Great News!

The preliminary report came in last night and it shows that there is no further damage to Mattie's liver.  It has not gotten any better but it has not gotten any worse.  This is most definitely an answered prayer.  She is at stage 3 fibrosis with no cirrhosis. Which means she still has about 75% liver function.  We are still waiting for the full report which we should have in about a week that could possibly give us more information as to what is going on.  As for right now, we are getting the same diagnosis, autoimmune hepatitis.  They do believe we are dealing with two different diseases.  The kidney disease is separate from the liver disease because the kidney disease is cystic and the liver disease is autoimmune. 

They are going to get the final report together and come up with a game plan.  We are praying to know that plan in about a week.  She will still need to see a neurosurgeon.  Once we hear their plan, we will decide if she will see a neurosurgeon at home or in Cincinnati as she needs to have an MRI of the spine to rule out some issues that can cause the brain stem malformation. 

Please continue to pray that the doctors will think outside of the box and come up with answers.  Pray for God's healing so that Mattie can start high school next year feeling well and function normally.  Remember no matter what God is good ALL the time.  Love to all of our prayer warriors!

Waiting on results

We were able to start driving today we made it to Nashville. Mattie is in some pain but doing well. We will make the rest of the drive tomorrow. The results were not in yet for the biopsy. We probably won't get those until the middle of next week. We did not get to see a neurologists but I did get to speak to him on the phone. He wants Mattie to have an MRI of the spine to make sure there is no fluid in the spine. We will wait to see what the biopsy says and to see what the next step is with the liver. So basically we are waiting as always. God is good ALL the time. Keep praying for healing and answers. Love to all!

Finished already

We are waiting to go back to recovery. They are all done. We will have to wait for pathology to review biopsy results. Please pray we get to see the neurosurgeon while we are in patient. God is god All the time.

Procedure under way

Dr just came out and said bile ducts look normal. They are starting the liver biopsy now. He said it doesn't look like there is any disease in the ducts of the liver so that is not what's causing the liver problems. Will wait now for the biopsy results.

No neurosurgery appt

We got to the neurosurgeons appt and they didn't have an appt for Mattie. Very aggravated. Hopefully they can do an in hospital consult tomorrow. Will update tomorrow after biopsy and scope. God is still good ALL the time.

On our way!

Left home last night about 8:30 and arrived in Nasville around 3:30 am. Thank goodness Betty and Matt don't require much sleep! We are on our way to Cincinnati and should arrive around 5:30. Mattie will have labs drawn tomorrow and we will get to see the neurosurgeon to see what is going on with the brain stem. Thursday will be the liver biopsy and liver scope. We will spend the night in the hospital and if all goes well be discharged Friday then head home Saturday. I will update blog as information is available thanks to all our prayers warriors! Remember God is good ALL the time!

Another Answered Prayer!

Well the neurosurgeon has been out of town and did not return until May 14.  Between me and clinical concierge, we have been trying to get Mattie an in hospital consult since the neurosurgeon did not have any available appointments until August (which is too long for a mother to have to wait)  I decided to call yesterday to check to see if they were able to arrange the in hospital consult and they had no luck.  She suggested I call the nurse just to see what the best date they could give us would be.  I spoke to the nurse and she wanted to know when we would be in town, they were able to give us an appointment for May 23 even though they were booked through August.  So Mattie didn't just get a consult, she got an actual appointment.  You can not tell me this was not all God.  I called clinical concierge back to let them know the good news and she said I can't believe this.  I have three other kids I have been trying to get appointments for and it seems impossible.  She told me that was perfect timing and I said no that was all God.  He answers our prayers!  Thank you all for being such great prayers warriors.  God is good ALL the time.  We will be heading out next Tuesday so please start praying for traveling mercy as our last trip was a little rough getting there.  Love you all!

Busy Busy Week & Prayers answered - Mattie is finally well!

We are having a super busy week as Mattie's best sister in the world is graduating this week and we are preparing to head out to Cincinnati next week.  Taking Mattie off all the antibiotics has apparently paid off along with all the prayers, because after four weeks of crazy illnesses, she seems to be finally well.  She got a good check up at the doctor Saturday.

We will be leaving next Tuesday, May 22 to head back to Cincinnati.  Mattie will have a liver biopsy and a liver scope on Thursday, May 24. She will hopefully be seeing a nuerosurgeon for the first time. This will be her third biopsy.  They are always informational as they tell us how much liver function she has.  She has never had this particular scope before but I'm sure it will all be fine as we can feel God's hands in this situation.  We know that we may or may not get answers but at least they are trying.

Keep the prayers coming as they give us great peace and what a joy the peace that passes all understanding is.  We will be updating the blog next week.  Love to all of our prayer warriors!

Benefit was a success & Maddie is sick again!

Yesterday was oh so busy, a special thanks to everyone who purchased dinners, gave donations and a very special thanks to all the friends and family that worked their behinds off.  You will never know how much we appreciate it all!

After all the excitement of the benefit yesterday, Ms. Maddie developed a large whelp that branched out from her knee to her thigh, so off to the emergency room we went at 8 last night.  After alot of blood work and a cat scan of her belly, we were told she is allergic to the antibiotic and that is what caused the whelp and she has an infection in her belly called mesentery peritonitis.  So guess what?  She has to change antibiotics again, this will be the fourth one in four weeks.  The doctor will check her again on Friday and see if there is improvment.  Please continue to pray for healing as we need her well so she can have her liver biopsy and scope in Cincinnati on May 24. 

Remember through the good times and bad...God is still good ALL the time!  He knows what He is doing and He is doing great things.  Love to everyone, keep the prayers coming.

The Overwhelming Love of a Child! Must read

We can trully feel the prayers pouring in.  That peace that passes all understanding is being felt in full force.  My wish is that everyone can feel that peace, it is unimaginable.  I have another heartfelt story to tell about the overwhelming love of a child that we have never met!  Prepare to cry!

My husband had a very nice man to stop by his office for business purposes, while he was there he saw some of Maddie's green bracelets.  Matt explained what the bracelets were for and told him Maddie's story and how we were traveling back and forth to Cincinnati.  He took one of Matt's business cards got a green bracelet and returned to his home in Florida.  When he got home he told his wife and daughter about Maddie.

Well Friday night Matt received a text from him that he and his daughter would like to talk to Matt.  They called to let Matt and Mattie know that his sweet daughter Rachel had been saving for quite some time to purchase an IPod Touch.  She wanted to give her money that she had saved all year to help Maddie.  Her parents told her to sleep on it and make sure so she slept on Matt's business card all night and got up the next morning to tell her parents she was sure that's what she wanted to do.  What a blessing Rachel is.

The love of a child is one of the most amazing gifts God can give us.  We don't even know Rachel, yet she did what she felt was right.  Rachel you are a hero in our house and I know you are also a hero in God's eyes.  The entire family thanks you so very much!  I bet you will get that IPod touch before you know it.  God always blesses those who bless others. 

Lesson for the day, hug your children and always let them be obedient to what God tells them to do because they are such a blessing to others!  Remember God is good ALL the time.  Please continue to pray for Mattie as she is on her third set of antibiotics in three weeks.  She has had a chest wall inflammation, sinus infection and now a double ear infection.  She has been on antibiotics for two weeks and they are not working so they started her on the third one yesterday.  Please pray this one works.  Love you all!