We are back from Iowa City with Good News!!! . :-) Giving Praises! No follow up surgery is needed at this time for our 7 year old daughter, Callista. Her tests all looked really good. The swelling in the kidneys is gone. They appear to be functioning at a normal level. The reflux seems to be gone and the bladder looks great. The double re-implantation of her ureters seems to have worked. They are a little concerned about the way her body voids her urine. They have put her on a prophylactic dose of a new antibiotic and a muscle relaxer specific to the ureters and bladder area as well as a stool softener. We will return in 3 months for follow up tests. For now we are enjoying the good news.
While there the Child Life specialists came in and worked with her while they inserted her catheter and other tubes into her body. These ladies are such a God send. They are all so wonderful at helping the kids get through very unpleasant procedures. They found out she had just celebrated a birthday less than a week earlier and had to miss school that day because she was home sick with a UTInfection. When we got back to our room to meet with the specialist the two CL specialists walked into the room with 4 American Girl Dolls and told Callista to select one to go home with for her birthday and because she was so brave. I was speechless and had knots in my throat. Someone had donated their entire collection to give to the patients at U of I and for whatever reason these nurses decided to share one with Callista. They brought joy to our 7 year old during a very unpleasant experience.
Earlier in the day we had met a little girl about 8 years old that was just diagnosed with leukemia 4 days earlier. They were there with their suitcases and she was getting ready to receive her first round of Chemo. I just kept thinking how lucky I was to be able to take my child home at the end of the day. I will continue to lift that family up in prayer.
A bit off the subject but
feeling the need to share. Our 11 year old son, Isaak was talking with us yesterday about just trying to blend in and not stand out too much in middle school. He has made some new friends this year while old friends have branched off into new cliques. He was sharing how confusing it was to not know who was his friend, who wanted to be his friend and who he wanted to be friends with. I told him that is why we have family. They will always be there to support 
us in good times and bad. He came back with, I know I will always have Luke and Henry as my buddies. (These little guys are his 3 and 6 year old cousins that love to play with Isaak when the family is together). So true. Feeling so blessed to have such wonderful families who are so supportive. I love them all so much!!!
