Celia's medical update

Celia has a big week coming up. Please pray for her.

I'm writing to as you to pray for our sweet Celia. Most of you know that since 4months Celia has been followed by hematology for an enlarged spleen and reoccurent low platelets- She is also followed by nephrology as over the years they have discovered she has nephrocalcinosis (calcium deposits on her kidneys) and now also she has hypercalcuria (sure i'm spelling it wrong) which means her kidneys are excreting too much calcium....which is why she was placed on a reduced sodium diet. Also over the years she has endured a battery of tests all of which are inconclusive- not necessary a bad thing but it would be great to know what the deal is. Her pediatrician here who I just can't say enough great things about, Joy Ball, has been fantastic through this, as well as my brother (ER peds dr at MUSC...who gets more phonecalls from me than he might like) and has helped me ask good questions and keep the dr's on the ball. They have listened.

that said, her drs in Charlotte are gearing up again for another battery of tests- now bringing back into the equation a second geneticist (we saw one in charleston but that was short lived).....monday morning (9/14) they are repeating the bone marrow biopsy. Her hem/onc dr here is amazing, Dr. McMahon and is coordinating with the other specialists that treat Celia. Her test Monday will require some type of general anasthesia. I am unclear on the specifics thereof. At 14 mos she had a biopsy as well followed by an MRI so she had to be under for about an hour. they had to more than just the gas for that. Because this is just the bone marrow biopsy i'm hoping this will only be gas.

please join us in praying for celia in the following ways:
1) for us to trust God more and more in this situation. Celia is typically a healthy kid- so its easy to forget all of these things are going on in her body...but when we face drs/tests etc it can produce fear that we are trying to fight- trusting that God is our help and in control.

2) pray for Celia's anxiety. We have yet to tell Celia of the test monday. she did great this past time at hem/onc when they took a ton of blood for all kinds of panels and tests. I think the sleeping part could cause her some anxiety so pray that this would be an opportunity for her to trust God more. She thinks (as we do sometimes) that Dave and I can just control everything. This will be a very real example to her that we can't. Only God is with her all the time.

3) pray for answers and wisdom. Pray that the drs would learn new things and discuss things well that would result in a diagnosis and treatment. Pray that this would be a treatable/managable illness. I don't linger in what to pray for here bc it scares me so pray as you feel led.

4) pray for ultimate healing. Its so easy for me to just want a diagnosis that I sometimes forget to pray for healing. God can do this. He's done far more amazing things and he could touch her and it all be fixed.....

thank you for praying for Celia. We hope to tell her about the procedure friday but would still ask for you to not ask her questions about it unless she brings it up with you. She surprises us and sometimes wants to talk and often times wants us (specifically bennett :)) to not share with others what's going on.