Mimi's testing

So first round of allergy testing on Mimi is over. How ya like this list so far!

Skin prick testing

Defined reactions:
cucumber
cabbage
grape
lima bean
tomato
strawberry
banana
Borderline reactions:
almond
pineapple
mustard
Environmental reactions confirmed:
Alternaria- mold from decaying vegetation (means no composting or gardening for her. Also have to keep closer ck on my house plants)
Northern pasture grass- orchard grass, fescue (typical pasture grasses)

The foods will be further tested the with patch testing to confirm those above and to also check for some others more closely that prick testing could have missed. The doctor said,"So far chicken is in the clear, we'll keep routing!" For now, we're not supposed to eliminate any foods yet. They want to complete her testing first. They'll do more in depth testing on her than most because you can't use the food elimination diet as a test on EE patients. Eosinophilic Esophagitis doesn't always react to allergic foods instantly. Sometimes it's not until it's digested and in the blood stream, showing up a day or two later. That makes it harder to trace. So the pricking, patching, bloodwork, and other in-office tests will be the way to go for her.
Continuing in His Faith,
tcw

I was reminded I haven't told you all how Mimi's testing/endoscopy results came back. She is 100% cancer free, praise God! What they discovered Mimi actually has was not GERD, but eosinophillic esophagitis (food allergy causing constant reflux). Untreated, it could have eventually developed into cancer just like any untreated acid reflux could over enough time period. She still has sores in her esophagus after 5 years of treatment. They said eosinophil levels of 20 are a food allergy that needs to be tracked down for safety. Mimi's are 60! So whatever it is, is a very normal part of our diet (oh joy). So next is to begin allergy testing. She'll have 3 allergy testing appts, then go back for the nutrition counseling, then a month later have another scope (endoscopy) to see if she's improving.
As many of you know, Mimi didn't feel well and was very weepy for days after the scope. The day the GI called with the results, Mimi confessed to me that she had overheard the medical staff talking of cancer biopsies while she was in the OR (mind you, I had tried very hard to keep her from knowing that part of things). She just looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Momma, I really thought I had it." My heart just broke, along with my composure, as I realized she had been walking around for days thinking she had cancer and that I didn't know it. I could have been talking with her, praying with her and encouraging her if I had only known. I guess, just as I was trying to protect her, she was doing the same for us. I say next time, we just be upfront and cry together!
Thanks you guys for all your prayers. I seem to be saying that a lot this school year...You know, everyone has trials of some sort, whether financial, marital, family, friends, some easy to see, some never seen on the surface. And for whatever reason, God has allowed our struggles to be that of the physical nature. I know one thing. I've never felt closer than during these physical trials. And if that's what it takes for us to stay close to Him and remain in His will, then I'm all in.
So don't ever feel sorry for us, though sometimes I may need one of you to shake me in a temporary moment of insanity where I feel sorry for myself. God knows where we are. Hmm, He knew before the foundations of the earth of the horrific struggle that would befall us last October with Alli's accident. And I promise you, He was there. He carried me when I could not walk. And I assure you, I am nothing without Him.
So as before, He walks with me. And He's answered prayer once again. And He'll walk us down this new journey of food allergies with Mimi. I just had to laugh when the doctor and I were on the phone that day as she referred me to one of my high allergy student's doctor! I said, A year ago my boss put every allergy child in our age group in my room, and I must confess, I was a little frustrated. Reading labels constantly, epipen training...And now I know God was preparing me for the road that lie ahead. Because of my place in LE's ministry, I can embarq on this course without fear, with knowledge of food labels, the FAAN network, proper epipen procedures, and a circle of support from fellow parents dealing with this. If I would quit being so stubborn, wow, what God could do in me!
I love all of you guys dearly. Get ready to read labels with me. We hope it's not chicken! (remember, my hubby)
Only through Him am I,
tcw

Update on our clan

Okay, finally the update many have been waiting on.
Alli's testing all came back beautifully and she's been given the "all clear" from The Children's Hospital. Her little issues now have been determined as post traumatic stress that should work itself out over time.
MeMe's checkup with her Gastro intestinal doc wasn't quite as pleasant. It seems she has become PPI dependant (can't get off of reflux meds) and also struggles terribly with allergies. Because at her last endoscopy she had esophagitis and white cells hanging out in her esophagus, they want to do another endoscopy on Monday (Apr. 6), check her stomach, do some esophageal biopsies (checking those white cell counts), and check for eosinophilic esophagitis (to see if her reflux was caused by allergies). She's pretty nervous and I must say this wasn't how I planned on spending my birthday either. But rest assured, God has not left us, and will see us through this too.
I've often joked saying, "No, my name is not Job", but seriously, God has been amazing to us. For whatever reason God has allowed the twists and turns on our path to be that of physical issues. I don't know why, but He does. And He has used these medical issues our family has had to gather people in His Name, to cause folks to pray in unity from NY to FL, to draw our families and friends closer, to open doors to new people in our lives, to have others witness to and encourage us in our time of need, to allow our walk to be a testimony of Him for others to see.
So now with each bump in the road, I don't cry out "woe is me" or "what are we gonna do". Instead I feel butterflies of excitement anticipating, "God is about to show up on the scene!"
I promise you I have experienced the presence of the Almighty. I have felt the Hand of the Comforter. I have seen the work of The Great Physician. I truly know now what it means to feel peace in the valley, in that place where you don't even ask for miracles because you finally realize that every moment you have lived has been just that- a miracle. That place where you feel so blessed to be, that you can't imagine asking for more.
I told you before, and many don't understand this, but I never asked God to "fix" Alli (though I know many of you were face to floor begging for complete restoration and I thank you). But all I asked that horrific night was that He let her stay with me a while longer, just to please give me more time to be with her and love on her, no matter the condition. Her own neurosurgeon said himself that most doctors believed this would have required surgery, but bless be to God, we were surrounded by Christian doctors who joined us in prayer, confident that God had a plan for her. And as you all know, He has given exceedingly far more abundant than I could have ever asked. My sweet little girl is a walking, breathing, fully functioning beam of sunshine today because of the personal touch of the Savior. And she'll tell you that herself. The doctors themselves said, "This just doesn't happen on its own."
How could anyone doubt that He lives? How could anyone question His existance? If only everyone could feel the powerful presence of God that we felt in those days surrounding her accident, though I pray you never have to go through such a traumatic time.
But truly,
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His Hand od mercy, I hear His Voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him, He's always near

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!