Aftershock

Our earthquake occurred in 2008. A minor "aftershock" was felt just this week. Due to these two events that took place over 4 years ago, I finally had to go under the knife myself on Wednesday.

Caed experienced his volvulus 2 1/2 weeks after I gave birth to Caleb. My 3rd c-section. I was forced to "recover" REAL QUICK! Gone were the days of taking it easy. I vividly remember being woken up by the hospital security guards because (heaven forbid) I had fallen asleep on a bench just inside the entrance to the Children's Hospital. A bench. A hard metal bench. Yes, just 3 weeks after having major abdominal surgery myself.  I remember feeling a bit "homeless" after they woke me and forced me to move, but it didn't matter.  I wasn't going to "leave the premises."  Instead I would just go find another vacant corner, chair, or yes, even BENCH to sleep on while my son lay in ICU. 

 But, what else was I supposed to do? "Take it easy!", right?? WRONG! There is not a mother alive that would have parked herself in her EZ Boy recliner (to recover) all the while her child was fighting for his life. The days turned into weeks. The weeks turned into months. And the months turned into years. It was simple.   I delivered Caleb via c-section in Feb. 2008 and did not see a doctor or go back for a checkup until  18 mos. later....  My "recovery" just wasn't priority compared to what Caed was dealing with.

 I still believe that with all my heart today. However...because of those events, I developed an umbilical hernia soon after. Once again, though, who in the world had time to deal with her OWN medical issues? Clearly not me!

That is until earlier this summer when my doctor confirmed that yes I indeed did have this hernia, and "oh by the way....have you ever heard of a VOLVULUS?!?" Apparently hernias gone untreated for a length of time, ((could)) result in a volvulus. Wow. I calmly shared Caed's story as my doctor's eyes bulged and mouth dropped. "So your son should have died that night, huh?" Once again....not always the response I enjoy hearing from medical professionals (unrelated to Caed). But, nevertheless, always a good reminder of God's amazing mercy.  My doc didn't have to talk me into the hernia repair.  An appt. was made immediately (within minutes) with a surgeon.  His "volvulus scare" did just that!!

So, this past week ENORMOUS amounts of empathy have been given to my little HERO. Don't get me wrong. I am fine! Painfully sore, yes. But...I'm not even going to pretend to have gone through even a fraction of ANYTHING Caed has these past 4 yrs. Not even close!!

I'm not sure why anyone is even surprised by this surgery?  We are averaging 1 about every 3 months these days...(with a few ER visits sprinkled in between just to keep us on our toes).  I honestly have to laugh.  If I stop for even a moment to contemplate this past year....the past 4, I just might fall apart.

.....thankful for God's faithful compassion.

It has become the glue holding me together.

Difference Maker

This past weekend Todd and I had the privilege of attending Advocare's Success School in Ft. Worth. Over 13,000 were in attendance. It was.....incredible! Advocare is a world class nutrition, health, and wellness company that is helping change lives all over the country. It also is helping fuel high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes. Todd and I began on products (and became distributors) over a year ago. Not only did we lose weight, but gained more energy and began feeling "healthy" for the first time in a VERY LONG time! The longer we are apart of Advocare, the more passionate we become with this amazing company. The leadership aligns 100% with our core values and we are deeply honored to be associated with them.

Now, what on earth does that have to do with Caed, you ask? Well... Advocare has a Scientific and Medical Advisory Board that uses their (combined 250 yrs) expertise to ensure that all our products are formulated with the highest quality ingredients based on the latest scientific research, as well as SAFE!! I have heard them speak several times. Let's just say....they know their stuff! One of the members of the board is Stanley J. Dudrick, MD. That may not ring a bell with most of you, but if you live in Short Gut world....you know EXACTLY who he is! He pioneered the research and development of TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition). In other words, he has saved millions of patients (young and old) who are unable to get their nutrition orally. Caed was one of those. He was unable to tolerate ANYTHING by mouth for almost 6 months. The amount of nutrition he was receiving from his feeding tube equaled roughly 1-2 tsp. every hour. Clearly not enough to keep him alive that long. Honestly, I hated TPN at the time. It was a constant reminder that my 4 yr. old was very, very sick. It was administered through his central line....a tube that protruded out from the middle of his little chest. For many months, Caed was hooked up to his TPN 20+ hrs/day. But, gradually, that time began to decrease until 1 day....his need for it to sustain him was finally over!


On Friday night at the Advocare Conference, we had the awesome privilege of getting to meet and THANK the man that God used to inadvertently keep Caed alive all those months. He was kind and gracious and listened to everything we had to say. He did not seem "bothered" by us or in a hurry to move on, but rather wanted to know about Caed and how he was doing. Did he truly know what this meeting had meant to me? Could he see through my nervousness into a heart that was bursting with joy? There are no words.... Absolutely none in the English language that I have found to communicate a Mother's gratitude for someone who has saved her child's life. Dr. Dudrick is not the only one. There are certainly others who GOD has providentially put into Caed's life these last 4 years. But....even with the very BEST pediatric trauma surgeon and specialists, had Caed not received TPN those first 6 months after the volvulus....there is NO doubt, he would not be here today!

Because of the HIGHEST quality ingredients, and the nutrients that are specially formulated for easy absorption, Advocare has now become a MUST for Caed's daily intake. Being short gut means supplementation is a necessity. I know we have thousands of (cheaper)choices, but quality is extremely important to Todd and I. We have personally seen and heard from every doctor and scientist on Advocare's board. (and one of which we feel we already have a previous, personal connection to) There is comfort and excitement knowing Caed is getting the very BEST! He is being pumped daily with Nutrition shakes/bars, CorePlex multivitamins, and probiotics. (Oh yeah....as well as his brother and sister!) Just call us the Advocare Family! We are ALL being fueled by it.

We THANK GOD for bringing Advocare into our lives almost 2 yrs ago!  It truly has changed our family and has provided the extra health and wellness we desperately needed. 


I consider Dr. Dudrick to be a "difference maker."  Although the Lord did not bless me with as high of an intellect as He did Dr. D, and I will never save thousands and thousands of lives through my work.....I am determined.

Determined to also be a difference maker...

Champions

Well, they did it!!! Congratulations Caed and the rest of the Idalou Machine Pitch All-Stars.