OT - My niece

[kipland]

This is off topic, but since I know a lot of you have very strong faith, I was wondering if you could include my niece in your prayers today.  She's been sick for a long time, but recently had surgery to remove her spleen and it was all downhill from there.  They released her to go home after a week, and I don't think she was home a week before they rushed her back into the hospital by ambulance and into ICU.  It appears that she now has a raging infection in her system that is in her blood and has gone to her heart.  Through all of their testing, they have found that one of her valves is leaking and they need to do open heart surgery.  Last week, she was in a induced coma and was on life support.  They were able to bring her out of it on Monday and she was improving slowly until Monday night when things went bad.  They air lifted her to U of M yesterday afternoon, and I am SO very thankful that she's there.  As any of you know who have been following my posts, that's where my surgery took place and all my RAI testing and treatment, and I can't say enough good about them.  But, she's having open heart surgery this morning at 6:30, and I'm scared to death!!  I'll be heading down there in a few hours to have my last body scan, and they're giving me my treatment dose of RAI.  Which means, I have to leave and can't even be around my family to give them support.  This is killing me!!

Anyway, please pray for her, my friends.  She's only 23 years old!  And also pray for my parents - who have been like parents to her.  This is taking an extreme toll on them and I worry so about them as well.  Thank you all.

Lori

[At The End of My Rope]

Glad your RAI is over and enjoy that pizza...when I was done with mine I made my husband take me for mexican food...LOL :) Have a good day.

[kipland]

Thank you all!!  Last I heard of my niece was that she was in cardiac ICU after her surgery.  I haven't heard anything this morning as of yet.  I'm dying to call, though!!  I'll tell you what, I could write a book on what the poor kid has been through the past 8 years or so, and it's just one thing after the other.  Health-wise - not good.  She has a history on her mom's side of auto-immune disorders though.  I think all of her aunts have everything from Lupus to thyroid issues to MS.  Her mom has fibromyalgia and CFS.  It's just sad.  She's a good kid, and finally found a good guy that she married 3 years ago.  They lost a baby at 26 weeks two years ago and it was horrible.  But, it's all due to the same thing, whatever it is.

Rayne ~ I wish I could tell you what it is that she has, but she has the doctors stumped.  My hope is that being at U of M, they can FINALLY get to the bottom of what is going on with her!!  She has some kind of blood disorder, and they don't really know what it is.  For the past year, she's had trouble with her hemoglobin dropping down so low, and she ends up in the hospital.  This last time, it was at 5 when they took her in.  They knew they had to get the spleen out of there.  Well, this last time, she had an "oops, I'm pg", and ended up miscarrying.  She had a D & C, and that's what started it all.   They made the decision to take the spleen about 3 weeks later.  Apparently, it was the size of a football!  After a week, they sent her home and she continued to go downhill.  She was sleeping around the clock and not eating.  Well, that's when her hemoglobin dropped so low again.  I think they were thinking that taking the spleen out would stop that from happening?  Come to find out, she has an infection that's now in her blood - and it traveled to her heart.  Then ended up replacing the valve yesterday.  Now, I'm assuming they need to get that infection under control.  Does that sound right?   One of the docs said this could have been laying in wait from a long time ago, and it spread because of the surgery.  I don't know.  I just know I want her better so I can hug the devil out of her!!!

As for me?  I'm happy to be done with the RAI party.  That scan, I didn't like at all.  Tuesday, I though I was going to have to bust out of there.  I had a major panic feeling when they pulled it close to my face.  But, just like the mind can make you panic - I used it to talk myself out of it.  I just closed my eyes and went somewhere else.  Everytime I started to think about what was going on, I forced myself to go back to my "happy place".  Yesterday's went much better, I think mainly because I prayed so much about it and I knew what to expect.  The good news is, that Friday's scan will take half the time.  I was SO happy to hear that!!!  This isolation isn't too bad, mainly because I have such a small dose.  The doc told me not to even worry about my pets - it's that small.  I'm still taking precaution, but it's not bad!  Plus, after noon today I get to have a yogurt!!   AND, I'm having PIZZA tonight!!  Mmmmm......gooey melted cheese.  Oh, the little things in life, huh?

Thanks again, guys.  You all are my lifesavers!!

Lori  

[rayneweather]

I'm glad to hear that she did well in surgery and that you will only be on isolation for 2 days!  At least you still have access to the internet and can still stay in touch.  Please let us know tomorrow how she did tonight.  And the nurse in me has to ask - did she have her spleen removed due to sickle cell disease?  Or was it something else?  We'll keep praying.

Rayne

[DLA]

Praise the great Lord for the both of you!  Have really had you 2 on my mind tonight.  Was at Bible study or would have checked in sooner with you.  Am so glad she came through it alright.  Will continue to pray for her.

Glad to know it is just a temporary glow!  You lucky dog.  Mine was 2 weeks.

Will keep your whole family in my prayers.
Dac

[ChitChatNine]

Both you and your niece are in my thoughts right now and pls let us know how you both are doing.  I pray your niece is ok .. 23 is way to young to endure this in life and you are doing great with the RAI .. keep strong kiddo!!!

C~

[artsyrose]

we are keeping her in our prayers, dear!

[kipland]

Oh!! You all made me cry!  Yes, I went through with the RAI.  I'm radioactive now, but ended up only having to get a small amount.  So, I only have to stay my distance for 2 days instead of the 7.  

Update on my niece, I know the surgery took longer than six hours, but she made it through.  Apparently, they gave her a 50/50 chance of making it through the night.  Then another 50/50 chance of making it through the surgery.  She's a little fighter, because she made it through both.  Oh, the power of prayer!!  

Dac ~ you'll be happy to know that she has that same goofy sense of humor as us.  I too, am very close to her, as she's my only one.  I only have two brothers, and only the one brother had a child.  She's very special to me, and we're very close.  This has just been so hard.  But I know that God has it in his hands, and all I can do is pray for her.  I have no doubt in my mind that He can work miracles, because He already has.

Thank you all for your prayers.  I love you guys!!!

Lori

[DLA]

Am praying for our Dear Lord to give her and your family the strength to get through this, to guide the surgeons' hands, and to you in your hours away.  Lean on your Heavenly Father and He will see you through anything.

Honey, I know how hard this must be on you.  My niece and I are reallly close and I can't imagine not being there for her in all this.  But you also have to take care of yourself and I do realize that it is not easy, but what would your niece want you to do?  If she is anything like you she would want you to go on through your RAI so you can be over this all.

And when she comes through the surgery and starts her recovery she will need everyone's strength to help her fully recover.  She will need your wonderful crazy sense of humor.  Just remember that the Lord will let you be there when you are truly needed.

((((((((HUGS)))))))))
Dac

[rayneweather]

I will definitely be praying for your niece and your entire family today.  May God's peace surround all of you and guide the surgeons' hands.

Rayne

[zaksmom]

Lori - I will definately keep your family in my prayers.  I pray that your neice has the strength to make it thru ok - I pray that the doctors working on her are aided by god.  Try to stay strong, you need strength as well - with all that you're going thru for yourself now.  Your neice would want you to complete the RAI so that your are cancer free -- she needs you to be strong.

Actually made me cry to think of such a young girl having such life threatening issues -- and my heart goes out to your parents.  

Keep us posted, good luck.
betsy

[At The End of My Rope]

Lori- My God give you and your family the strength you need to get through this trail in your lifes. Please keep us posted. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Take Care-PAm