keep all informed.  Let me just tell you we left at 7AM and had our appointment at 9 and got there just in time.  We first met with the infectious disease doctor as most people who have been out of the country and are sick meet with him and so we talked and he looked over all the test results that I have had and scanned everything into my file.  I was able to get some information about what they think the spot is in my brain.  He said that when you have a parasite it is like a balloon in your brain and then when it pops, it is like a water balloon that pops and it leaks into your brain and leaves behind the dead parasite and it calcifies or turns into bone or hard matter.  What showed up on my CAT scan looks just like that and so I did have a parasite at one time, but the downside to everything is that they- with the CAT scan- cannot tell if I have more or what is really ailing me.  I had some blood work done and had an MRI as well to see if there is really something up there.  They also did a chest X-Ray to rule out Tuberculosis and so we shall hear about the results hopefully within 24-36 hours and then we will go from there.  There really wasn't anything that they could give me to go on until they tests have been completed and so we are just in the process of hanging in there tight.  I am not worried like I have said a million times, because the hand of the Lord is always in our lives when we obey His commandments and live strong.  Hopefully we will know more within the next couple of days and will keep all posted.  Thanks for all the love, support, letters, gifts, visits, telephone calls, prayers, fasts, and many other support in all other ways.

Brain Scans

Figure A

That little tiny white dot on the middle left side of my brain is the part that is infected by what they think is Cysticercosis.  It has caused my brain to swell and to also affect parts of my brain that should be filled with CSF fluid (Cerebral Spinal Fluid) and that is what is causing my head to hurt and to have problems. They don't know if what is affecting me is dead, alive, or calcified and will do further tests.  The next figure is of the two parts of my brain that are swollen and constricting the black area where they should be the same size.  The left two black, they look like bananas, should be the same size, but the one is and the other is not.  This is because of the affected white spot in my brain that shows in Figure A.  To be Continued and updated when we know more tomorrow and with other visits.

Scan B

Coming Home Letter

You can see the Gulf in the distance

Well Here I am, this is ex Elder- Weston Marsh and just writing a quick message to tell everyone that things are going well and that I got home on time and safe. I came home and things were good.  We went to Cafe Rio on the way home and met my Aunt Lila and Aunt Leda.  We came home and my friends had decorated the house for a welcome home gift and it was great.  I was able to take a last picture of Mexico from the airplane and we also flew over the gulf of Mexico, or close to the edge where I could see it.  It was the first time I had ever seen it and it was the first time that I have been in Texas.  The airport was huge and it was an interesting day.  We left in the morning about 7:30 A.M. and didn't get to the airport until about 10 A.M. because of the traffic.  We took all the back-roads and everything was a lot better.  I was really nervous and wasn't really ready to come home as the thought had just hit me at this point.  I was excited to serve the Lord in a different location though and was able to see that the Lord's Hand was in all that I was going to do, I just had to trust in Him and look for the bright side of what was happening. I have been able to be blessed for my efforts and know that our Father in Heaven is watching out for me in all that I do and in all that the doctors will be doing in the future.  I don't know what tomorrow will bring as it will be an interesting time to see what the Lord has in store for me.  I know that the scripture is true when it says that God shows us line by line and precept by precept, here a little and there a little.  Tomorrow will be my here a little and there a little so that I can have a little better idea about what will be going on and have a little more comfort in seeing the Lord's hand.  I am not worried nor afraid but anxious for this next phase in my life to take place.  I have been able to write a couple of my missionary friends and give them some words of encouragement and will continue to do so.  This blog will be updated once in a while to keep all informed on what the Doctors say and what will be happening.  Thanks for all your support.  Sincerely, Elder Marsh

