Many people ask us, "is Caroline better?" If you've ever seen Caroline, you would probably agree that her bright smile and happy blue eyes hide any evidence that she has a lung disease. Caroline loves to play, yell (happily) at her brother, eat anything she can get her hands on, refuse her nap times, and now crawl forwards and back. To look at her alone, she is growing beautifully (which is stunning for the doctors to see!) and seems to be perfectly normal. If you were to sit her with another child her age, you would probably notice she breathes quite a bit faster than the other child and her chest caves in when she breathes. Its mostly when compared with someone else that anyone can ever notice she's different.
To answer the question, "is she better?" Well, no. Caroline is better today than she was at 2 1/2 months old because we know why she breathes like she does and we aren't in the hospital anymore! She's better than she was at 4 1/2 months old when she had her lung biopsy because she's not recovering from surgery and she's better than she was in December when she fought what seemed to be the world's longest lasting cold. As far as her respiratory problems due to the disease she has, no, she is not better.
We knew Caroline wouldn't be "better" at this point, so we aren't surprised, sad, or stressed over it. From what researchers have discovered, most children out grow the need for oxygen supplementation by the time they are five years old. So, for Caroline to still be on oxygen and to struggle when fighting any other illness at nine months old, this is all as expected. Our pulmonologist was hoping she would make a little quicker progress, but at six months old, we were told her oxygen requirement will be a long-term necessity. I did not ask "how long is long-term?" because I know that no doctor can make that determination at this point.
Recently I, Brittany, have joined a facebook group with families of children with NeHI (the disease Caroline has) and other childhood interstitial lung diseases. From this group, I have discovered a few families with multiple children affected by a childhood interstitial lung disease (the type of disease that NeHI is) and some children will wean off oxygen for a few years and then require it again. These types of diseases are so newly characterized and known by researchers and physicians, that little is really known for certain. We don't know if it is genetic or environmental or both. We don't know why children "outgrow" the oxygen requirement. We also don't know the long term implications are even though at this time it seems as though there are little to none. Caroline will have another sleep study at 15 months old to look at her oxygen requirement and she will also have a pulmonary function test to look at the strength of her lungs (lungs can tire out after working so hard for so long to breathe) and echo-cardiogram to see if her heart has been affected any (low oxygen can cause enlarged heart) sometime this spring.
Caroline is a sweet joy to our family and we cannot imagine our life to be any different than it is now. Yes, its a little complicated lugging around oxygen tanks, taking her in for monthly very painful RSV vaccines, keeping her cannula in at night, remembering all her medications, and doing our best to quarantine her so she doesn't get sick. The phrase, "she has very little reserve" is pretty scary and we do anticipate her being hospitalized again in the near future for another cold, virus, or infection. We've learned to really cherish the times of wellness and being together. We are so thankful for the time God has given us over the past month of doing just this!
We continue to appreciate your prayers for our family as we know your prayers have truly sustained us over the past year. Caroline will be one soon and we look forward to celebrating her amazing life and all God has taught us through her already! God is so good. He is abundantly gracious to our family and we are grateful!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
God is Powerful, A Look at 2012
As we look back at 2012, we refuse to deny God's unmistakable power displayed in every last second of every day.
In late summer of 2011, we found out we would have a second child and we were elated. We immediately began calling this child, baby Caroline. I received progesterone shots to prevent pre-term labor beginning at 16 weeks and we were all surprised when the contractions began at nineteen weeks. I refused bed rest this time (I was on bed rest for 10 weeks with Jett because of persistent pre-term labor) as to not miss out on my last weeks with Jett as our only child. My doctor never explicitly told me be on full bed rest, so I took heed to his prescription for moderate activity instead. Again, because of the power of God, I carried Caroline to full term and gave birth to an incredible healthy baby girl last spring.
