Tuesday, April 15, 2008

~Yesterday: really good & not so good news day~


Yesterday was a mix of really good and not so good news....
My 11 year Granddaughter Isabella suffers from Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune disorder and must have injections of Enbrel and Methotrexate plus take other medications and therapy twice a week..
Heres the really good news:
Isabella may be in remission! Yeah :-} Yesterday I received a call from my Daughter and Isa who were on their way home from the pediatric rheumatologist. They were so excited and said they had some great news for me. They told me the Doctor said that Isa may be going into remission. Blood work was taken and will be checked out. It will be a while before we know for sure. For now Isa must continue her shots, therapy and diet.
What fantastic news!! I have prayed & prayed for this day. Thank you God!!
We were told that many JRA children can go into remission at the time of puberty. Approximately 75% of JRA patients eventually enter remission with minimal functional loss and deformity.
Now the not so good news:
My last 2 mammograms have been abnormal. Fri. I had an Ultra Sound it was abnormal, a small solid mass was found in my breast. Yesterday my Doctor called me to his office and said I must see a surgeon. I've gone through this before having a mass removed from my other breast. After complications before & after surgery all turned out OK..hopefully this will too. Oh what a year this has been with few ups and many downs..
I'm doing a bit better with my depression. I tried the Paxil it gave me an irregular heart beat and was told to discontinue it. I guess I will just have to take each day as it comes and hope for the best.
Thanks to you all my dear blogging friends for you help, comments, cards and emails.
Bless you for hanging in there with me..
I love you! ~Mary~

24 comments:

Alison Gibbs said...

Such wonderful news for Isa. Hope her blood tests come back with a great result.
Oh Mary, let us all hope and pray for the same positive outcome for you.
Take care
Alison

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I will send up prayers for both of you......Smiles

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear the good news and praying courage for you as you walk through to recovery.
Has the Dr tried any other anti depressants. Sometimes people need to try quite a few.
I had a pity party the other night and realized I had forgotten to take mine that day. Subtle difference but ended up sobbing into the pillow over the event in my life which I can normally accept and move on with. So they do help.
Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Hi Mary,
That is so great about Isa. We will believe for a forever remission. Please know that you will be prayed for during all of this with your breast. God is good!!

Hugs,
LeAnn :)

Mary said...

Mary,

The news about Isa is terrific. I'm so glad she may be going into remission. Be sure to let us know as soon as you find out.

I will pray that there will be no mass when you see the surgeon. Keep your eyes heavenward, my friend. You are walking through the fire right now.

Prayers speeding to heaven.
Blessings,
Mary

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

PTL, God is so very good! Prayers are being answered for sweet Isabelle & I do so hope you feel better soon, too. I'm going to email you in a bit.

Big Hugs & Prayers,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

a Bohemian Market said...

Mary Dear:
Yeah for Isa!!! She deserves to live her young life like the fun loving child she is : )
You are such a "rock" my Friend!!! You are always in my thoughts and prayers!!!
Love & Hugs
carole

Joyce said...

Mary,
SUCH GREAT NEWS about Isabella....glad to hear that! Believe me I DO know what she is suffering first hand and I feel so badly for children with this stuff. Blah! I may be entering a "study" on a new RA med...I go for an interview next week. Not sure if I will do it or not. We'll see.

I'm believing that your report from the Surgeon will be GREAT as well. WE can pray about this.

I've learned from this weekend and other life events...."there is always a SILVER lining to these trials we face." So we must look for one for you as well.

Thanks for being so concerned about my Miss Priss after her accident by that DUI guy this weekend. Ugh....so FRUSTRATING!!!

Anyway I will be checking back in on you!
Hang in there my friend.
Be BLESSSSED~!
Joyce

Lori said...

That's are girl!!! Great news Isa!!!! love,Lori

Betty said...

I will be thinking good thoughts for you and Isa. Take care of yourself Mary!

Mary said...

Hello Sweet Friend, Wonderful News about Isabella!!! I know she is happy, and will have a great summer with Sam and family:) You are in my Prayers for your surgery and getting you well soon. Stay busy with a new project.Love Me:)

Joyce said...

Oh dear sweet Mary..... wonderful news about Isabella! I pray she continues to be better!
And, oh my, dear one, I am so sorry of your news..... you know I am always here for you if you need anything, and lighting candles and saying prayers.... love you

savvycityfarmer said...

Prayer changes things....great news about the grandbaby...you will be in my prayers dear friend.

Becky said...

I pray for you and your family.

Jan said...

Not many dull moments, are there? I'll pray that those blood test results are wonderful and while I'm at it...of course I'm going to pray that you come back from the doctors with a huge smile on your face...

Keep your chin up, I'm sure you can see that we love you!!!

Pam said...

I am so happy to hear about your dear Granddaughter.

You are in my prayers.
Hugs,
Pam

bj said...

My prayers....that Isa. continues doing so well and that your tests turn out okay!
My, you have really had a hard time lately...I admire your courage and willingness to continue fighting the depression, Mary. You are such a strong lady.
hugs, bj

Pam said...

Mary, SO hoping and praying that Isa is in remission with her RA. Will be praying that your results will also be good. I would encourage you to try a different anti-depressant. I also reacted strangely to Paxil, and Zoloft gave me headaches. I had good luck with Prozac, however, and my doctor encouraged me to take a little bit at a time to let my body get used to it. I started with 1/8 to 1/4 of a 10 mg pill/day, and eventually worked up to 20 mg/day. I only share the doses to let you know sometimes it's a slow process, not a quick fix, but well worth the effort. It stabilizes my monthly hormone shifts, thus stabilizing moods, and also eliminating migraines. Praying for you~ Pam

Julie said...

The news about your granddaughter is just wonderful. She looks to be a lovely girl.

I hope that your own health problems will be resolved soon, in a most positive way. I, too, have breast troubles, with scares about calcifications, which are often signs of cancer. After a couple of episodes, so far so good. It's very likely this new mass of yours is benign too.

I can't believe your doctor wouldn't give you another antidepressant to try!

Unknown said...

Mary, I am praying for a good outcome for you.

So happy to hear about Isa.

Take care my dear. God bless.

marylou said...

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all. ~Emily Dickinson

With HOPE & PRAYER you can do it;)
Sending images of both, see them in your mind.;)
Embrace HOPE, Marylou ^-^

Mary said...

Sweet friend - this is such bittersweet news! I am so pleased to hear about Isabella, but saddened to learn of your latest health scare. Please be brave and know that we, your friends, are all hoping you will have better news to report very soon. You are in our prayers Mary.......
With love as always,
Mary and Bob.

SweetAnnee said...

Oh Mary..WONDERFUL news about Isa..I'll be praying that
the blood work shows she IS in remission and that
her body FEELS like it for her.

Please let me know about the surgeon, just because one mass was ok, PLEASE let him do a bioposy or take it out..to be POSITIVE.

love you..ask for a different med than Paxil..find something that will work..

Deena

Amy said...

What fantastic news about Isa. I will pray for her and you too, my friend.
Depression can be so hard to deal with. My heart breaks for you. I want to wave my magic wand to make it be all better for you. Wouldn't it be wonderful if only the world worked like that? I send warm squeezy hugs to you Mary!
Amy