Three years later...

Today marked the 3rd anniversary of Annie's Addisonian crisis that resulted in a severe brain injury that caused her to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, look up at the stars at night, and play dress up with her Cinderella doll. Thirty six months filled with hours of grieving the loss of the dear little Annie who used to be, of asking God why?, and of buckets and buckets of tears.

However, I am relieved to say that three years later, we have bonded with our new and bigger Annie, who smiles, laughs, snuggles and gives our family much joy. Joy being the byproduct of the confidence that our work in caring for her causes us to daily repent of our selfishness...joy in each new skill, new accomplishment...joy in knowing that God will bring about His purposes in her, even though I don't understand what all those purposes may be...joy that someday Annie will be given a new body and new mind.

It's been three years of a steep learning curve of simultaneously working hard to uncover her potential while accepting her limits and praying for healing. Kind of a mind bender that will someday all make sense.

Jean

We ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:23-25

Addison's Disease on The Doctors, Monday January 18th

The National Adrenal Diseases Foundation ran a campaign to get Addison's Disease as a topic of the CBS TV show, The Doctors. (I just learned today that it is on ABC, channel 7 @ 11 AM in the Seattle area.) It is supposed to air this coming Monday, January 18th, during the last 5 minutes. Tune in to learn about Addison's, and how to recognize it.

It bears repeating--if Annie had been diagnosed in time, she would not have suffered a brain injury. The signs and symptoms of Addison's include increasing lethargy, dehydration, depression, muscle aches, craving of salty food, nausea, vomiting, and--most notably in Annie's case--a darkening of the skin.

If recognized and diagnosed, Addison's is easily treatable with daily doses of hydrocortisone. What's not easily treatable is the fallout from a brain injury.

Jean

New Year

After 3 weeks of wandering around another hospital in the middle of December, we've escaped again to tell the story. Only this time, Annie wasn't the main character--Bill was. And still is. A character.

The cafeteria food notwithstanding, we had a grand time. Lots of hair-raising, hand-wringing, nail-biting moments; lots of prayers answered. Spending the entire Christmas break in the hospital was memorable. And I'm not just saying that.

And you were wondering, Why is this family so plagued by health problems? Funny thing, I was asking Bill the same question just yesterday. After thinking it over for a moment, his answer was, "I don't know, what do you think?" But, really. Every family has a certain defining quality, ours just happens to be catastrophic disease. So what? It could be worse. Like if we were in a reality show with 8 kids or something like that.

So, I promised Bill I wouldn't share too many of the entrails, I mean, details about his stay in the hospital on the blog. Except that most of it involved the inside of his stomach. And with the parts the surgeon took out, in about 6 months he should be looking more like Fabio than he ever thought possible. I think they call it accidental gastric bypass surgery. After the crisis was over, it occurred to me that he had just used up another one of his get-out-of-death free cards. I think he has a stack of those lying around here somewhere, because he's used about 6 of them in the last 28 years. I wish I were kidding.

But all that happened last year. This year, we're going to look forward to a New Year blessed with good health, good friends & family, and to a good God Who answers prayer!

Jean

Our God is the God of salvation;
And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death. Psalm 68:20