When a child is born and you look into his or her eyes for the first time, let there be no mistake, the power of God is at work. I have never felt so close to God and experienced His power so tangibly as I did when holding Jett and Caroline for the first times. I have heard this said of people when they hold their adopted child for the first time as well. Let us not be so ignorant to think we are the creators of life and these tiny gifts are simple replications of our (or someone else's) DNA. No, God alone is the Creator. John 1:3, "Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made." God is powerful.
Speed up 2 1/2 months to July 2012. When we were told to take Caroline to the ER the first time due to her rapid breathing and chest retractions, I was laden with guilt. My thoughts as we got in the car: "Why did I not notice these symptoms before? Is this because I hadn't fully bonded with this baby? Surely this is my fault."
Because of the power of God, He alone quieted my soul in only a way He can. His grace was sufficient for me, His power was made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). In that moment, my Spirit uttered the words of Job, "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:20). Later that night, when I looked at Caroline and felt like she was slipping away, only the almost tangible power of God held me together and it was that same power that continued to hold me together through the rest of 2012. God is powerful.
The young lady we met (because of the power of God as referenced in a previous post) who had the kidney tumors - I heard from her weeks after we had met. Those tumors, they turned out to be boils from an unknown infection. Heavy antibiotics were all she needed. By the power of God, she was healed. Let us not be so foolish to think that at the invention of modern medicine, God was finally put at rest and no longer needed to be in the healing business. No, He is omnipotent and not one thing slips through His hands by chance. He often times uses modern medicine but has not quit the healing business. God is powerful.
Recently Jay's uncle and a dear friend of the family passed away. These times were times of sincere grief, sorrow, and sadness. Jett told us, "you don't have to be sad because Jesus is Alive." Man, that kid gets it. Because of the power of God, these two precious people were met by our savior upon their earthly death. They now "know Christ and the power of His resurrection" (Phil. 3:10). With Him, they experience no pain and no sorrow. "Oh death, where is your victory? Oh where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). In death, God is powerful.
On December 25, 2012 Jennifer and Chris Sands baptized Jennifer's french tutor in Burkina Faso. God is powerful.
On August 27, 2012, Shep Greenway was born even though doctors told mom and dad pregnancy was not possible without medical intervention (with no intervention needed). God is powerful.
In May of 2012, it was made law that a woman must have a sonogram and full fetal description before an abortion can be performed. It was a step. God is powerful. (And in 2013, Texas gave up federal funding for women's health care in order to stipulate that a woman receiving government medical aid cannot receive care from a provider who provides abortions. This might just put several abortion clinics out of business...but that's for 2013). God is powerful.
A family burdened with financial and relational turmoil was set free in 2012 and was able to experience a Christmas like no other. God is powerful.
Our Caroline stopped sleeping through the night in November and yet I have energy. God multiplies my rest undoubtedly and He is to be praised. This is no little thing, I am telling you, God is powerful.
I say all this so we can remind ourselves of God's great power despite who we are, what we do, and what we don't do. I know for certain God showed His power in your life and all across the world in too many ways to ever list just in this past year. I encourage you to look for evidence of God's great power in your life over the course of 2012. Did you come to know Jesus Christ this year or do you know someone who did? "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Did you feel the love of Christ this year? Because, Paul prayed that "we may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Eph. 3:18). Did you speak the word of God or serve in His strength this year? Because if so, "to Him be the glory and power for ever and ever" (1 Peter 4:11).
God is powerful - period. It is who He is and He is just as powerful today as He ever was - period. This may be considered too bold but I will add, God even displays His power today just as much as He ever has. Oh and - His power isn't dependent on you or me. Praise the Lord and all Glory and Power be to Him for "if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself" 2 Timothy 2:13 "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" (Rev. 19:6)
In late summer of 2011, we found out we would have a second child and we were elated. We immediately began calling this child, baby Caroline. I received progesterone shots to prevent pre-term labor beginning at 16 weeks and we were all surprised when the contractions began at nineteen weeks. I refused bed rest this time (I was on bed rest for 10 weeks with Jett because of persistent pre-term labor) as to not miss out on my last weeks with Jett as our only child. My doctor never explicitly told me be on full bed rest, so I took heed to his prescription for moderate activity instead. Again, because of the power of God, I carried Caroline to full term and gave birth to an incredible healthy baby girl last spring.
