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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Sebastian's Diagnosis

The doctor confirmed his tentative diagnosis of Chronic Ulcerative Colitis.  I think most people are more familiar with Crohn's disease, and from what I understand, Colitis is kind of the sister disease to that.  They are both types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, with Crohn's occurring anywhere in the GI tract, while Colitis affects only the colon.  It can be painful and debilitating, or it can be well-managed with long periods of remission.  We will understand more after we meet with the specialist again on Friday.

We are praying for wisdom, for us and for Sebastian's new doctor who we will now be seeing a lot of.  We're praying for a manageable degree of this illness, and for a full and happy life for our little guy.

Thank you for being such an awesome, prayerful community of friends.  We are blessed to have you.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Sebastian

Thank you all so much for the prayers.

The testing went well on Friday.  Sebastian handled everything like a little hero, he was so good.  The nurses were kind, and the pediatric unit sure knows how to relate to little ones.  He was nervous, and they made him as comfortable as possible.  The teddy bear they gave him offered so much comfort, and he's been carrying it around with him all weekend.

The doctor's tentative diagnosis is Ulcerative Colitis.  This is a chronic condition, and will be a heavy cross for Sebastian to bear, but the doctor is certain there is no cancer or any of the other frightening possibilities we were looking at.  We won't know for sure until mid-week, when the results of the biopsies come back, but this condition does fit every aspect of what he's been experiencing.

Please continue to keep him in your prayers.  I appreciate it beyond what I can express here.


And because I don't want to forget:  When I explained to the other kids what Sebastian was going to have to do to get ready for the tests, and how long he would have to go without eating, Peyton looked very thoughtful and concerned.  A few minutes later, he finally said that he was going to try not to eat for as long as Sebastian had to.  He said he wanted to go through it with him.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

therapy and prayers

So.  It's been awhile.  It's so hard to make time for so many things I love, and yet... and yet, sometimes I know I just have to do it.  I just have to let the dishes sit, and find me some therapy.

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to --

No, let's not.  We'll never get through it.

Let's start with today.

Today, Sebastian is on hour number five of not being able to eat.  He's on a clear liquids only diet, in preparation for a colonoscopy tomorrow.  Tomorrow, at 3:00 pm.  If you're counting, that's 26 hours of not eating.  For a three year old.  Ask me if he understands.  He doesn't.  God gave us popsicles though, and the green and orange ones are included on the diet, so with His help and those, we'll make it through.  The test itself?  We just don't know.  He's been having some symptoms that can't be explained after two months and countless non-invasive tests, so now, it's the colonoscopy.  He'll be sedated (a blessing as well as an additional worry).  We're hoping the test goes well, and that we find answers that bring peace and good health to our sweet little guy.

I'm anxious, for so many reasons.  So.

Pray for him, please?  Thanks.