Need pixie dust and prayers...

[off2disney]

for my youngest daughter, 32 y/o mother of three (two y/o twin girls and 5 y/o son) diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which she has had since she was 17. She's been in the hospital for 9 days, went in with severe stomach pains, nausea and weighing 88 lbs. They have been pumping her full of steroids, interveneous feedings, antibiotics, etc., and she now weighs 130 lbs (most of it fluid retention).

They were going to release her to go home yesterday but she kept telling them there was still something wrong. They did an x-ray of her gall bladder but it way okay. But while they were looking at that, they found that either her bowels are twisted and obstructed, or there are absesses/fistules in her colon.

Now they are sending her to Oschner's Hospital in New Orleans where they are more specialized with the treatment of Crohn's disease for surgery. (Her doctor had left town on vacation and an associate was standing in for him - she said that if they had released her to go home, taken her off the antibiotics and reduced the steriods, she probably would have died at home!

We're not sure exactly when her surgery will be scheduled, but please send us pixie dust and keep her in your prayers.

 

[Disney Dee]

My co workers 15 yr old son was just diagnoised with Crohns . i will be thinking of your dd, and hope she makes a full recovery. Poor thing. {hugs} to you and your family.

 

[wdwnutze]

Thought and prayers will be with your dd. {{{{{{hugs}}}}}}and PD too.

 

[SnowAngel]

My prayers and thoughts are with your daughter, you and your family. Tons of pixie dust is also on the way

 

[Serena]

My thoughts and prayers for your daughter and your family too.

 

[helenabear]

My thoughts and prayers are with your DD and all of you right now. I pray that she makes a full recovery.

 

[tkyes]

I will say a prayer for your daughter. {{hugs}}



Tamie

 

[chrisney]

My thoughts and hopes for a good result are with you. Crohns is a really tough disease--my son was diagnosed at 13 and is nearly 21 now. He's been difficult to get into full remission for the past several years, and though he's not had surgery yet, we know that it's an eventuality with most Crohns sufferers.

It's surprising how many people either have Crohns or have a family member who does! Because of the number of people I know with Crohns, I know how often surgery is actually a godsend. It frequently allows a period of normalcy. So, to find the silver in the clouds, think of how wonderful it would be for your daughter to feel okay for a while. Sometimes the "while" is a period of years!

The other positive is the progress in both understanding the disease and the number of treatment options which have surfaced in the last few years. My greatest hope is that someone find a way to reverse, or if not that, provide immunity to those not yet actively experiencing the disease process.

Crohns is chronic both in its nature and the toll it takes on the people who have to live with it. The best thing I ever told my son is that he has to decide if he has the disease or the disease has him, and live his life accordingly. Well, sometimes the disease is in the drivers seat, but for a kid, he does a remarkable job of LIVING with the disease, not just existing. Best of luck to your daughter and your whole family.

 

[CathyCanada]

Most definitely!!! Please keep us updated!
CC

 

[cgcw]

Sending prayers and good thoughts.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Prayers, thoughts, and hopes from Amy and myself. We'll look for updates and keep you in our hearts.

Pat

 

[Disney Ella]

How terrible for your daughter. Sending PD. I'm sure those kids must be worried.

 

[snuggles]

Already said a prayer for your dd. Please keep us posted.

 

[Kitty 34]

Your daughter is in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[honeywolf7]

I'll definitely say a prayer for your daughter. I hadn't heard of this disease until I found out that John Elway's wife has it and since he was my childhood hero, I researched it a little bit. I still don't know much about it, but I understand it better now and it sounds like a very rough thing to have to live with.

 

[Rajah]

P&PD on the way!!

 

[off2disney]

They certainly seemed to have helped!!! Tomorrow will be her second week in the hospital and hopefully she will be home in a couple of days. This new team of doctors have ruled out surgery. for the time being anyway. A new cat scan seems to show that there are no ruptures or fistuli in the intestines, just a severe infection (flare up of the Crohn's), and hopefully medication will bring it under control. They are trying remicade (which almost like a type of chemotherapy).

It is mind boggling how two such drastic diagnoses can be done over the same thing -- but the way this new doctor explained it, it's like me taking a picture with a disposable camera and a professional photographer taking the same picture with a $3500 camera - it's a picture of the same thing but with drastically different results. That is the importance of having a second opinion and repeating the tests if there's a question.

Maybe now she can get back on her feet and be ready to enjoy Disney in December with me and her son -- we're going to have some one-on-one with him (he sometimes gets left out when everyone fusses over the twins).

Again, thanks for your thoughst, best wishes and Hugs!! I've needed them.

Brenda

 

[Pooh93]

Thank goodness for second opinions! Hope things continue to improve for you daughter. Please keep us updated when you can.

 

[Lorix2]

I'm happy to hear she is starting to feel better.

My DH has suffered with this since we were 18, although surgery has not been necessary up to this point. He also, does not let the disease control his life, most people don't even know he has it, that's how well he can hide it or deal with it. It's a horrible disease. I know they say it's hereditary, but no one we know in his family ever had it.

I hope your DD will be in good health real soon

 

[momsal]

Prayers and Hugs for you and Her!!