I'M GLAD I COULD IMPRESS THE DOCTORS.

Hey, Y'all.  I know I haven't posted anything in nearly a month - and, for that I'm truly sorry.  I've been pretty preoccupied lately and figured it's time I spill the beans as to why.  Bear with me as I try to condense a month long story into a blog post. :0)

It all started a little over a month ago when I went for a routine pap smear.  I hadn't had one in years.  Shame on me, I know.  I found a doctor here that I was pretty excited about seeing.  She is a medical doctor who also leans toward preventive/natural medicine.  Anyway...I told her about some symptoms I was having - part of which I thought I was going into early menopause.  So, in addition to 2 different ultrasounds and a mammogram (Boy, was THAT ever fun!), she took a lot of blood work.  Thankfully, the ultrasounds and mammogram came back fine.  But, my blood work showed some things were out of whack.  One of great concern was that my insulin level was really high.  I don't have diabetes but, if I don't get my insulin down - I will.  I definitely don't want to go down that road.  So, I am making changes and taking some pretty drastic step to ensure that doesn't happen. 

I am half way through an 8 week diet designed to rapidly drive my insulin levels down.  This is what I get to have EVERY day; four 8 ounce shakes (specially designed by doctors) and 1 protein bar.  Oh, and all the water I care to drink.  Thank God I like water.  BUT...my stomach has been absolutely tore up for weeks now.  I forgot to mention that I have to see the doctor once a week during this time.  Last week she put me on a prescription that is supposed to get my body to listen and respond properly to how it's supposed to be pumping out insulin - or something along those lines.  She said that one of the side effects could be stomach upset, but thought that in my case it would probably help.  I won't go into the details as of why - because that's not the point I'm trying to get at.  I told her that I was having what I thought was gall bladder issues and wanted to make sure this new script wouldn't accentuate the problem.  She wondered if I'd had it looked at before.  I haven't.  I have a doctor's appointment for it, but that doctor couldn't get me in until July.  So, this doctor told me that my gall bladder could heal itself as my insulin comes down and I get healthy.  It would be better to do that than have it surgically removed.  But...we needed to make sure I didn't have gall stones.  So, she scheduled me for an ultrasound of my gall bladder.  Did I mention that this is all being taken care of by my gynecologist?  I love her.  She is the first doctor I've ever had that I feel really wants to see me healthy and well.  She wants to get to the root of the problem rather than just throw pills at my symptoms.  I'm so thankful to God for leading me to her.  But, I digress...

I had that ultrasound yesterday morning.  Not good.  I don't have stones.  I don't have thickening of the wall which accompanies gall bladder disease.  What I do have is a gall bladder that is - and I quote, "...almost completely filled with sludge."  It is so abnormal and uncommon that the doctor reading my ultrasound has never seen it before.  He said that on the rare occasions it does occur it's usually found in very sick people who are bedridden and can't eat - not in relatively healthy people who can eat.  When I asked him if there was anything that I could do to get my gall bladder to start pushing the sludge out - he apologized for not having any answers for me.  Crap. Or should I say 'Sludge' in this case?  Either way...

I saw my gynecologist yesterday afternoon.  Apparently my gall bladder is beyond the healing process and has to come out.  Evidently, it is the reason for all of my stomach woes.  She was impressed that the doctor reading it was so impressed by my freakishly abnormal gall bladder.  Glad I could make their day.  Not really.

Anyway, she told me that she had already taken the liberty of scheduling me an appointment with a surgeon for tomorrow.  I guess it needs to come out fast.  I'll know more tomorrow after seeing the surgeon as to just how fast it needs to come out.  I'm not really looking forward to having surgery.  But, I'm not thrilled about being sick all the time, either.

My mom told me yesterday that my grandfather had his gall bladder rupture and he almost died from it.  I don't think that's normal, either.  So, maybe freakishly abnormal gall bladders is a hereditary thing.  I don't know.