When a child is born and you look into his or her eyes for the first time, let there be no mistake, the power of God is at work. I have never felt so close to God and experienced His power so tangibly as I did when holding Jett and Caroline for the first times. I have heard this said of people when they hold their adopted child for the first time as well. Let us not be so ignorant to think we are the creators of life and these tiny gifts are simple replications of our (or someone else's) DNA. No, God alone is the Creator. John 1:3, "Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made." God is powerful.
Speed up 2 1/2 months to July 2012. When we were told to take Caroline to the ER the first time due to her rapid breathing and chest retractions, I was laden with guilt. My thoughts as we got in the car: "Why did I not notice these symptoms before? Is this because I hadn't fully bonded with this baby? Surely this is my fault."
Because of the power of God, He alone quieted my soul in only a way He can. His grace was sufficient for me, His power was made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). In that moment, my Spirit uttered the words of Job, "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:20). Later that night, when I looked at Caroline and felt like she was slipping away, only the almost tangible power of God held me together and it was that same power that continued to hold me together through the rest of 2012. God is powerful.
The young lady we met (because of the power of God as referenced in a previous post) who had the kidney tumors - I heard from her weeks after we had met. Those tumors, they turned out to be boils from an unknown infection. Heavy antibiotics were all she needed. By the power of God, she was healed. Let us not be so foolish to think that at the invention of modern medicine, God was finally put at rest and no longer needed to be in the healing business. No, He is omnipotent and not one thing slips through His hands by chance. He often times uses modern medicine but has not quit the healing business. God is powerful.
Recently Jay's uncle and a dear friend of the family passed away. These times were times of sincere grief, sorrow, and sadness. Jett told us, "you don't have to be sad because Jesus is Alive." Man, that kid gets it. Because of the power of God, these two precious people were met by our savior upon their earthly death. They now "know Christ and the power of His resurrection" (Phil. 3:10). With Him, they experience no pain and no sorrow. "Oh death, where is your victory? Oh where is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). In death, God is powerful.
On December 25, 2012 Jennifer and Chris Sands baptized Jennifer's french tutor in Burkina Faso. God is powerful.
On August 27, 2012, Shep Greenway was born even though doctors told mom and dad pregnancy was not possible without medical intervention (with no intervention needed). God is powerful.
In May of 2012, it was made law that a woman must have a sonogram and full fetal description before an abortion can be performed. It was a step. God is powerful. (And in 2013, Texas gave up federal funding for women's health care in order to stipulate that a woman receiving government medical aid cannot receive care from a provider who provides abortions. This might just put several abortion clinics out of business...but that's for 2013). God is powerful.
A family burdened with financial and relational turmoil was set free in 2012 and was able to experience a Christmas like no other. God is powerful.
Our Caroline stopped sleeping through the night in November and yet I have energy. God multiplies my rest undoubtedly and He is to be praised. This is no little thing, I am telling you, God is powerful.
I say all this so we can remind ourselves of God's great power despite who we are, what we do, and what we don't do. I know for certain God showed His power in your life and all across the world in too many ways to ever list just in this past year. I encourage you to look for evidence of God's great power in your life over the course of 2012. Did you come to know Jesus Christ this year or do you know someone who did? "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Did you feel the love of Christ this year? Because, Paul prayed that "we may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Eph. 3:18). Did you speak the word of God or serve in His strength this year? Because if so, "to Him be the glory and power for ever and ever" (1 Peter 4:11).
