THanksgiving part 2 (update on Annabelle)

This is a continuation from the last post (I can't seem to get blogger to put spaces in my posts anymore so I broke it up in 2 posts....anyone know how to do that?).... All during this time we have witnessed our sweet 8 year old Annabelle suffering from a progressive rash. It started on her arm creases after she'd been treated for Lyme disease the summer of 2011 and we'd found her covered in baby ticks a month later after being treated. It took me at least 2 hours to pull those tiny tiny ticks off of her--it was horrible. We were told that they didn't carry Lyme, and when we took her in about the rashes, we were told it was eczema and not related to Lyme. So as it progressed we had allergy blood tests done and we did find she was allergic to environemental allergens (dustmites, molds, some trees and grasses). Further testing showed allergies to some animals and foods--and things she'd been negative to previously she was allergic to, including things we ate everyday. Changing her environment and diet did not seem to help as her rashes continued to progress all over her arms, legs, face and neck. Our brave, cheerful Annabelle who bore this burden so amazingly started crying as 'd wet and put creams on them. And we tried lots of creams, oils, etc. John and I had been researching Lyme because I couldn't stop thinking that this had to be related as she'd never had rashes before she got Lyme. The more we read, the more terrified we became. The list of symptoms of chronic lyme is extensive and can include swollen, painful joints, progressive fatique and weakness, cognitive challenges, neurological changes, and eventually death. It is often misdiagnosed and has progressed by the time it is diagnosed, and it is hard treat because the bacteria spirokite is very resistant and even changes forms as needed in the body. Do a search on Lyme....it is unbelievable how many people are affected by chronic Lyme disease and it is even more unbelievable how hard it is for people to get treated for it...as it is very controversial. It is not accepted by the medical association or covered by insurance...infact, doctors that treat it have been heavily persecuted with expensive law suits. So when we started realizing that Annabelle most likely had chronic lyme, we tried going to a lyme literate doctor here in VA, but he dismissed our concerns. We'd heard of a specialty clinic in D.C. that treated children but it was very expensive and out of pocket (due to the insurance problem). This was at a time when John was already needing a second job just for regular expenses like groceries, in our failing economy. As we prayed, we thought--we fundraised for our adopted kids, why not start working on raising money for Annabelle to get treated. We knew we had to do everything we could to help her. So my kids started again using their talents to make hats, potholders, bracelets, goat soaps and whatever they could think of to help their sister. We have been blessed to have my parents give us money to get her evaluation started, and we were able to get her seen in November. They confirmed that yes, her rash was characteristic of chronic lyme. It was terrifying to know it is lyme but at the same time a tremendous relief to finally have a diagnosis and that they know how to treat it. It will be a long road and not an easy one. She will have to go through long term antibiotics, some times more than one at a time with breaks. The die-off of Lyme can cause difficult side effects--which I'm most worried about, but they did say that it seems to be easier on children than with adults. After her first visit they put her on some allergy meds and a perscription cream for her bad areas (which at first was everywhere)--Elodel which costs $190--I couldn't believe that! The goal was to get her histamine reaction down before treatment started as it can get worse before better. Then started an antibiotic for amonth, along with probiotic and vitamin C. Annabelle's rashes are improved (she has even worn short sleeves for the first time in a year) but it is still there and she has itchiness and is bothered by them. She also still had issues with irritability and attention and sleeping (which are related to the lyme). We will be going back to the doctor Friday teh 14th. Despite all of these challenges, this Thanksgiving our family felt very thankful for how God has helped us each step and especially thankful that Annabelle is being treated. Please pray that she responds well to her treatments and the Lyme will not produce lifelong issues for her. Of all our children Annabelle has always been our most bouncing off the wall full of joy and energy and I pray she will fully be restored. We are also thankful that between our family's fundraising and loving gifts from others, that we have enough money to cover her follow up visit in DC today. Praise God! Thank you to each of you who have helped and especially who are praying for our precious girl.