More to Ponder

This morning we had a follow-up appointment with Laura Kate's pediatrician, Dr. Beirwirth. He and the nurses were all so pleased to see Laura Kate. They all gathered around her both before and after her appointment. "I can't believe how good she looks" was the most common comment. It was so neat to see how her illness and subsequent recovery had affected them as well as us. They are all so precious.

Anyway, Dr. Bierwirth encouraged me to keep things in perspective. She looks good now, but there can always be another relapse. Hopefully not one requiring hospitalization, but we can't completely rule it out. He also explained that the aggressive course of steroids that she is on will suppress her immune system. We obviously need to avoid anyone who is sick. This being the case, he has suggested that we not take her to the church nursery, or anywhere else she can come in contact with ill kiddos. Of course, this is really hard on us. I miss my Sunday School class and the fellowship of our small group. Our mothers of preschoolers bible study begins in two weeks, as well as story time at the library. All of the things I has looked forward to seem to be off the table right now. But, more importantly, it's hard on her. She's tired of being sequestered. She's ready to get back on the go and see her friends.

She'll be on the high dose until mid-October, then we'll start to taper them off. This means it could be as late as mid-November until we can have her completely off of them. One thing that I hadn't thought of until this morning was flu shots. I've gotten the girls' flu shots every year since they were old enough to get them. This year, I won't be able to get Laura Kate's as early as we have in years past. The immunization won't do her any good if she's on steroids. With her immune system being suppressed, it will make her more susceptible to the flu virus, not to mention her body's lowered ability to fight it off if she does get it.

I know it's early to be worried about this, but it does give me something else to ponder and pray about! It looks like, though she seems to be on the mend from the Henoch-Schonlein Purpura, there will still be some fall-out from it for months to come. We won't be out of the woods for a while.

What a pessimistic blog! I guess I'm really just asking for your continued prayers. I know your faithful to offer them, and God's faithful to listen, even if He doesn't always act.