God is powerful - period. It is who He is and He is just as powerful today as He ever was - period. This may be considered too bold but I will add, God even displays His power today just as much as He ever has. Oh and - His power isn't dependent on you or me. Praise the Lord and all Glory and Power be to Him for "if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself" 2 Timothy 2:13 "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!" (Rev. 19:6)
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Final Diagnosis
We saw Caroline's pulmonologist today and received the official diagnosis. NeHi. No, not a soda drink. Neuroendecrine hyperplasia of infancy. Today I feel at rest with a diagnosis. We are so grateful that this lung disease is treatable with oxygen support and she should outgrow it by the age of 5. Caroline has a little cough today so she had a chest x ray and we are doing a two night oxygen/heart rate study for the next two nights since Caroline's heart rate monitor has been going off during the night. We will also repeat her sleep study next month to determine if her night time oxygen requirement has changed any since July.
A family friend lost his son right after birth on Saturday and our hearts grieve for their family. I will never forget the fear I felt when I told Jay on July 5 that I felt like Caroline was slipping away or the aching my heart felt when I surrendered Caroline's life to the Father in remembrance of Abraham's desire to love God even more than his own son. Still, I have such great joy and delight in seeing Caroline smile, roll over, and giggle every day. I wish I had words to comfort our friends who have lost their sweet boy. All I know is God's grace really is sufficient. I know they will have the deep privilege to experience this.
Last week before we received Caroline's final diagnosis, I wrote this but never had the chance to publish the post. I pray this encourages you or someone you know to trust in the giver of such grace that we have experienced as more than sufficient. And in that, I too will boast. (2 Cor. 12:9).
(From Wed., Sept. 5)
I don't like not knowing what is going on. I don't like feeling out of control. I don't like feeling anxious. I don't like uncertainty. I don't like wondering if maybe they found something else and it's not such a good prognosis. And then I am reminded of a friend's statement before he took his family to Africa to serve as missionaries, "Lord, help my unbelief."
Many years ago I sat on the front row in a Prison Epistles class taught by a really good looking young professor and yes, I got an A in the class. This professor equated anxiety to sin stating that Jesus explicitly tells us, "do not be anxious about anything," (Matt. 6) and yet, our wandering hearts resort to such anxiety as the first response to anything out of our control. I still fight this professor regarding the sin definition but I do think my anxiety reflects the condition of my heart. It's not just anxiety, it's unbelief.
Jesus explicitly tells us to not be anxious but to believe instead. To believe in what? To believe that everything is going to be ok? To believe the test results will change, the marriage will magically look like the Brady's, the wandering child will return and apologize for the hurt he's caused, or the desire for just one more smoke will cease? Or maybe it's to believe like the little engine that could, "I think I can, I think I can" and receive the results we want. I don't think Jesus is asking us to believe in such things we can see, but instead he is asking us to believe in the things unseen and to believe in Him, the great I Am. (Heb. 11).
So, today, I take my anxiety, unbelief, and sin (if you will), to the great I Am. I don't get it, I don't understand, and oh how I want some definite answers, but I declare that I do believe in Jesus Christ, the Maker of the Universe in whom we live and move and have our being who being fully God, came to Earth as a lowly being and surrendered Himself to the cross for my unbelief, for my anxiety so that on the third day He could rise overcoming fear, anxiety, and even death. We put our hope and our belief not in circumstantial change, but in the One who is so much bigger than our circumstances. Jesus, help my unbelief! Thank you that there is no magic quantity of faith you require and that Your will is not changed based on what I can muster up. I place my trust in You, God of heaven and Earth who was and is and is to come. To You be all glory in my life and in the life of our family.
P.S. The professor is my husband so it's ok I called him good looking.
A family friend lost his son right after birth on Saturday and our hearts grieve for their family. I will never forget the fear I felt when I told Jay on July 5 that I felt like Caroline was slipping away or the aching my heart felt when I surrendered Caroline's life to the Father in remembrance of Abraham's desire to love God even more than his own son. Still, I have such great joy and delight in seeing Caroline smile, roll over, and giggle every day. I wish I had words to comfort our friends who have lost their sweet boy. All I know is God's grace really is sufficient. I know they will have the deep privilege to experience this.
