Mattie's Story!

God has laid on my heart to share Mattie's story with what happened as it is a testimony to HIM and how HE can use you in what could be a dark hour.  It may be a little long but worth the read!

When Mattie was born she was sick all the time with regular illnesses, but they were constant.  It seemed as if we were at the doctor every two weeks, but nothing major or life threatening.  On Mattie's 5th birthday my Uncle who had watched her from birth to 3 years looked at her and told me something wasn't right that her color was funny.  She seemed thirsty all the time and her color was pasty white but other than that she seemed to be playing and having a normal birthday party.  I took her to a new pediatrician the next day and he did a urinalysis and thought that Mattie had diabetes.  He asked us to come back the next morning for blood work to make sure.  We went the next day for blood work and then went back to work and school.  Within two hours, the doctor's office was calling me to tell me to take Mattie to New Orleans to Childrens Hospital that she had a kidney malfunction.  We packed two days worth of clothes and headed to New Orleans thinking he meant kidney infection.  When we arrived, the Nephrologist was waiting for us in admitting and kept rushing the ladies that were admitting us.  I thought to myself, wow what a hospital that the doctor would come wait for us in admitting.  Little did I know what we were fixing to find out.  Mattie was then taken to get an ultrasound and that's when we found out her malfunction was renal failure.  She had one kidney the size of a pea and the other was covered in cysts.  She was then taken to get a biopsy as they were hoping they could find out what caused this.  We kept hearing over and over they may never know.  At the time, I could not fathom not knowing what was wrong with our sweet little girl.  The biopsy only showed that the kidney's were too far gone to tell.  She then went immediately to have surgery to place a tube in her stomach to go on dialysis.  After that surgery she was bleeding internally and they had to go back in to find out what was bleeding.  They found it and stopped the bleeding and she started dialysis.  I believe this all happened within a one day period.  Now for the good stuff.  Our first night there I was in the little room getting a cup of coffee and a met a wonderful creole woman named Janice.  She was at the hospital with her daughter, Asia.  Asia had down syndrome, and a liver disease and was on dialysis.  Asia case was much more complex because of the liver issues and because it was just Asia and Janice, there was no other family there with them.  At this point all of our family had come and we had people everywhere.  As I talked with Janice, we became friends.  The next few days were touch and go because Mattie had to have 5 blood transfusions and was now all of a sudden very sick.  During these days, we had people that drove hours to come see her and pray with us.  It was such a testimony because everyone around us could see the people that were coming in droves to pray for Mattie and our family.  It was quite amazing because Janice became friends with our family and would often ask someone to come pray over Asia.  Not only did the patients notice, but so did the doctors and nurses.  Everyone was in awe of how God was working during this difficult situation.  We had to stay at the hospital for two weeks to learn in home dialysis so we could bring Mattie home.  My sister, Betty stepped up and was my partner as it takes more than one person to hook a 5 year old up to a machine for 14 hours!  During our two week stay God showed off in more ways than one.  We had a church that drove an hour to come annoint Mattie with oil and pray over her.  I knew two people from a group of 20 or better.  The nurses and doctors are watching these special prayer services take place and it touched many.  It was funny because when we had a good day Asia would have a bad day and we would be able to be there with Janice as a single mother and pray with her.  When Mattie was having a bad day, Asia would be having a good day and Janice would be there for me.  We met many other precious children and parents.  We even had to be there one night when one mother lost her precious child, it was so sad but we were all there together.  Every day the big part of the day was the morning, because they would draw labs and then the doctor would come in with the report which would tell us if Mattie was getting better and if the dialysis was working.  We made friends with the Chief Resident while we were there.  One morning after labs she came in our room and was crying.  I told her it will be alright just go ahead and tell me what the labs are, we can deal with it.  She looked at me and said its not the labs, my brother is missing and I need you to pray for him.  Now imagine this, we are in the hospital with our child who needs a kidney transplant and God had showed off enough that a doctor was comfortable enough to walk in our room and ask me to pray for her brother.  Come on people, that never happens!  I went with her to the window seal in our room, we got on our knees and prayed for her brother.  Later that night, she came back in to let me know that he had been mugged and beaten up but was going to be okay.  God was really showing off that day.  After two weeks, we came home on Christmas Eve day to set everything up and get ready to start dialysis at home.  I can't tell you how many people dropped Christmas gifts and food off out our house.  It was amazing.  The next three months were spent getting ready for a kidney transplant.  What a blessing as I was a match and on March 17 I was able to give Mattie a kidney.  So March 17th became St Mattie's Day at our house as one of Mattie's main doctor's name was Mattie!  We stayed in the hospital another 2 weeks and Mattie came home doing well.  We had to go back to New Orleans every few days for labs and check ups for the first two weeks and Mattie couldn't go anywhere other than the hospital.  No one but immediate family could come in our home.  She had to give her dog away because of germs and we all had to wear mask.  God was still working as every day someone would drive through our driveway and drop off food even though they couldn't come inside.  I don't think I cooked for a month. 

After we were situated with the new kidney and back to some sort of normal routine, we moved to McComb as that is where my husbands job was.  I got a job at the school eventually and was able to be with the girls when they were out of school.  It seemed as if we had some normalcy back at life.  Then the sinus problems started.  Mattie about every two years has had to have sinus surgery in which they would go in and cut out 20 - 30 polyps.  They were sure she had cystic fibrosis but dna testing said she didn't.  So now we have another problem and no answers.  We still trusted that God would let us know when it was time.

When Mattie was 8 her liver enzymes started to be elevated every month.  So for the last 6 years she has had liver problems.  She has had two liver biopsies and they are still unsure what it causing it.  They believe she was born with a rare congenital disease that is attacking different organs.  We have never seen a geneticist but will get to see one in Cincinnati.  We have always prayed that we would find out what is going on in God's time.  We are hoping this is God's time, but if it is not, as hard as it is we will be we will be patient and wait on HIM!  Because God is good ALL the time.

The reason I know God wanted you to hear this story is to pray for Mattie, but most importantly, remember no matter what situation you are in HE can use you for HIS glory.  So embrace whatever situation and reach out and be a witness to others and HE will bless you for it.

On another note, Janice rededicated her life and reconciled with Asia's father so she is no longer a Single Mother!  Praise God.