Prayer Requests....

So... a prayer request or two for you mighty prayer warriors....

A couple of weeks ago - right after returning home from Ethiopia and in the middle of my stomach illness - I discovered a lump in my right breast. After a sonogram revealed a complex cyst that was one inch in diameter my doctor suggested having it removed. I had a surgery consultation today and it was determined that I will have surgery on Wednesday morning to get the lump removed from my right breast. It's probably nothing but still have to go under to get it done... boo! 

But that's not my biggest prayer request... this one is.... Right after that surgery consultation this morning we got a phone call from Gracie's doctor.. It seems - from her basic lab work - that Gracie may have "homocystinuria" which is a metabolic enzyme disorder that is genetic and would require a specific diet her whole life - not to mention a very specific formula for her infant years. During the phone call the doctor ordered us to go to Christus Santa Rosa hospital immediately to do a second round of labs to be sure the first lab reading is true. I'm praying that is was not and that she does not have this. We'll find out Monday (a week from today) what the results are.  If she does have this we will be meeting with a metabolic endochronologist (spelling?) to do further testing and learning and then we would also need to meet with a nutrutionist and change Gracie's formula immediately. The endochrinologist talked with our doctor today and was very encouraging saying that if we change Gracie's diet she will avoid most of the other problems associated with this disorder. That is good to know because when I googled "homocystinuria" online today it was a bit scary siting dislocation of lens of eyes, skeletal abnormalities, intellectual challenges, and problems with connective tissue/muscle development, and heart problems as just a few of the problems that can arise with this disorder if it goes untreated.

It's been a long day, but we are well. We watched so many other families in the hospital with severely disformed, sick or mentally handicapped children with much more of life struggles to manage than we are facing at this point. We know that we were chosen for Gracie and Gracie for us. We know God heals. We know God gives endurance and strength and wisdom. We know he takes weaknesses and combines his strength to it. We know he works all things for the good of those who love him. And we know we love Gracie and would have taken her in to our family even if we had known this in advance.

Lastly - Gracie also had a chest xray today because her TB skin test came back positive enough that the doctor just wants to be sure its not there. She has no symptoms, but by tomorrow we should know 100% if she really has TB or not. I really don't think she does. But if she does, she will be on antibiotics for 6 months or so.

We appreciate your prayers this week as I face minor surgery and we all wait for more concrete news regarding Gracie's health.