Last week before we received Caroline's final diagnosis, I wrote this but never had the chance to publish the post. I pray this encourages you or someone you know to trust in the giver of such grace that we have experienced as more than sufficient. And in that, I too will boast. (2 Cor. 12:9).
(From Wed., Sept. 5)
I don't like not knowing what is going on. I don't like feeling out of control. I don't like feeling anxious. I don't like uncertainty. I don't like wondering if maybe they found something else and it's not such a good prognosis. And then I am reminded of a friend's statement before he took his family to Africa to serve as missionaries, "Lord, help my unbelief."
Many years ago I sat on the front row in a Prison Epistles class taught by a really good looking young professor and yes, I got an A in the class. This professor equated anxiety to sin stating that Jesus explicitly tells us, "do not be anxious about anything," (Matt. 6) and yet, our wandering hearts resort to such anxiety as the first response to anything out of our control. I still fight this professor regarding the sin definition but I do think my anxiety reflects the condition of my heart. It's not just anxiety, it's unbelief.
Jesus explicitly tells us to not be anxious but to believe instead. To believe in what? To believe that everything is going to be ok? To believe the test results will change, the marriage will magically look like the Brady's, the wandering child will return and apologize for the hurt he's caused, or the desire for just one more smoke will cease? Or maybe it's to believe like the little engine that could, "I think I can, I think I can" and receive the results we want. I don't think Jesus is asking us to believe in such things we can see, but instead he is asking us to believe in the things unseen and to believe in Him, the great I Am. (Heb. 11).
So, today, I take my anxiety, unbelief, and sin (if you will), to the great I Am. I don't get it, I don't understand, and oh how I want some definite answers, but I declare that I do believe in Jesus Christ, the Maker of the Universe in whom we live and move and have our being who being fully God, came to Earth as a lowly being and surrendered Himself to the cross for my unbelief, for my anxiety so that on the third day He could rise overcoming fear, anxiety, and even death. We put our hope and our belief not in circumstantial change, but in the One who is so much bigger than our circumstances. Jesus, help my unbelief! Thank you that there is no magic quantity of faith you require and that Your will is not changed based on what I can muster up. I place my trust in You, God of heaven and Earth who was and is and is to come. To You be all glory in my life and in the life of our family.
P.S. The professor is my husband so it's ok I called him good looking.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Home Sweet Home & Preliminary Results
Although Caroline was released by the surgeon 23 hours after her surgery, we ended up staying another 2 nights. Caroline wasn't eating well and had a lot of congestion. We found out on Saturday afternoon that the blood panels from the biopsy showed that she had rhinovirus, a cold. This explained her congestion and lack of appetite. Caroline received IV fluids for another 12 hours and then she began eating well again. We were released Sunday afternoon to come home.
Caroline is still tender around her incision sites but overall she is doing very well. She gave her grandad (Jimmy) her cold, but she is recovering from that pretty well too. We are thankful that she has not developed a fever and the cold has not really worsened her existing condition.
The pulmonologist called today with the preliminary pathology reports. Because the pathologist is not a lung pathologist and interstitial lung diseases, especially those we are looking at, are so rare, he does not feel comfortable making a certain diagnosis. He told our pulmonologist that it does look like NeHI to him (there are too many neuroendecrine cells in the interstitium, the pathway from the air sacs to the red blood cells) based on the control he has. He does not have an exact age match to compare her lung with so he is sending the slides to the expert pathologist in Denver to make the final call. In short, it looks like NeHI, and nothing else, but she won't have the official diagnosis (or not) until later this week.
There are only 500 current cases of NeHI worldwide. In all the cases diagnosed so far, no treatment for the rapid breathing symptoms has proven helpful. Oxygen support is required variably for each case but they all "outgrow" the symptoms by age 5. This disease was just characterized and named in 2005 so long term effects are not fully known, but current case studies show zero long term effects.
