Recent TweetsHi friends:
Grace is a step better this week, able to walk some by using the counter or wall to balance. We are thankful for any improvement and are praying it continues.
Dr. Ness has been at a neurology conference this past week and has talked with others about Grace’s condition. We haven’t talk with her yet about her findings, so not sure what’s next.
Working this week on getting back into school work. Tax season officially over on Monday.
🙂 Lynn
Hope you all have enjoyed a beautiful week! Life at the Champion house has been fair to partly cloudy, as Grace finished a round of steroids Tuesday. Who invented this evil drug? We have been encouraged by small steps of improvement in Grace. Her balance seems better.
We will talk with Dr. Ness this week about the next step. Please pray that she will be smart as she treats Grace.
Heaven is surely overrun with prayers for our girl; we thank you.
🙂 Lynn
“Pray without ceasing.”
Well…the journey continues! It really has been quite a path that we are walking down that has taken us to countless doctors, 3 CT scans, 1 angio CT scan, 3 MRI’s, 2 IVIG treatments, 1 visual nerve brain scan, 2 rounds of chemo, multiple (lost count) doses of different kinds of steroids, 51 viles of blood drawn for test and analysis, consultations and visits to leading neurologists of all kinds and this week promises to bring new opportunities of fun and excitement!
As the last few days have progressed we do seem to see some slight improvements with Grace’s condition due to (we think) that effectiveness of the last IVIG. We pray that the coming days will bring us better results. In the next week we have an appointment at Children’s to see several neurologists. We are waiting to hear from Kirkland Clinic for an appointment to have a PET Scan.
With all this we still don’t have a cause, cure or definite diagnosis of what is happening to Grace. We do however have much to be thankful for.
• A family that is incredibly supportive of one another.
• Friends that send cards, bring food, ask about Grace all around town, pray daily for healing, send emails and generally support us!
• A church and staff that displays love in an overwhelming way.
• Children’s Hospital that has an incredible staff and a team of doctors that are determined to find a cure for Grace.
• Even BCBS is pulling for sweet Grace!
• Sweet friends (and school teachers) of Grace that continue to care for her.
• Unbelievable intercessory prayers from around the country.
• God’s grace that comforts us and gives us confidence as we face the future!
How can you pray this week?
• For healing and the doctors’ wisdom as they consult with one another.
• That I (Buddy) don’t get put on a jury this week…yes I have been summoned for jury duty!
• That we make it to April 15 so Lynn will be finished with tax season!
• That Grace will stay strong and positive.
Thanks for your love and support,
Buddy
Hi friends:
Thank you for continuing to pray with us for Grace. She is a small step better since the IVIG treatment Thursday/Friday of last week. We are hopeful that the treatment will continue to improve her symptoms.
Grace has much bigger hair today than a week ago. Re-perm was indeed effective. Small girl, big hair. 🙂
Enjoyed the beautiful day….
Lynn
“…a time to heal…” Ecclesiastes 3:3
Friends:
Plans are for Grace to be admitted to Children’s Hospital on Thursday for a two-day IVIG treatment. Grace had this treatment about 6 weeks ago and it greatly subdued her symptoms for about two weeks. Any relief will be welcome, but we are praying for permanent relief.
And, speaking of permanent, planning to have Grace’s hair “re-permed” tomorrow.
🙂 Lynn
“Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Your grace.
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above:
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love.”
Home from another MRI and quick visit with Dr. Ness. No initial significant changes on the MRI. Tenative plans are to have another IVIG treatment to relieve Grace’s symptoms, but not sure if that will be this week or next.
We are way too familiar with Children’s Hospital. 🙂
Still praying for wisdom, strength and healing…
Lynn
Psalm 121
We are at Children’s Hospital awaiting a second treatment of rituximab for Grace. We are blessed to have such a great resource so close to home. Plans are to go home tomorrow.
We are praying for wisdom, insight for Dr. Ness, Dr. Presley, strength and healing for Grace. Thank you for praying with us.
Physical Therapy has suggested we borrow a “recumbant stationary bicycle” so Grace can exercise at home. Anybody have one? If you have one we can borrow for a bit, call Whitney Rother, Buddy’s assistant, at 228-1020. 🙂
Love and thanks for your constant encouragement,
Lynn
“Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge.” Psalm 16:1
Quick update: We are home from a short but intense hospital stay where Grace was given a treatment of rituximab, a type of chemotherapy. No serious adverse reaction to the treatment, just the expected side effects, which she is dealing with now. Plans are to have a second treatment in two weeks. She is also starting a stronger steroid.
Thanks keeping up and praying for Grace,
Lynn
Our trip to Springfield Illinois a blessing as it was very beneficial for a potential diagnosis for Grace’s condition. On Friday, Grace had a very thorough evaluation that was documented for future research and also had her third spinal tab…which now for some reason they refer as a “lumbar puncture.” That term just seems more aggressive! Certain test were performed that had to be done within an hour of the collection of the fluids. These test indicated that Grace has 7 times the normal amount of “b cells” (Beta Cells) which could be causing her condition. Other test are still being conducted that we will hear about in the coming weeks that may give us a “cause” as well as potential treatments.
We are grateful to have such great neurologist from Birmingham to Illinois and other places around the country who are working to restore Grace’s health.
Yesterday, Grace was admitted to Children’s Hospital in Bham to begin another treatment that we pray will eliminate the “b cells” in her system. At this time we are not sure how long our hospital stay will be, but we do not anticipate being there very long. We continue to be overwhelmed by the prayers, love and support that so many friends, and new friends, are expressing to us.
It is our prayer that the Great Physician will use whatever means He desires to heal Grace!
Thank you for praying!
Buddy
Hi from Illinois:
Last night’s “welcome to Springfield” was 20 degrees and windy, much snow on the ground.
This morning, Grace saw Dr. Pranzatelli, who examined and questioned for about an hour and 1/2. Then, another spinal tap under general anesthesia and blood drawn for more detailed sub-assessments that the specialty lab here is set up to handle.
We don’t expect to hear from any of these tests today, but probably first of next week, with some of the tests taking 4 – 6 weeks to come back. Dr. Pranzatelli will help Dr. Ness and Dr. Dure lay out the next treatment.
Grace is keeping a count of blood drawn: as of today, 38 vials. 🙂
I read through the many emails posted on FBC Trussville’s website on the way up here. You are a constant encouragement to us. Thank you!
Grace says “hi.” 🙂
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is in Him.” Jeremiah 17:7
