My Hiatul Come Back

I like the phrase "hiatul come back". To my ears, it has a sort of ring. So I used it despite the little red squiggle line under hiatul... I'm a rebel like that ;) So please know that I know it's a Kristy-ism.

Ok... down to the nitty-gritty... This thing called LIFE~
Since I am not only using my blog as a crafty-fun blog, but also as a "doing real life" blog I will attempt to make a long story short... but since I am not really known for being a woman of few words, I highly doubt it's possible ;)
This is what life has been like for us for the past 6 weeks.. And just to set the ground work... GOD IS GOOD PEOPLE!! HE IS SO GOOD!

My 18 yr old daughter has been diagnosed with Lupus. Autoimmune diseases run in my family (I actually have hypothyroidism secondary to Grave's disease/Hyperthyroidism after having my thyroid eradicated in 2000). Tho the weight of the diagnosis for her was so heavy and so scary and so heart-breaking, let me tell you how good God is..
A year ago we had Jordan tested for anemia because she began bruising super easy.. to the point of "where in the world did this come from" easy. Tests were negative.. blood looked fine. Fast forward a year... She was put on antibiotics in August. Three days after taking her first dose she began aching, her joints began to painfully swell and she was unable to walk comfortably due to the pain in her feet. I took her to the dr and had blood tests run. Tests showed a positive reading for ANA (Lupus). Her dr. said it is most likely a drug reaction and discontinue the antibiotics. However, the blood tests also showed she had a very low platelet count and that concerned him. A normal count is 142,000 to roughly 400,000. Hers were 19,000. Dr. put her on a low dose of Predisone to elevate her platelet count. After a day or two of being on the Predisone, all symptoms subsided. Life was back to being good :) We went back to the dr. a week later for another blood test. Platelets were up to 124,000. Good news, right!? Well, the following week when we had to return for another blood test, her platelet count was at 14,000. Umm..Not so good news! She was dangerously at risk of hemorrhaging bc your platelets are what clots your blood. Hers are not high enough to clot. We saw a Hematologist immediately which led to more blood tests (and a high dose RX of Prednisone).... which led us to a Rheumatologist... which led to more blood tests... which led to the confirmation of Lupus. The type of Lupus she has THANKFULLY has NOT settled in her joints. What she experience previously, was indeed a reaction to the meds. It is however attacking her white blood cells/Platelets. This is where the Lupus has settled. She is negative for Rheumatoid arthritis, but positive for Sjogren's (autoimmune disease that produces dry eyes and mouth). She is symptom free of the Sjogren's, thankfully! At her last blood test, her platelets were up to 199,000!!!! ONE HUNDRED NINETY NINE THOUSAND!! THIS IS FANTASTIC news! Her body is responding to the steroids so she is now on the Lupus medication to PRAYERFULLY get her into a remissive state! She has horrible body aches from time to time, which has been explained to us a Pleurisy (an inflammation of the lining in the lungs). Apparently, the two sort of go hand in hand. Massage helps if we do it at early onset. Needless to say... this has been an incredibly emotional journey for us! I know things can ALWAYS be worse... I know this. But this is my baby girl.. my child. It pains me greatly to see my children hurt and to know her life will be altered just deflated me. After MANY MANY prayers, God spoke to my heart. He showed me the silver lining. He showed me that my prayers WERE, in fact, answered! This is what He showed me....
*Had Jordan not had the reaction to the antibiotics, we never would have seen her low platelet level
*Had we not seen the low platelet level, the Lupus would most definitely have settled into another area of her body (her joints)
*Had we not had to rely on the strength that can only come from God, our relationship with Him would not have had the opportunity to grow as it has
*We prayed for healing if it was God's will... but if her body was to have Lupus, we prayed for the BEST cast scenario... and PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED!

I would have to say that not only is our silver lining there... but it SHINES! Thank you Jesus for mercy!

So.. with all of that said... we are in a better place, moving forward with her new "normal" and all is as it is meant to be. And for that, I am thankful.