All in all, we feel relieved. If the expert pathologist confirms that Caroline does have NeHI, we can rest assured knowing what is going on and that she will out grow it. We will have to be diligent to not let Caroline get sick but she will be eligible for RSV vaccinations in addition to the normal immunizations.
We are still on a journey with God and grateful to be through this part of the wilderness. We know for certain God has taught us so much through this and we are different because of His work and His goodness. We are truly blessed that the disease Caroline seems to have really is manageable and all talks including words and phrases like, "progressive," "life expectancy," and "lung transplant" are now off the table. We are fully aware that many of the families we met at the hospital and through other blogs cannot say this. We do not pretend to have words for them, but instead we commit to pray for them. We know God has the whole world in His hands, even the little bitty babies.
We sing this song with new meaning:
Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we've come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You've done
Knowing every victory
Is Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Carried by Your constant grace
Held within Your perfect peace
Never once, no, we never walk alone
Every step we are breathing in Your grace
Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
You are faithful, God, You are faithful
Copyright Matt Redman, lyrics to "Never Once"
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Biopsy Complete
The biopsy and bronchoscopy went well. It took about 2 hours, a little longer than normal because they struggled to get an IV started and had to put it in her femoral (?) artery (inside of her upper thigh). The surgeon went 2 cm deep into her right lung and clipped 2 pieces. He also flushed her lungs with saline and drained them to send that fluid for testing. Caroline resumed breathing on her own after the procedure and did not need to go to ICU. She has a drain tube that will be in for a day or two and her IV Is still in. She is on pain medication and has been eating well. She is obviously uncomfortable but she is sleeping a lot allowing the pain medication to help her recover.
The surgeon said Caroline's lungs and airways look anatomically/architecturally right (as we expected). The test results will trickle in Monday and through the week. If we do not get a diagnosis, we will at least rule out many possibilities and move forward with the steroid trial.
My mom (Kay) and Cyndi King, the Preschool Minister from Matthew Road Baptist Church where Jett attends preschool, stayed with us today, the Addisons visited and the Grimes provided us with dinner. We know many more were praying for Caroline and we are so appreciative. Caroline is doing very well and We hope to be home by Monday. Our friends, the Gandy's, welcomed their baby boy into our world today. They have joined many of us on this parenthood journey. A journey with a lot of joy, laughter, tears, frustration, anxiety, and more. Along this journey we are reminded that God too is a parent who loves His children madly. Just as He gave His son for His glory, we are encouraged to do the same. To love our kids madly, but to seek God's glory above all. Jesus, give us grace to do this, to learn to love YOU and seek your glory first.
The surgeon said Caroline's lungs and airways look anatomically/architecturally right (as we expected). The test results will trickle in Monday and through the week. If we do not get a diagnosis, we will at least rule out many possibilities and move forward with the steroid trial.
My mom (Kay) and Cyndi King, the Preschool Minister from Matthew Road Baptist Church where Jett attends preschool, stayed with us today, the Addisons visited and the Grimes provided us with dinner. We know many more were praying for Caroline and we are so appreciative. Caroline is doing very well and We hope to be home by Monday. Our friends, the Gandy's, welcomed their baby boy into our world today. They have joined many of us on this parenthood journey. A journey with a lot of joy, laughter, tears, frustration, anxiety, and more. Along this journey we are reminded that God too is a parent who loves His children madly. Just as He gave His son for His glory, we are encouraged to do the same. To love our kids madly, but to seek God's glory above all. Jesus, give us grace to do this, to learn to love YOU and seek your glory first.
Biopsy Complete
The biopsy and bronchoscopy went well. It took about 2 hours, a little longer than normal because they struggled to get an IV started and had to put it in her femoral (?) artery (inside of her upper thigh). The surgeon went 2 cm deep into her right lung and clipped 2 pieces. He also flushed her lungs with saline and drained them to send that fluid for testing. Caroline resumed breathing on her own after the procedure and did not need to go to ICU. She has a drain tube that will be in for a day or two and her IV Is still in. She is on pain medication and has been eating well. She is obviously uncomfortable but she is sleeping a lot allowing the pain medication to help her recover.