Welcome Home party

coming home....very sick

Well Im sure that you all know by now that I will not be continuing my mission in Mexico City for problems due to the worm in my head. I know that this letter might get to you after you have talked to the Dr. but I wanted to still write to tell you about the news and how this has been. Ok, I havent lied to you ever, really I have felt good when i write to you but it has gotten a lot worse in the last week to the point that it has been a hard time to work. The headaches have become really strong and have been affecting how I work and how long I can work in the day before I feel like my head will explode. I have been able to see the Neurologist again and she just prescribed me a bunch of pills and said I want to see you in a month but I called the Dr Kelly afterwards and told him what the Dr had told me and he did not want me to buy any of the pills that she had prescribed due to the fact that it hasnt helped me to begin with and that it is going to be even more expensive and so we didnt know what to do. He said he would call me later after discussing the issue with the President. He didnt call me and so I called him again today and he asked me how things were going. I did buy injections for the pain and she prescribed me a really high dosage of pain medication injectable but still that hasnt helped in the slightest. Sometimes I Have asked, why me? But I stopped doing that a while ago. Now I ask, What next? I have learned so much being on a mission and have been able to feel the spirit more than any time in my whole entire life. I know that this church is true and that things are able to work out in the long run. Who knows why the Lord sent me to Mexico, but he did. Who knows why he sent me the companions he has, but he did. Who knows why I got sick, but The Lord does. I dont repent in the slightest coming here because my goal was to at least change 1 life, just like Abinadi in the Book of Mormon. He might have had the thought cross his mind that he didnt do anything in his "mission" but we can see that only 1 person we know of changed in that time and look what it did for millions of people that later joined the church through his only convert, Alma. I cannot boast and say that I have done really anything in my mission because it has all been thanks to the hand of God, my Maker, my Lord, and King who reins above the earth and all things that are in the earth, by Him were made. I am grateful for the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for his atoning sacrifice that makes it possible that I do not have to pass through any trial alone. I dont have to, because one already has, Jesus. I cannot say how many lives I have touched because all in all, I didnt touch any ones life, it was God and His Spirit and the sacrifice of His Holy Son, Jesus Christ that has touched the lives of all those whom I have been able to teach. I have received so much support and so much love and so many prayers in my behalf and were all those received in vain? No! God has another plan for me right now and I am expecting Him to guide me to where He would have me go. I cannot be here, but I can be where the Lord sends me. I feel EXACTLY like Nephi, when he said, I awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. I cannot choose where the Lord would have me go, but I can continue to be a faithful member of His church and continue to be his servant in all that He has planned for me. I really cannot tell you when I am coming home or any news that you probably havent heard already because well I shouldnt even know that I am going home but the Dr told me but the President still hasnt even called me. I did receive a phone call from the Secretary telling me not to buy the medication and to wait for the phone call of the President for further instruction. I am not worried, a little anxious, but that is normal. I do not regret anything that I have done on my mission but I do look forward to the hope of the future that God has to offer. I am so thankful for all my many companions and for all they have given to me and all that have helped me in the past year to be able to change to who I am today. I am so grateful for Elder Vial for being the greatest friend and companion a missionary could want. From him I learned to have patience and to trust in the Spirit and recognize its promptings. I am eternally grateful for Elder McCaleb and for his humility and his genuine love for our investigators that we had and for "training" me in the way the Lord would do it if He were my companion. I am so grateful for Elder Ortiz. From him we had some hard times, but from those hard times we grew so close and we were able to learn together. I was unexperienced just like he was but together we learned so much about how to teach and the basics of being obedient and a great missionary for the future. I am so grateful for Elder Bastian and for his love and respect and patience. I am not the easiest person to live with but Elder Bastian showed Christlike love in his willingness to serve me and help me to grow in many christlike attributes. I am grateful for Elder Rodriguez who through his example has shown me really what it is to be an example of the believers. I could not have asked for a better companion in all of my mission and have been able to see his humility and love towards whatever assignment the Lord commands him to fulfill and how he magnifies it. I am also grateful for Elder Fiedler. My first American companion that I can say that I helped instruct. He was a great example of how I could fine tune my attitude and become a better person all in all. He helped me to be able to learn how to give good suggestions and be able to serve more in my calling. He was the best companion I could have asked for. I am also grateful for my new companion, elder Gonzalez and for his acceptance of me for who I am. He has tought me to work hard and able to live how I should as a missionary. We havent had too much time together but we have been able to serve the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength... as much as the worm allowed me to do ha ha. I am so happy for the opporunity I have had to serve the Lord and will continue serving him in all capacities. I am not a failure, but I am a survivor! A survivor never fails, he always falls though. Falling is part of the process of becoming stronger. I have never failed, fallen... yes. But when I fall I get back up again and continue learning and continue fighting and will continue fighting until the end of my days. I am up on my limit but I love you all and hopefully things are well. Dont worry about me, I am fine and there is nothing that the Lord has given me that he hasnt given me power to continue fighting.








