Our sweet daughter has picked up on language significantly. We can have conversations about school and about church. She can talk on the phone and convey her thoughts and ask questions. The best part is the little phrases that she has absorbed from her friends and family. We hear . . . very often . . . the phrase "seriously"?
"M^, remember you need to eat you vegetables."
"Seriously?"
"M^, are you ready to go to bed?"
"Seriously, Mom?"
It's really cute. She says it with a certain sarcasm that fits into the Burke family beautifully!
School is going well for the most part. She is in some mainstream middle school classes and also has some private tutoring that she's working with as well. What warms my heart more than anything though is occasionally walking down the hallway with her. We can't go 10 steps without a classmate saying hello. It is quite amazing how well the students seem to have accepted her.
When we do highs and lows on Sundays and Wednesday evenings "M^"s high is always church. She loves being at church, she loves going to worship, she loves youth group and confirmation. Our sweet girl has a heart for Jesus and a faith deeper than I can imagine.
As we continue down this road many people are asking how her health is improving. Now that communication is easier, Kevin and I talked with "M^" recently about letting people know what to pray for with her health. We still want to maintain privacy for our daughter as needed while letting all the people that love us know what is going on. So, please read, please pray, but know that this is still her own story to tell.
Overall "M^" is doing well. She has stayed healthy, happy and active.
Her condition has been very serious though. She has been battling chronic osteomylitis for at least 4 years. In Ethiopia, the bone infection had settled in her foot and in her arm causing enormous pain and limited mobility. Essentially it ate away her heel bone and carved a canal in the bone of her right arm. I shudder to think what would have happened if this condition continued untreated.
In September "M^" was finally able to start treatment. After being admitted to a regional children's hospital a bone biopsy was done and a picc line was placed. We began the waiting game. Our fridge was stocked with bags of IV fluid for home use. We made weekly journeys to a local hospital for dressings to be changed. Alcohol wipes. Blood draws. Weekly phone calls with the infectious disease doc. It was pretty intense there for a while. We learned that the bone biopsy revealed nothing. Absolutely nothing. Something caused this infection and we truly have no idea what it is. We never will.
After a few weeks her picc line malfunctioned and it had to be pulled. "M^" was ecstatic! Kevin and I . . . not so much because we knew this meant changing medications and it not being the potent IV antibiotics that she really needed. She was switched to 2 hefty oral antibiotics that she would stay on long term. Then we waited and watched. We're really still waiting and watching.
Back in December we visited her orthopedist. It was a great visit. There were more x-rays taken. There was not much change in her foot. That's a good thing. It means there wasn't any further damage. Her arm however was showing significantly better color in her bones. The drainage point in the bone in her arm was walled off and showing signs of remodeling. Whoo Hoo!!! The meds have been effective and things are looking up! It is still a long road. There may never be a complete recovery. However, we're hopeful and faithful that her health will get better and better as time goes on.
We have also found some other wonderful professionals to work with as well. "M^" goes to physical therapy once a week. She's not fond of it, but it has helped improve mobility for her. The physical medicine folks are still working on some braces and inserts and such. Despite these challenges I am amazed at what "M^" can do. I can't help but brag . . . a couple months ago I was told that during gym class she ran a mile in 8 minutes and 24 seconds. For a young lady with all of these challenges I think that is absolutely amazing! She is a fighter! We'll continue to give updates as this all unfolds.
With reaching the 6 month mark of her being home and all of the updates, I wanted to also thank folks that have supported us along the way. I won't go into names because there are so many! Thank you to all of those that have helped us out, have prayed for us, have been a listening ear to all of our worries and concerns and to those that have donated to our adoption fundraising efforts. I will be closing our go fund me account at the end of February. If there is anyone interested in donating towards finishing out our puzzle fundraiser and helping with "M^"s medical bills here is the website. http://www.gofundme.com/5mkubw
Thanks for your continued and unfailing support! I am so looking forward to sharing more stories of how our family makes this journey together because we are most certainly not alone. God's blessings to you.
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