Katelyn

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Bead Row from "Grubbies:Friends" kit by Christina Bartholomew at 1HourScrap.com
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We went in for a routine well check for Katelyn about two weeks ago, only it ended up telling us she was not well. At least her kidneys are not well. Her creatinine levels were extremely high; so high that the nephrologist (kidney specialist) was alarmed. The levels were quite within normal ranges last year, so it was within the last year that things changed drastically.

Katelyn has been battling medical problems all her life; they manifested when she was two months old. It has been really difficult for her and us with so many doctors appointments, surgery, hospital visits, and lab tests through the years. This past week was even more excruciating, especially the last 48 hours while we waited to see whether or not the creatinine level would come down, the only hope that her kidneys could be saved for a little while longer. Praise the Lord, the levels did come down! We are very grateful that we have another chance at prolonging the life of her kidneys and avoiding more drastic treatments.

We still have a difficult road. Next week we will talk with the urologist about options that surgery might provide. Not an optimal solution, but one that might be necessary to save her kidneys.

One thing I have learned from all these medical issues, and from some of my own times in the hospital for surgery or pregnancies, is that we take for granted all the parts of our bodies and what they do to keep us alive and healthy. You don't start to appreciate them quite as much as when they do not work correctly. It's then that you realize what an amazing God we have and what an amazing body He created! The verses in I Corinthians 12:14-26 also start to really make sense, too.

"14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

We are grateful to all the prayers from family & friends, near and far--across the miles and across the internet! Blessings to you all.