Love Elder Marsh





Over and Out

--

Élder Weston Brandon Marsh

Oct 2010-Oct 2012

Letter #53 October 10, 2011

hello there family.  well I am here to write my weekly letter and give an update on my wonderful blooming condition of my worm, named Mortimer (suggestion from aunt Lila), and how I am feeling. 

OK so we went to the Dr and met DR Kelly the missionary Doctor and his wife that they just complete a year in the mission as well.  He wanted to take a look at the scans personally and fax over the letters to salt lake city.  He said that whatever was in my head would literally be UN-operable because of its position and later I have a photo of the scan where you Can see it so maybe it will get sent today we shall see how fast the Internet is.  

He said that he wants a second opinion and so we are waiting for the hospital to tell me whether or not they can send me a CD so we can mail it to SLC or we have a member in our ward who is going to be heading over to SLC and we could just send the results with her within the next week and so we shall see the options.  He said that he talked to you mom, what did he say? (Lottie here....Refer to the blog entry Update from letter 51 for our conversation)  What was your reaction?  

Also he said it could be just like the doctor said and be cystercercosis or could be a small artifact in the brain that I was born with or it could be a calcified portion of the brain from a bad alimentation or it could be a small tumor.  He said not to worry because the doctors here have seen more cases than in the U.S. and so here is where we needed to treat it anyway and so i am not worried in the slightest but boy sometimes my head kills me ha ha. 

 I am doing good as well as I worked this last week and received a new companion whose name is Elder Gonzalez from Orem, Utah.  He has been here a month  in Mexico but hasn't been officially "trained" and so we are doing that.  He is a great elder and we will see lots of miracles here.  We have changes in our district as well and I have Elder Luna back into my group and so that will be interesting and I am excited to learn how each of the elders can teach me to become better.

 I am really excited for the food here this time of the year and cannot believe that it will be coming up on the year mark.  It doesn't even feel like I have been here that long and I do not want to count down the days either.  Hey, did Sherylee come home yet?  How is the whole sickness spreading over there?  I heard it snowed from my companions family.  That is crazy, all it does here is just rain. 

 I have been enjoying Mexico and all the experience that we can get from living in this time.  We have a few people we have had to tell we cannot come and visit them as often because they just aren't progressing.  Yup it is sad and nothing could have prepared me for that moment but sometimes there are just others who could and are progressing and who keep the assignments we give them to read and such.  

We have been looking for others and contacting like crazy.  I usually don't like to contact, that is one of my things that I just have a bubble about but Elder Gonzalez has helped me to be able to learn that it isn't too important what others think, and just talk to them like a normal person.  Oops, guess the trainee is teaching the trainer a thing or two ha ha.  

I am not worried about being in Mexico another year, but boy do things get crazier and crazier as the days go by because I know time is running out and so our goal is to do so much more things that we have been slacking on.  We are becoming better teachers.  One of these experiences was really special.  One of my newly baptized members gave his testimony yesterday... well gave his story I guess because it wasn't really a "testimony" but it came from his heart and it was all that mattered.  He has had some doubts about the church as he has heard a lot of bad things about the Church of Jesus Christ and how they have "many wives" and they beat them or who knows what more he heard but when we explained that they do NOT belong to our church.  They call themselves by that name or by MORMONS but I feel that is why it was so important that in this last conference they announced the importance of whenever possible to call the church by the full name The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and its members as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

 He was able to be comforted for the answer that I felt prompted to give but I couldn't calm his doubts and so where did I feel to turn?  The words of Modern Day Prophets.  I thank Grandpa Coleman for sending me those 14 fundamentals of a living prophet as they have helped immensely.  I saw his ensign and gave him three talks I felt prompted he should read.  They were from the First Presidency from the conference before.  The first one by Thomas S. Monson  and the second by Henry B. Eyring and the third by Dieter F. Uchtdorf.  Check them out. (click on their names and it hyperlinks you to their talks)   He bore testimony how they helped him to receive the comfort he was looking for and especially the last one that talked about the importance of not worrying about life and just looking to live it simple.  I loved the part about the astronaut pen but they could have used a pencil.  

