March 1, 2006

Happy March everyone,
So the latest and greatest is that we did make it to Bastyr and felt very encouraged by what information they were able to give us. We feel very good about our choice in doctor, she has a lot of experience with patience with Rheumatoid Arthritis and that makes me feel very comfortable. Dr. Brammer stated that by no means will what they offer be a replacement for the current medications that Sadie is on, but more a compliment to the medications. In addition to some pretty big dietary changes (which we expected) we will add some herbs to her daily routine. What Bastry would like to focus on is that Sadie has some inflammation of the gut. This is something that is not really all that huge of news to us… Sadie has had some stomach issues since the day she was born. Bastry would like to focus on getting her gut well and then from there see if the JRA improves. I do realize that I feel most desperate and at my lowest when I feel like we are running out of options… I now feel that we have some new choices in front of us and this to me gives me hope.

On another note… Sadie has both her brace and her shoe lift now; I would love to tell everyone that the brace is wonderful, but unfortunately Sadie is experiencing some pain right now. At this point I am not sure if this is due to the fact that the cast gave her so much relief she has less tolerance to the pain or if it is more that it is just reality at the moment. She is walking as she was prior to the cast, which for me is disappointing. The lift is going good; she has had no complaints about that at all.

We go back to Children’s on Monday and at that point we will still be faced with the choice to keep her on the medications she is on now or change them. I feel that I need more information on both options to make a decision. I just want what is going to work to get this flare up under control.

Good News: Few great things to report. First, through the hard work an efforts of some of the staff members at Sadie’s school a local athletic club has offered up their pool to Sadie for free (this is a huge relief as it is a cost we can’t afford right now). I will have more information on this soon, but this is a huge blessing for all of us! Next great thing is we were informed that Sadie has been chosen to be the next Jingle Bell Run Honoree! We aren’t exactly sure what this will in tale, but I will be meeting with the Arthritis Foundation next week. This is a huge honor for us to help shout out to people how important awareness is and help the Arthritis Foundation raise much needed money to help find a cure and/or prevention of this disease!

On a final note… I received an email from a family member the other day, a simple email that was forwarded on to many, but it was so powerful to me – it stated:

I asked God to take away my habit. God said, NO. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, NO. Her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary. I asked God to grant me patience. God said, NO. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned. I asked God to give me happiness. God said, NO. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain. God said, NO. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said. NO. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked God for all things that I might enjoy in life. God said, NO. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things. I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said… Ahhhhhh, finally you have the idea.


Isn’t this a true reminder of the fact that we are never given more than we can handle and what is given to us in life is about what we make of it! We are all blessed!