Rebecca seems to be stabilizing and we are thankful. There are 3 main complications to be praying for right now: 1. Her portal vein is still very sluggish and we are upping the blood thinners even more today. These blood thinners are the cause of her multiple blood transfusions but we need to keep the vein into the liver open and flowing in order to keep the islet cells and liver alive. 2. Rebeccas body is still fighting 3 bacterial infections. With her immune system deficiency and the removal of Rebeccas spleen, this is difficult to treat. Her fevers are better though and her white blood cell counts are trending down. We are treating her for these infections for at least two weeks with at any point up to 5 antibiotics. 3. Her lungs have accumulated fluid in and around her lung cavity - especially her right lung. It is still only mild to moderate and we are praying for it to dissipate quickly. The team is very focused on respiratory therapy for a few days now. In spite of these serious complications, there are many we are blessed to have taken off our list. Rebeccas steroid psychosis is much better after slowly weaning her off steroids and she is finally resting without continued hallucinations; her adrenal insufficiency has remained rock solid with the exception of a short-lived metabolic acidosis state; and despite the removal of her spinal blocks, we are slowly but surely working on Rebeccas pain control. The best news is the final tally for Rebeccas islet cells - 319,900! So despite the infection, displacement to a different location, steroids, and loss of cells from her peritoneal bleeding - we were still blessed with an abundance - our unexpected miracle. I always find the way God comforts me during crises astounding. This time He used my own words. My sweet friend, Christina, reminded me of a Bible study I wrote on Job this past year. She sent me words from my very own study that never spoke more true than this past week: If I could model anything from the study of Job it would be this - when everything in us screams to reject God, that is the very moment we need to trust Him the most. Regardless of our understanding....despite our suffering....the Lord expects us to have faith. Accepting this truth may be the most difficult challenge of our life, and yet if we are able to persevere through our suffering, it will ultimately be the most rewarding. Love to each and every one of you, Christyn
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 18:29:03 +0000
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