We are changing lives here and I have seen it personally.  If I could be of any help to anyone that is thinking about serving a mission, DO IT!  You do not know the power of it until you are able to see the life of a person change for the better.  If i could be of any help for those who read this and are not members of our church.  Check it out.  What do you have to lose?  Absolutely nothing, to the contrary, much to gain.  I know this is the only true church upon the face of the earth.  Clearly, I had to ask for myself as well and God responded my questions.  I know that Jesus Christ directs, this, his church today and that we have living prophets and apostles who lead and guide us along the straight and narrow path back to our father in heaven.  I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and that he restored the true church and just like the Bible the Book of Mormon also is the word of God.  Read it!  I love you all.  Be safe and know that all is well over here.

Élder Weston Brandon Marsh
Oct 2010-Oct 2012

 

Letter # 52, Feeling much better

how is everyone doing? Here I am, waiting to tell you the good news! They arent going to send me home and so dont worry about that, but the studies that I had came back more than semi-normal and so that is good. 

Now we are just waiting for one additional test on the CAT scan that I will re take in a month to see if everything is back to normal...and so we shall see from there. I am not worried in the slightest and have received a witness that I will get better and thank all for prayers and for worrying about me but I am completely OK, just the occasional headache and stomach ache for the pills that I am taking.

I have had a great week staying at home and the district has been supportive. I was able to get a lot of studying done and write some of my converts and had a good spiritual time although I wasnt able to completely fulfill all my responsibilities. The president and I feel that things will surely improve and that is good.

We had our conference this last week and I sincerely did not feel good and so I asked the President if he would allow me, if I felt any worse, to go home. He paused for a minute and thought and sighed and said, well I guess we have to talk to the mission department and I was like, NO I mean from the reunion back to my apartment, not back to Utah!  ha ha. It was actually pretty funny that he would even think about sending me home because I DO NOT WANT TO COME HOME EARLY! I came out here for two years and I will stay here the two years and they will not short me.

I have had such a great week and the neighbors downstairs have brought us up food for breakfast, a snack, lunch we eat with the bishop, and then a snack and then dinner and then a snack.. Boy am I going to gain a lot of weight or have an office bum for sitting on it all day and doing nothing ha ha.

We had general conference and I enjoyed it so much. It is so intersting how the prophets words apply to us so differently depending on what stage we are in life. For example I learned so much how to apply it to me as a missionary and also as a son and brother. I am so glad to have a family that loves me.

My life was boring and so I dont know how you want me to give you details on my week haha but I shall try. Also I was able to share my knowledge of family search and other applications with the food appointments this week.

Although I havent felt too well I was able to help the Bishops wife to search out and place a few of her ancestors on family tree. We got her brother and sisters of her grandmother on, she lives with her still but they didnt have all the dates so we gave a close estimate. Lo and Behold, no one has done the work and so we were able to reserve them and so her grandma, who knew the church in your adulthood, could be sealed at last to her parents and her brothers and sisters and they can receive the saving ordinances of the gospel. We were able to help her also get her mom on the site who passed away. We found that her work had been done, by her the bishops wifes sister and so we are set at ease, but we dont know if her father is still alive because the father left the family in her childhood, I told her the best would be just wait and keep praying for it.

I felt good to save 15 of the souls in heaven and so that this sister could become excited. Our ward does not have the spirit of Elijah whatsoever. No one wants to do their history, but I dont blame them because they dont have amazing tools like ancestry.com I am so glad I speak english and that we have many resources available to further the work here. I want to help our new members to get into the family history class but it is a hit and miss come sometimes the teacher doenst come and if he doenst come, the laptops dont come either... but little by litle.