Well, that's my little tale of where I've been the past month.  With all of the not eating and weekly (sometime more) doctors appointments and trying to get this school year finished up and stuff - my head just hasn't been into blogging.  I will try to do better at keeping y'all updated now that the cat's out of the bag.

Say a prayer for me!

XO,
Pam

HAITI

Picture from the Boston Globe

I know that there is information flying all over Blogland and the internet right now about the devastation in Haiti and how you can help.  But, in light of the latest 5.9 magnitude aftershock that has crumbled more buildings - well, I feel the need to share one more, and this is where it gets a little personal for me.

Several years ago, while we were living in Florida, my husband and I had the priviledge of meeting a wonderful Haitian couple, Dr. Joel and Rev. Doris Jeune.

Picture from Grace International.Org

The Jeune's oversee 200 churches, 66 Christian schools, 3 orphanages, and feed over 3,000 street children daily in Haiti.  They are one of the most awesome couples I have every had the privilege of knowing - yet, very meek and unassuming.  I can attest to the uprightness and character of these two.  And, along with so many others right now, they need help.  LOTS of help.

Picture from the Boston Globe

Their ministry, Grace International, is based in Carrefour, which was the epicenter of the major quake.  Most of the help that has been sent to Haiti has been unable to reach Carrefour.  Thank God, the mission campuses that they run were unharmed, so they have become refuge centers for between 15,000 and 20,000 of the hurt and displaced.  However, they have no food, no bathroom,  no shelter...

Picture from Grace International.Org

Haiti needs help...in the form of doctors, nurses and volunteers to go there and help with the devastation, in the form of supplies, in the form of host families/facilities to house displaced Haitians until their land is once again habitable, in the form of money (for all of the above and more), and in the form of prayers.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ~ James 2:14-17

I believe that we should help those in need when we can.  I also believe that no act of kindness is too small.  Don't let the thinking of 'it's not enough' stiffle you from doing something, anything.  If we all do something, much will be accomplished.  Maybe you're not in a position to go to Haiti and help, but you could host a family or a child.  Maybe you can't host a family or child, but can send monetary help.  Maybe you're not in a position to even squeeze an extra $5 out of your finances right now, but you can offer up prayers.  Every act of kindness is a seed that will reap a harvest.

If you would like to find out more about what is needed and how you can help, then please take a moment to visit Grace International.  Actually, please take a moment and visit anyway... (Keep scrolling down - there are many pictures and much information).  There is also a way to give on that page.  The funds will go right to Grace International and provide assistance to places that haven't been able to be reached much, yet.

Thanks for listening,

Pam

Joseph Update

My little friend, Joseph, had his major surgery yesterday. It took about 7 hours. In the past when he has any kind of surgery he has a lot of problems breathing on his own afterwards. It's not uncommon for him to spend a week in ICU post surgery.

Well...I just heard from his dad. His is sitting up, eating and talking this morning and they are moving him out of ICU and into a regular room! Less than a day after surgery! Praise God! He is going home on Monday!

Thanks so much to all of you who prayed for Joseph! God is a good God.

XO, Pam

Prayer Request

This is Joseph. He is 9 years old. He also has Spina Bifida. He was in my son's pre-school and kindergarten classes when we lived in Florida. He is one of the sweetest boys you would ever want to meet. No matter what he is going through he always manages to keep a positive attitude. It is truly inspiring.

We had the privilege of seeing Joseph and his family back in February. He was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and chose to come to Indiana and meet with Coach Tony Dungy. It was the trip of a lifetime for their family.

I would like to ask you to pray for Joseph and his family. They are going through a really difficult time right now. He is having a major, major surgery tomorrow morning that they are flying a surgeon in from China to perform it because he is the man who invented the procedure being done. God is on the throne and in control. But I'm sure the family would appreciate a little extra agreement for their needs to be met right now.

I'm encouraged when travel through Bloggy Land by how many sisters in the faith I find. So, I thank you for your love and prayers for my friends, Joseph, and his family.

XO, Pam