The surgeon said Caroline's lungs and airways look anatomically/architecturally right (as we expected). The test results will trickle in Monday and through the week. If we do not get a diagnosis, we will at least rule out many possibilities and move forward with the steroid trial.
My mom (Kay) and Cyndi King, the Preschool Minister from Matthew Road Baptist Church where Jett attends preschool, stayed with us today, the Addisons visited and the Grimes provided us with dinner. We know many more were praying for Caroline and we are so appreciative. Caroline is doing very well and We hope to be home by Monday. Our friends, the Gandy's, welcomed their baby boy into our world today. They have joined many of us on this parenthood journey. A journey with a lot of joy, laughter, tears, frustration, anxiety, and more. Along this journey we are reminded that God too is a parent who loves His children madly. Just as He gave His son for His glory, we are encouraged to do the same. To love our kids madly, but to seek God's glory above all. Jesus, give us grace to do this, to learn to love YOU and seek your glory first.
The surgeon said Caroline's lungs and airways look anatomically/architecturally right (as we expected). The test results will trickle in Monday and through the week. If we do not get a diagnosis, we will at least rule out many possibilities and move forward with the steroid trial.
My mom (Kay) and Cyndi King, the Preschool Minister from Matthew Road Baptist Church where Jett attends preschool, stayed with us today, the Addisons visited and the Grimes provided us with dinner. We know many more were praying for Caroline and we are so appreciative. Caroline is doing very well and We hope to be home by Monday. Our friends, the Gandy's, welcomed their baby boy into our world today. They have joined many of us on this parenthood journey. A journey with a lot of joy, laughter, tears, frustration, anxiety, and more. Along this journey we are reminded that God too is a parent who loves His children madly. Just as He gave His son for His glory, we are encouraged to do the same. To love our kids madly, but to seek God's glory above all. Jesus, give us grace to do this, to learn to love YOU and seek your glory first.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Biopsy scheduled
Tomorrow morning Caroline will have a lung biopsy. We check in at 9:45am and the procedure will be around 11. We have read it takes 30-60 minutes. Caroline will probably go to the ICU for precaution and then will be back on the pulmonary floor for 3-5 days. The pulmonologist has told us we may not get any answers and that is because the medical field is just naive to these types of newly characterized/named lung diseases. If the lung biopsy does not provide us with a clear diagnosis, the pulmonologist will begin a trial of steroid treatments.
We are praying Caroline handles the anesthesia well and that her pain be very minimal and controlled well. We pray the surgeon (Dr. Mendelson) gets exactly what is needed. We pray for Caroline to feel comforted by her Maker when she's away from us and in the care of others. We pray she knows she is loved and that we can care for her well during her recovery. We do pray for a diagnosis as well, something to provide us with direction and knowledge for her future. Nonetheless, we know Jesus holds Caroline's future if we understand and can predict it or not. We also pray for Jett, that he would also be comforted when he fears mommy and daddy being away for a long time. We pray God protects his mind and his heart. We pray for each physician, nurse, tech, and housekeeper who will care for us over the next few days. We pray they will see Jesus in us and in Caroline's bright eyes.
Thank you for praying for us!
We are praying Caroline handles the anesthesia well and that her pain be very minimal and controlled well. We pray the surgeon (Dr. Mendelson) gets exactly what is needed. We pray for Caroline to feel comforted by her Maker when she's away from us and in the care of others. We pray she knows she is loved and that we can care for her well during her recovery. We do pray for a diagnosis as well, something to provide us with direction and knowledge for her future. Nonetheless, we know Jesus holds Caroline's future if we understand and can predict it or not. We also pray for Jett, that he would also be comforted when he fears mommy and daddy being away for a long time. We pray God protects his mind and his heart. We pray for each physician, nurse, tech, and housekeeper who will care for us over the next few days. We pray they will see Jesus in us and in Caroline's bright eyes.
Thank you for praying for us!
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