I was pleased to see yesterday, Adriana, Mayra, Fernanda, Jonatan, Daniela and many other people like Gustavo. The rest of the members were happy to see me and missed me lots and lots. But I know that things will be good.

My companion is moving to Rerforma in the Erimita Zone and I am going to be "giving birth" ha ha and have the great privilege to instruct a new missionary again. I am so glad and have a great honor and trus placed over me by God. I am not worried about the upcoming challenges, because I have seen the Lords hand guiding me through all the challenges that I have faced.

I am so grateful for the prayers, letters of comfort, and even the pre-funeral bread by the members here... as a joke ha ha. I also have been grateful for the many members who call and check up on me and who also have been giving me substanance to eat and their good cheer.

I could not have been chosen to serve in any other place and now have a solid testimony of the divinity of my calling. We are going to the temple in December and I cannot wait! Also I was estatic to hear about the new provo temple. Oh boy! We are up to 16 announced, under construction, or built. The work is moving rapidly forward in the Utah Valley and the world.

I loved the talks that were given at General Conference and they helped me to receive my own revelation. I love you all so much and am grateful for the obstacles that God has sent us in this life in order to make sure we are refined and return to him purified gold.

I am so glad for the chance to serve and for those who make it possible for me to serve the Lord. Without you, I wouldnt be here and the lives I have been able to touch through the Holy Ghost and the help of the Lord, would never be where they are now. I know that it is a sacrifice to have a missionary, but what great a blessing to be one. I am preparing from now to be a senior missionary just like my grandparents and so grateful to have their example of what the prophets have told us.

I am so excited to receive the conference edition of the ensign and have been reading past years. I studied aprils through the six months in between and have seen miraculous revelation and help throguht this time.. Just so you know I will be guaranteed to be in this area for xmas and so here I shall be to call you! I loveyou all, time is short but I need to just send a load of pics and so lots to tellyou next week who i am training and more exciting adventures... Love all and dont worry! I am blessed and watched over


Love ... me! of course =)

Élder Weston Brandon Marsh

Oct 2010-Oct 2012

update from letter #51 on Weston and Cysticercosis

Lottie here.... I spoke with the Mission DR today, they sent his CAT scan and other findings to a SLC, Utah neurologist, at this point the 


medication   protocol is the same whether it be in Mexico or here so he is staying. Because he lives in a big city (2nd largest in the world) the doctors and hospitals are cutting edge like USA, We feel he is where he needs to be right now. They have  caught his in the early stages and so it is not as serious as if it had been caught later on. they are giving him extensive medication wich is what is making him so sick right now, but they said that is a good thing. The Mission Doctor says he calls weston every day and checks in with him, he reassured me when he called him today he was doing well.
  so I am at peace with it and at least it is not as far blown as the cases showed on the internet!  also The Dr said that
  because we caught it early the chances for seizures (especially because he has not yet had one) is slim, but they have put  him on a antisezure medication Dilantin just in case
 
I am glad the mission Doctor called me this morning it helped to know that they sent his records for a second oppionion.
 I also know that the Lord does watch over his missionaries, and have felt peace this morning.  Thankyou for your prayers in our behalf.
 
I spent most of the wee hours of the morning researching this condition so I would know what questions to ask the Dr. and was pleased to  know that there was only one spot in his brain instead of multiple spots. 


 As for the pork.  You never know what pork is affected with the larvae, and so if the pork is cooked all the way it is ok, but if not then you have the chance of getting infected.  the best way to not get it is to always cook your  pork all the way through!  


The mission Dr did tell me that he was expecting me to call him yesterday lol,
  because he asked Weston if he had told his family yet and he told him no, the Dr told him to tell us everything about the , and his sickness.   I know that Weston did not want to worry us....I am glad  that they sent the MRI's to SLC to be reviewed,  and that he isn't in some back woods clinic with dirt floors and un sterile instuments! lol
 I think we will live through this :)


 I told my husband that when any one of our other kids complain I am going to use the comeback..."Well at least you do not have brain parasites!" that should put them into perspective real   quick!  hahah  


it is easy to get in the feel sorry for me mode, and all you have to do is look at someone elses trials and then yours don't feel oh so big anymore!

 thank you for your support

Letter 51, September 26, 2011 Cysticercosis

They're back!!! And they are here to stay, but this time, they brought a friend and he moved to...... (you might want to sit down while reading this letter) ..... the BRAIN!  What I refer to is that I have parasites again but this time that I have a worm in my brain.  Isn't that just lovely.  It isn't just any ordinary worm either.  It is a pork worm, or in other words that  I received it by eating Pork.


