Luna's in The House

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

WE ARE THANKFUL. SO VERY THANKFUL. 

We met with Dr. Gilbert on Wednesday to discuss what the next step should be in Ezrah's journey.

We have 2 options:

Option 1. Do nothing. Wait. 

The infection IS still there. Going this route is risky in the sense that if/when the infection returns, we will HAVE to start completely over, including surgery to go in aggressively and bone-wash.

Option 2. Start a 3rd antibiotic and PRAY she does not have an allergic reaction. Ideally, the team would feel like they could sleep a little better (us too, if I'm honest) if she has another 6 weeks of treatment to really nip this thing and eradicate the infection. Obviously there is risk of another allergic reaction and antibiotics are stupid-hard to get a hold of right now. Stupid.

After going back and forth and outweighing the risks/benefits as well as talking WITH Ezzie and hearing HER voice, we are going with Option 2. We would like to keep Ezrah from having to forgo another surgery as MUCH as possible, and as horrible as the medication tastes, in her eyes...it beats needles, scalpels, and IV's. So, bottoms UP!

Ezrah will have an ultrasound at the end of the month to check her spleen as she's had a distended abdomen. She will also meet with an allergist to confirm her reactions are from the OG medications.

Ezrah's gait has dramatically improved! She's dancing to Christmas music with her sisters and doing SO MUCH better. She was able to walk to the mailbox last week with no pain and very minimal limping. We went from going on walks in a wheel chair to DANCING. God is so so good!

This season we are so thankful for health. Never before has that been more of a reality to me to NEVER take for granted....especially my kids. I will ALWAYS have a place in my heart for these sweet kids that fight EVERY SINGLE DAY. I've also realized, it's the parents that are struggling. You see it in their eyes in the waiting rooms and cafeterias. They're the ones crumbling. (The kids are resilient, not that they endure without trauma.) I literally have felt YOU (Yes, YOU. The one reading this right now) holding ME up. Thank you! I will never find adequate words to convey how much that has meant. I'm also thankful for Pediatric doctors. I couldn't imagine a more perfect team that has been beautifully orchestrated for us.

Finally, another dingleberry of good news. A VERY GENEROUS and thoughtful family, The Sorensens, blessed Ezrah and our family with a purebred GERMAN SHEPHERD puppy. It is our hope to train her (name to be decided, but she's leaning towards "LUNA LOVEGOOD") as a therapy support dog for Ezrah. Many of you know that Ezzie's LIFE AMBITION is to work at Enzo's Dog Training here in Battle Ground AND Wags N Whiskers as a pet groomer. And she's a HUGE Harry Potter fan, hence the name. It's our hope that Ezrah will be her main handler and trainer. Without a doubt this will bring her so much JOY and HOPE and PURPOSE. I think we could ALL use a little bit of puppy snuggles right now and Ezrah would just THRIVE with a HAPPY DISTRACTION. Dr. Gilbert was actually the one that really encouraged us to go this route and thought it would be both therapeutic and helpful as Ezrah recovers and gets stronger. Eventually, we will look into certifying "Luna" with www.petpartners.org. I (we) would love to go into Children's Hospitals one day and give some HOPE to children in their fights. Our hope is that "Luna" can help Ezzie with walking and emotionally support and comfort her. Ironically, we got a resounding "NO" from the team on cats because of the risk they would present to Ezrah, but a "HECK YES, DEFINITELY" to the puppy! So, here we go....and we are SO excited.

We pray this season is JOY-filled for you. We know for many, it is not without heart-hurts. However, may you find peace and gratitude in every day. We are simply so thankful. It was dark and scary there for awhile, and coming out of that has not been easy. This Thanksgiving we give thanks to God for all of you and HIS abundant provisions. We also thank the good Lord for Christmas bedding, which makes me (Becky) so stinking happy.

Until next time.....