4-year Appointment and Surprise News

On November 15, as my husband and I drove to Charleston for my four-year follow-up appointment with the surgeon that removed my pancreas, we received a call. My husband and I had been selected for a pre-adoptive placement of a one-year-old girl! I remember very little from the appointment, because my mind and heart were racing with anticipation and joy. The doctors were pleased with my progress and my transplanted islet cells were still doing well. When we arrived home, we scrambled to re-baby proof our downstairs. On November 18, a chubby baby arrived and instantly stole my heart. She is a giggler, great eater and sleeper, and loves anything that makes music. I am extra thankful on the heels of this Thanksgiving.

Twins, sort of...

Divinely, my husband and I got to grieve the loss of our first foster placement in Maine (this vacation had been planned almost a year out.) Lobster, kayaking, sleep and the view of mountains and water helped sooth our souls. I decided next time we received a foster placement I would do things different. One major difference/change was I would utilize daycare and continue to tutor math in the mornings. I thought keeping a regular routine might help me adjust better when a child left.

Shortly after returning home, we accepted a new placement, another baby girl who was a peanut in comparison to our first placement and a great sleeper. Shortly after her placement, we were informed that she too would be placed with a family member. Knowing she was leaving soon, we accepted a newborn baby boy. Plans changed, however, and we ended up with both babies for a month. It felt like having twins! September was a blur, and I was thankful for the love and support of many friends. Both babies left our home the same week and honestly, I did not think my heart could handle any more foster children leaving our home.  Not only did my heart ache, I lost weight from not eating properly and getting enough sleep. My husband worried about the additional stress on my transplanted islet cells. We decided to pack up, give away, and sell all of our baby items. I closed the door to the bedroom where we had cribs. It seemed clear to me that I was not going to a mother.

Four days later, we unexpectedly loaded our car and evacuated to Greenville, SC to weather Hurricane Matthew at my aunt and uncle’s home. Once again, God provided a respite for us to heal and contemplate.

Prayer requests: Healing and help for all of those affected by natural disasters.

Gratitude for all of the first responders who worked countless hours to restore power and clear roads.

First Foster Placement

This past July we received our first foster placement, a baby girl. We received a call around midnight and sprung into action. Our church family rallied along side of us dropping off diapers, clothes, and toys at our doorstep. Our foster daughter was full of giggles and gave us a crash course in how to function with sleep deprivation. I dropped all commitments to place my undivided attention on this little gem. Earlier this month, she was placed with a family member, and she rushed out of our lives as quickly as she entered. I now feel like I have a better understanding about the challenges of answering the call to be a foster parent.

Prayer requests: 

1. Love and safety to surround our first placement.
2. Healing of our broken hearts.
3. Support for all those who foster children.
4. Protection and help for vulnerable children around the world.

Adoption update & 3 years pancreas-free!

I have exciting news to share now and in the near future. I don't want YOU to miss out! Please, please, please become a companion dancer (aka a follower of this blog. When you sign up, you will receive a message directly in your email alerting you about new posts).

First of all, last month marked three years of being pancreas-free! This past year has certainly been the easiest post-surgery year and has gone by the fastest.

Some noteworthy progress:

• no pancreas related ER visits in the past twelve months (only ER trip was for a kidney stone)

• 21 months since I last needed insulin

• I am working part-time as a math tutor at a local community college and absolutely love it! (My body still requires at least an hour nap each day. However, I am extremely grateful for the strength to work and a job I am passionate about. Having a routine is also nice.)

I completed the first draft of my memoir. My goal is to publish by the end of 2016. Another good reason to become a follower is so you stay in the know.

Lastly, and what I think is the most exciting news, is our adoption journey update. God has continued to open and close doors. We now feel called to become foster parents (which are now called resource parents). While I can't post a picture or provide a ton of details, I can let you know when we receive our first foster child.

Have you signed up to be a follower to this page? What are you waiting for?

My prayer requests are:

1) For God's help to celebrate each day (it is easy to focus on the future and become anxious).

2) For God's wisdom and discernment with future publishing and parenting decisions.

How can I pray for you? It is always my honor to pray for others. Let me know if anything is heavy on your heart.

Stay tuned for more praises and answers to prayer!

Hope you have a great leap year day!

Encouraging news for those considering the TP/AIT

Reading blogs and talking to a woman who had the Total Pancreatectomy with Auto Islet Transplant (TP/AIT) surgery has provided me a lot of insight and encouragement. I want to pay it forward.

I am now three years pancreas-free and have some good news to share!

1) My endocrinologist commented this month that she couldn't believe how well I am doing considering how long ago I had the surgery. Most patients doing this well have had the surgery more recently. I see this as a clear indicator of continued progress and improvements in the medical field.

2) I have been wondering about how long my islet cells might continue to produce insulin. I asked members of a private Facebook page for individuals without a pancreas to let me know if they had the surgery before 2013 and what their insulin use was like. I had several responses, including one individual who is 7 years out and does not need insulin every day. Woohoo! It is unknown how long the islet cells will work in the liver, but I take this as very encouraging news.

3) Starting January 1, 2016 I completely removed gluten from my diet and my issues with diarrhea ended. I am overall feeling much better with significantly less bloating and gas. I love bread, so this was a hard decision. However, with all of the gluten-free products in the grocery store I don't feel deprived.