 It causes seizures, lesions in the brain, hemorrhages, and can cause internal organ failure and death.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Cysticercosis click here to view link 

 I copied a little paragraph for you... Cysticercosis is a rare infectious disease caused by the presence and accumulation of the larval cysts of a tapeworm (cestode) within tissues of the body. The scientific name for the tapeworm that causes cysticercosis is Taenia solium (T. solium), which is also known as the pork tapeworm. T. solium cysts (cysticerci) may affect any area of the body including the brain, a condition known as neurocysticercosis. Symptoms vary from case to case. If cysticerci are located in the brain, central nervous system abnormalities may occur most often seizures and headaches. Cysticercosis may also affect the eyes, spinal cord, skin and heart. 
 I couldn't find any other information about what I have or how to treat it all I know that is I am being taken good care of and the medicines that I am taking have made me really sick but from what I understand, that is a good thing which means that I am reacting to the medication. (Lottie here: I am going to be calling the DR in Mexico tomorrow, but from reading about it the most common method of treatment is kinda like Chemotherapy it makes you very sick)


  So we have been fighting to get the medications and guess how much they cost?  5,000 pesos or about 500 bucks.  I cannot believe it but hey it is a lot cheaper than laser treatment or brain surgery.  


I also learned something really interesting about my brain also that is hereditary (thanks a lot ha ha)  We have two parts in our brain on both sides that are filled with CSF, Cerebral spine Fluid and they should be the same size, well I have the two present, but one is a whole lot bigger than the other.  They told me that I was born that way and that is why our family might have a history of migraines or headaches because their brains isn't allowing the fluid to have the same space and so it creates an unequal feeling and even can cause dizziness. Imagine that eh? (mom is always dizzy!) Our problems are solved but there is no cure!  Ha ha.  


Oh also they found that my brain is extremely swollen and so they immediately put me on steroids to help with that and want to see me again in a month.  They say it is really rare and that it is rare in Mexico just as well as it is rare in the United States.  


I have been blessed that it wasn't something a little more serious, because it is really serious from what the church doctor told me and that I cannot be in the sun at all.  I have been confined to my house for the last couple of days and will continue to be confined for this next upcoming week.  But don't worry because the church and the Lord takes care of his missionaries.  I am not worried because it needed to happen like this and that is why God prepared the right people to take care of me.  


The sisters in the ward feel bad because they might have been the ones to give me bad pork, but I don't blame any of them because as it is a larva, it could have been from Aztahuacan or Progresista so who knows.  I am just worried about how I am going to get better and to take things easy.  


My heart study came back normal and my hooking me up to a machine to read my neurons came back excellent it was just a little white dot in the brain that shouldn't be there.  So this is the root of the whole ordeal and so hopefully you can rest easier while my brain gets eaten by this horrible tapeworm type thing.  I actually had scenes of X-Files running through my head of what it could possibly be ha ha but hopefully it turns out to be good and that I will not have any difficulties.  


We haven't been out working and we have been doing interchanges this whole week and we each lose one day of work and so I get to be babysat by a different district member each day... but I am so bored of watching Finding Faith in Christ 90 times and Together Forever 63 and The restoration 325 times but I am almost done reading the Book of Mormon and so that is a plus.  


The sisters have been bringing me food and the bishop wants me to eat at his house to make sure that I get a balanced diet with no meat whatsoever and so I am being fed well and have no issues there.  


I was in sacrament meeting yesterday praying that I would soon be feeling better to get out and continue working and a thought came to my mind, "No, it is not time."  So who knows what that means, but I wouldn't be surprised if I don't get better right away.  


