WE ARE BACK FROM SEATTLE AND WE SURVIVED THE TRAFFIC! SOPHIA'S CHECKUP WENT WELL. UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE SOPHIA'S LABS HAVE NOT IMPROVED AS MUCH AS THE DOCTORS WOULD HAVE LIKED SHE WILL NEED TO STAY ON INCREASED IMMUNOSUPRESSION FOR AT LEAST 3 TO 6 MORE MONTHS TO PREVENT INCREASED REJECTION. DUE TO SOPHIA'S AGONIZING JOINT PAIN THEY DID REDUCE HER PREDNISONE, WHICH CAN BE HARMFUL TO GROWING BONES. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THINGS ARE STILL HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR SOPHIA. WE WISH WE COULD SAY THE SAME FOR TATUM. OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS HER LABS HAVE STEADILY BEEN ELEVATING. TATUM'S LIVER DISEASE IS PROGRESSING AT A MUCH SLOWER RATE THAN SOPHIA'S, BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT WITH STAGE 2 FIBROSIS IT IS VERY LIKELY SHE WILL NEED A TRANSPLANT. IT COULD BE IN 2 YEARS OR IT COULD BE 8 YEARS. WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR WHAT TATUM MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH. SHE IS HAVING HER ANNUAL TESTING DONE NOW SO WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY FIND. WE SEE THE SIGNS OF LIVER DISEASE IN TATUM LIKE INCREASING FATIGUE, SPIDER VEINS IN HER FACE, AND A BIGGER BELLY. THE SIGNS COME AND GO. SHE HAS GREAT DAYS AND NOT-SO-GREAT DAYS. WE WILL ALWAYS DO ALL WE CAN FOR HER AND HOPE AND PRAY THAT THERE WILL BE A WAY TO AVOID TRANSPLANT IN THE FUTURE, IF POSSIBLE. SINCE SOPHIA IS ON INCREASED IMMUNOSPRESSION, WHICH INHIBITS HER ABILITY TO FIGHT VIRUSES, I AM HOMESCHOOLING ABIGAIL, AND EVERETT IS IN A WONDERFUL SCHOOL IN LAS VEGAS WITH HIS FATHER. THIS IS TOUGH FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE ARE BEING PRO-ACTIVE BY AVOIDING BRINGING HOME LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES FROM GERM FILLED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS! IT HAS BEEN NICE TO RECEIVE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE DURING THIS BIG ADJUSTMENT IN OUR LIVES. 2009 IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND OUR HOPE IS THAT EVERYONE IS AS HEALTHY AS CAN BE SO THAT OUR LIVES CAN BE AS "NORMAL" AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT! WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
|
