Friday, May 3, 2013

Happy 18th birthday, Grace Nicole!

Two years ago, on Grace 16th birthday, we were headed to Mayo Clinic looking for answers. Grace was unable to walk without assistance, heavy tremor, jerky eye movements. Many tests, many appoinments, no answers. 2011 was a diffcult year for Grace, mostly out of school, trying intense, invasive treatment options with no lasting result. December 2011, chemotherapy treatments started which began to work for her, allowing her to walk! Symptoms returned, balance declined when the time neared for the next chemo treatment, indicating her need for the chemo. Chemo has continued every 5 weeks through 2012 – 2013, allowing Grace to be (part-time) back in school in the Fall.

Good news, dear friends!

Grace has been without a chemo treatment for 12 weeks now, with only a slight tremor and minimal balance issues.

Hallelujah!

Is she “well?” She still has a slight tremor, minimal balance issues.

What’s around the corner? We don’t know, but we are grateful, grateful for God’s favor in Grace’s life.

More good news: Grace is on task to graduate from HT High in two weeks! This is a combination of God’s grace, dedicated teachers who have gone way beyond their “job,” and Grace’s continued efforts! Hallelujah!

Again, we thank you for your continued prayers for Grace’s complete healing, for the support you have shown our family.

Hallelujah!
Lynn

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy Name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, Who satisfies your desires with good things…” Psalm 103: 1 – 5

Grace Shortlink
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Monday, November 19, 2012

Hi Friends:

Finishing chemo treatment #10 (?) at Children’s Hospital. Thankful for the effectiveness, even if temporary, of this drug.

Annabelle update: Annabelle’s calf, Lolly, was born October 28. Cow and calf are both doing well.

Girls are home from Auburn, beautiful weather.

Thankful, Lynn

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to Your Name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1

Grace Shortlink

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Home yesterday from Children’s and chemo #9. Grace doing well as long as she has a treatment every 5 weeks, so, these treatments will continue for now, to keep her doing what she should be doing. Thankful for these many month of doing well. 🙂

Thankful, too, for God’s rich blessings on our family, our community, and our nation, for you and the prayers you pray, the encouragement you give. We are asking: complete healing!

Friends, we are pretty sure that Annabelle is “with calf” (as opposed to “with child.”) And so, the adventure continues…

Lynn

“My hope is in the Name of the Lord, where my Help comes from, You’re my Strength, my Song. My trust is in the Name of the Lord,I will sing Your praise, You are Faithful.” (Thanks, FBCT Choir for this one Wednesday night.)

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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Spent Thursday night at the new Children’s Hospital where Grace had chemo treatment #8. Lots of reading articles on neurology websites, which is basically like reading Japanese, lots of talking with Dr. Ness, lots of sleeping (for Grace.) Tests have not given any new information. Grace is good, feeling ok today. School is going well, just tiring, but we’re thankful that she is able to go.

New Children’s Hospital rooms are… wow! Grace had a big screen tv that is also a computer, keyboard in her lap. So, you know what that means: Yes, Pintrest on the big screen. Some of you are jealous…

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
Ephesians 6:18

Grace Shortlink

Friday, November 11, 2011

Today’s treatment went fine, with Grace not feeling sick, just very tired, a side effect of the plasma pheresis, which is also called “plasma exchange.” Been at Children’s most of the day. She is holding up well, sweet attitude as always.

We are meeting families who’s children have dealt with major health issues for years, such as a girl named “Precious,” who comes from Tuscaloosa three times a week for 4 hour dialysis treatments. Health is certainly a blessing we have taken for granted.

Hoping for a restful weekend for Grace. Next treatment will be Monday. Thank you for praying with us for effective and safe treatment.

82 vials and rising, if you are keeping up.

Beautiful day!

Lynn

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

family, Grace Shortlink

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Today, Grace had an appointment with Dr. Ness at clinic. We also saw an adult neurologist from UAB, Dr. Bashir, and Dr. Askenazi, from Children’s Nephrology. All agreed that Grace needs relief, and it’s time to move to more aggressive treatments. She is still “functioning” at 40 – 50%.

Plans were made to begin plasma pheresis next Wednesday. After a catheter is put in Wednesday am, Grace will have a treatment every other day, five treatments in all. Plasma pheresis is a blood filtering process, somewhat like dialysis, where blood is spun to separate the plasma, which holds antibodies, and the plasma is removed and replaced with “something.”

There is a chance that this treatment will help Grace to function much better day to day, as well a chance that it will not help at all.

IVIG treatments are off the schedule for now, as they don’t seem to be helping anymore. Grace will continue to take the oral immune suppressant.

We are praying for doctors’ wisdom and insight, for protection against the risks, that God will use this treatment to heal Grace.

We are grateful, truly grateful, that you continue to care for and pray for our Grace.

Lynn

“…I am the Lord, Who heals you.” Exodus 15:26

Grace Shortlink

Sunday, October 16, 2011

October 16, 2011

I’ve been putting off posting an update, hoping to have good news to share. However, we haven’t seen any real change in Grace’s condition since starting back on the IVIG treatments or from the Cell Cept. The PICC line definitely makes these treatments easier, with no need for starting a weekly IV.

Grace is still going to school, made possible by sweet friends, the wheelchair, accommodating school and caring teachers.

Farm News: We lost Thelma Lou to a raccoon, and Lula had to have her wing amputated (thank you Dr. Grimmett) after putting up a good fight. Giving oral antibiotics to a chicken every day is challenging…

So thankful for cooler weather. My heart goes out to you who are “enduring hardships.”

Lynn

“This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” I John 4:9

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Update on Grace – Saturday, October 1, 2011

Grace was admitted to Children’s yesterday (Friday.) Hasn’t felt well this week, no benefit from last week’s IVIG treatment yet. PICC line put in yesterday to avoid the iv issues she has had. Finishing second IVIG treatment in two days and will head home later today.
Hope you are enjoying this beautiful weekend…
Lynn

“You are a shield around me, O Lord.”. Psalm 3:3

Grace Shortlink

Update, Thursday, September 1

Where did August go?
Grace had a 13th IVIG treatment on August 19th, but we did not see any positive results from it. She has been at 50 – 65% these last two weeks, needing assistance walking. Sweet friends Kelly Anne Minor and Mallori Stewart are walking her to each class at school. (Thank you!) We also appreciate HTHS teachers and staff for working with us in so many ways as Grace tries to stay in school.

Dr. Ness, neurologist at Children’s, will see Grace in the next week, look at other treatment options, possibly run tests. Grace is currently taking an immunosuppressant daily.

We thank you for your continued love and concern for Grace, for praying with us for complete healing.

Just fyi, “Clara,” another one of Grace’s chickens, is crowing. This is too many boys for the Champion farm.

Lynn

“A mighty fortress is our God! A scared refuge is His Name!

We will keep our eyes on You, so we can set our hearts on You!”

(beautifully sung by Kristen at FBCT.)

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Update, Monday, August 15

Hi Friends:

Grace’s last two treatments, #11 and #12, have not been as effective as previous ones. She is at about 60 – 70%, needing assistance walking some of the time. Her broken pinky toe may be contributing…

Last week’s iv was started with only two tries. 🙂

School started last Tuesday, and Grace has been going “as she can.” Very tiring week, but we are thankful she was able to be in class some.

We will talk with Dr. Ness this week about what’s next. Hope you’ve enjoy this “cooler” day as much as we have!

Lynn

“He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:4 -5

Grace Shortlink