I have learned to pour my heart out to my Father in Heaven a lot these last few days as the American Dr. had described to me the seriousness of the parasite, and have felt that everything would be OK and that no matter what happens, I need to finish my mission and so that is that.  


Unless they ship me home in a cardboard box, I am not coming home!  This reminds me of when the animals from Madagascar, the movie, got shipped there ha ha.  It would definitely not be the best thing in the world.  


We have been able to see the Lords hand really a lot in our area this last week even though my spirits have been just a little dampened, not much because you know me, I am a tough son of a gun.  I can laugh or make people laugh through the thickest of the thick.  I am working really hard on seeing the Lords hand more in my area and putting more faith in his work.  I know that I cannot teach right now so much but I can have more faith for my companion so that he can teach what our investigators need and he can have the gift of tongues to continue in his effort to be understood.  


My Companion is doing so much better with his spanish by the way.  Also, General conference is coming up and right after general conference are the changes (transfers).  I have been sad because I feel that it is my companions time to go and we would like another change together, but the Lord sends us where he wants us to be.  This next change will last until 2 days after Christmas and so whoever is with me, will be with me for a while... through the holidays at least.  


We don't change time here until the middle of October towards the end, and so we will be on the same time zone for a little bit... interesting right?  
I got a wedding invitation for Caitlin Hansen and wanted to congratulate her and wish her the best of Luck!  Also it was good to receive your dear elder mom thanks for the lift yesterday cause I needed it.  Also Angie thanks for the letter and I will be writing soon, just don't have too many stamps and not a post office either close by.  Also Grandparents thanks for your support and letters. I have received lots of support from cousins and friends who have written me and not been the best to write back nor mention names from who writes me and I apologize but times are getting busy and we have so much to do so continue to write me because it makes my spirits soar!  


I appreciate all you do mom and dad to support me in Mexico and to help to serve these people.  I have seen the Lord touch many lives through me.  


Mike and Zac keep working hard for a mission because you will forever be blessed and it will prepare you to become a better father, husband, son, and servant of God.  Also Aubrie i love you so much.  I have been practicing the piano too, heaven knows I need a good couple lessons more.  


I am so proud of you all and keep chugging along in the work of the Lord.  


Don't worry about me but a few extra prayers will be accepted.  I couldn't send lots of photos cause i wanted to write more today and so I need to close by saying that the church is true, even when we have the toughest times in our lives, God loves us and is waiting for us to turn to him. His help doesn't always come right when we need it, he wants us to learn to trust him,but it always does come. Look forward to the time when you will see healing in his wings and live, love, and laugh like today is the last time you will do it.  I know it and I know you can know it too.  

Love

Elder Marsh

p.s. i need good worm names eh? so I can name my worms

-- 
Élder Weston Brandon Marsh
Oct 2010-Oct 2012

the big 5 0....letter #50, September 19, 2011

I guess you all lucked out today because there are no photos to send because my card will not read on the computer, so I will just be writing today, you can all shout hooray! 


 I have many things to tell you and lots of time to do so, so we shall see if the keyboard keeps up ;P Anyway, how is the family?  Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Coleman for the letters that you sent I well appreciated the advice that Grandpa sent and enjoy receiving the key points of a modern day prophet and his importance to us.  


I know that this has been preparing me and my investigators to receive revelation when this next general conference is coming up in just a couple of weeks. I invite all of you, likewise to participate in the upcoming general conference.  You can prepare by reading the last general conference online or can also read the talk put out by the First Presidency to also prepare yourselves.  


I received the last Ensign but haven't received the New Era or Friend.  When they come to me, they don't have my name on the back, just so you know, so I don't think they know but I will remind them again that I should be receiving them. 


 I have some good news and some bad news.  The good news is that Héctor finally got baptized and the bad news is that my comp has the pics and my computer doenst send them today, so until next time.  It was a beautiul baptism.  It was attended by his mother, Gilda and his aunt who has never been to our church.  Also Martin was able to make it too and he says that he enjoyed it thouroughly and soon wants to make this sacred covenant as well. We know that little by little the Lord is blessing us abundantly. 


