A Prognosis at Last!
Dear Friends and Family,
Madalyn had her appointment with the specialist this morning...FINALLY. Thank you all for your inquiries along the way.
She saw Dr. Rich at the Nemours Clinic. He was very easy to communicate with; patient, clear, and anything but arrogant. I feel thankful after meeting with him, and at peace under his care and discernment.
He confirmed that Madalyn does have a very solid stage 4 condition of reflux into one of her kidney's. There are 5 stages, with 5 being the most severe. This means the sphincter muscle that keeps urine in the ureter, preventing it from washing up into the kidney, is weak and not functioning. She can outgrow this condition as the muscle strengthens with growth anywhere between a year's time, to age nine. Being a grade 4, she has a 20% chance of outgrowing the condition. It can also downgrade to a less severe stage with time.
For now, we will be treating her with the Septra antibiotic every evening as a prevenitive medicine, in an attempt to keep her kidney sterile. If this works, he will re-evaluate in a year with more x-rays and a test to determine kidney damage at that time. If there are break-through infections at any point before then, he will need to operate. We are just thankful that her body will determine the next step, and that we now have an exact protocol. We're thankful for Dr. Rich's decisiveness and experience, as he said to be "one of the best," operating at Arnold Palmer and recommended by many. An interesting fact to go along with this, is that when I called to schedule the appointment about two months ago, I was told I might have to take Madalyn somewhere else because it could take 5-6 months to be seen by this group. When I was put on hold I begged God for an appointment if this was where she would receive the best treatment, and when the receptionist returned she seemed surprised herself to be able to offer me a September appointment. Thank You, my Great Physician!
I also want to share that there was a little girl in the waiting room who was born missing one of her chromosomes, (#26, I think it was?) I was so warmed to see that she had parents who adored her and were going to seek the best care possible, while at the same time thankful that our struggles were so minimal with Madalyn. God used this visual stimulant to adjust my perspective, so that I could receive peace; a visual signal to remind me that all things are under His authority.
It was not the size of our problem that brought me comfort, but rather the truth that all things are under His authority. It goes against every ounce of my nature to recognize that submitting to His authority will bring me this confidence, this peace...comfort and hope that pass understanding. My nature fights peace--to the very death. It's one of the things He's shown me in the deepest way in this season, and I'm so glad He made the effort.
By His grace, may it not be wasted on me!
Thank you all for your prayers for Madalyn, and for us all! Please let us know how we can pray for you. It gives us great joy.
Katie