 Today I am going to be going to the hospital to do some studies.  I went the other week after Monday and talked with a nuerologist who told me that neurologically I am OK but that she found that I have High blood pressure.  She wanted me to do three studies in the hospital, I might have already told you, but an electrocardiogram, electroencephelogram and something called TAC Craneo simple.  


Nevertheless I am ready to take the tests today.  They told me I was not allowed to sleep all night long last night to do my tests and so I am really really sleep deprived right now.  Directly after we write we are going to make the 1 hour and20 min trip to the hospital: Angeles Mocel.  It is a great hospital and the one that the President of Mexico goes to.  


Then after I take all the tests, they won't read my results until I go back and have the appointment with the Doctor Chimal the end of this week.  She said she has treated many missionaries with the same thing and the only cure she has found is to move them to a different mission with a lower altitude and less pollution in the air.  We shall see.  In the meantime, she sent me with some high blood pressure medication and I was way below, 100/54 and 101/56 but now I have returned back to normal as of last night 122/82.  


I still have the headaches, which she said if it was due to high blood pressure that they would go away, so it worries me in the slightest.  But all is well in Zion here!  I am OK and working harder than ever.  


My companion is doing great.  I wanted to tell you mom and dad, thanks encouraging me to be obedient to the mission rules,  because I can see the blessings that comes with just simple obedience even though the rules seem stupid at times but I see so many elders that aren't here for the right reasons, because if they were, they would be 100% obedient and it is hard sometimes being with some companions who aren't.  


I know the Lord blesses in obedience to his commandments and he also promises more blessings than in the effort we give in keeping the commandments.  I have been doing great in Mexico and loving the food.  


We ate some interesting foods this last week because of the the Independence Day.  Traditional food here during this time is Pozole, it is a soup with exploded corn pieces and radishes and lettuce and some other things, look it up on the Internet.  Also we ate traditional Mexican candy, but made from coconut and caramel and milk.  We also drank Atole that was flavored Nuez, and it was amazing!  


We had a dance in the Stake Center and a great activity with a lot of food that we went to and I got to see a lot of Progresista Friends and enjoyed the night celebrating with them... of course I dressed up with a traditional Mexican bow tie, soon to send the pictures, and also had a nice moustache like Emiliano Zapata, look up the foto on Internet.  


I was able to also eat a weird fish that is in the swamps of Mexico called Pehelegarto or something but it looks like an eel with a long trumpet snout and hard as a rock, the skin.  It smells more fishier than any other I have tried or smelled.  The next day we ate another fish.  We had fish quesadillas and a Shrimp Empanada and then ate a huge Moharra all to myself, remember I took a photo at the beginning of my mission, but this was bigger!  and It had its head and everything and they put shrimp on the inside of its belly.  It wasn't all that great, but gotta try new things right?  Also my companion sucked out the fish's brains and the sister sucked on the eyeballs and it was so gross but my companion loved the brains.  I passed, of course.  I didn't feel to hot after all that fish in two days.  


This week we are back to normal except for the fact that many are still firing of cuetes or fireworks and it gets really annoying especially when you are trying to sleep.  We have been working hard still with Michelle but she keeps opting out of coming to church and we cannot figure out why so we will have to ask her if she is interested or just doing it because she likes to hear from us.  Also, bernada and Miguel are still up in the air with their baptisms because they didn't come to church.  Man, just come to church!  But we did take a new lady to church on Sunday.


 I am so glad that you my family are always there for me.  zac i like the pics, good job for choosing a girl with a modest dress.. Mike hang in there and really look for answers in the scriptures and read the book of Mormon before the end of the year, by the way i am almost done with Alma.  Aubrie, when are you going to send me photos too?  ha ha.  I hope you do well on your recital with your hard song.  I would love to hear it soon.  
Mom I love you so very much and your the best mom every!  Dad I love you too and hope things go well in work.  


OH by the way hector laughs like uncle shane it makes me smile and laugh sometimes too.  I love you all and hope you liked my letter this week.  Love you all and don't worry about me, I am fine!  Love Elder Marsh