Prayers Needed!

Selah's kidney function numbers have climbed a little higher so we need prayer! She is peeing good so the doctors are not overly concerned at this point but it is not a good thing and the numbers need to go down since she is off all meds that might have contributed to this. Please pray that her kidneys will continue to function and heal themselves. The doctors are sending her for a CAT scan tonight to rule out any brain/sinus abscess that might be causing her fevers. They are very good here and do check on everything. I'm sure we will also learn alot more about what her brain looks like now which might be hard to hear....

Still looking into the possibility of stem cell therapy for her.

Please pray for Selah. Pray that she will heal physically in all areas. Thank you for your prayers!!!!!!

Kidney Function!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST! Selah's kidney function is not good. Please pray that the numbers go down. she has been taken off of all meds that might be contributing to it. The numbers just went up they have been good till now!!

She also will have to have a blood transfusion. I was hoping to be able to give but she needs it now and it would take awhile for me to go through the process ( I'm O neg and a universal donor, we don't know her blood type but I could possibly give) We are still excited about the stem cell research and are looking into it but now we have some issues that need to be resolved. Please Please pray about her kidney function. This is very serious!!!!!!! She also has the on/off fevers with no real known reason but her white cell count is high. Please pray for our sweet girl!!!

New medical procedure....

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/stem-cells-repair-brain-damage-umbilical-cord-blood-and-developing-tooth-buds-contain-stem-cells-that-can-change-lives-stem-cells-from-developing-tooth-buds-offer-a-second-chance-for-stem-cells-165096.php


I am excited about this article. hope you can click on it. I already have an email in to the doctor and will be tracking him down tomorrow. Please pray this is something that can help our baby girl! We have always tried or looked into things for Sam and I'm using those skills now. I know some doctors here think I may be clutching at straws but I know some doctors in Florida who thought that about Sam's corneal implant five years ago and now five years later our son can still see some. He went from 20/400 to around 20/100 and even better if he wears his glasses. That is a HUGE difference and it didn't' happen with us sitting around wishing...I had to look and call and go a thousand miles...but it was worth it. Now we have that experience behind us and we know now sometimes you have to push through and find things that may work for your children.

So pray that our sweet girl's fevers will stop and she will overcome this infection and that God will open the door for her to get this procedure if this is what will help her! I have to say I am incredibly excited and hopeful! We already have one little medical miracle in our family, ready for Selah to be the next one!!!!! Last night I just got such a peace about everything and felt like today would be a turning point for her. Learning about this, had certainly excited us and given us hope.

Our ultimate HOPE is in God, the creator of heaven and earth but we have always been thankful for the compassion and wisdom of doctors and always have given the ultimate thanks to God for the skills that our son's doctor has. I believe that most doctors, especially ones who have big medical breakthroughs, have hearts of compassion, and want to ease suffering. I know we see that in our son's doctor, Dr Aquevella.

So pray for us as we get more info!! Thank you!!!!

Cord Blood Study

Just found info about a new procedure where cord blood (from umbilical cords) is used to treat brain injuries like Selah's. I hunted down a couple of studies, she wouldn't qualify for either. One is for people over 18 yrs old, the other is for children who have banked their cord blood. PLEASE pray that we or the doctors here will find a study that will accept her!!!!! If you have ANY info on this please contact me!!!!!!

I read a medially documented case where a child was without a heart beat for 45 minutes and is now back to normal thanks to this! It was by using her own banked cord blood but why not use a donor's?

Please pray that we can find a study!!! One of the doctors here was hesitant but we learned a LONG time ago to be aggressive and not to sit back and wait on anyone to find us help. I reminded him that we would have a son who had no sight if we hadn't pushed and looked for something "experimental" Nothing ventured, nothing gained is an old but good saying!

So if you know of anything like this, please let me know. Thanks!

Update Monday morning

Selah had a good night sleep and so did I for the most part. Had some crazy dreams but not scary ones. Up to face another week.

Tomorrow Uncle Jim goes home home so we are going to take him out to eat tonight. He cam all the way to NY and has basically seen the inside of the Ronald McDonald House and plenty of diapers LOL. Things are going to get a little more complicated with him gone and we will miss him.

This morning I looked all all the places people are reading my blog from and it is amazing! Please keep praying for LaLa (Selah) and lifting her up to God to touch her and raise her up! Last night she seemed more responsive and I talked to her for awhile and told her how many people love her and are praying for her. Thank you so much.

Thank you for all the blessings. Yesterday we came back from church and found a bag of nice warm stuff (sweat pant/shirt socks slippers and a heating pad from Gates Assembly of God and a card with various gift cards from folks at Calvary A/G! Some great friends took us out for lunch yesterday after church...we just feel surrounded by love...thank you for holding our arms up in practical ways!!! And I slept WARM last night!!!!!!!!!

Friend from Germany

If by chance the lady I met in the Brandon Mall who is from Germany reads this, will you please get in touch with me?? theclanton5@aol.com

thanks Yvonne

It is Well with my Soul

Update:

Selah's fevers are continuing. Nothing seems to be helping. With meds they will go down but she can't keep them down. She has MRSA and her white blood counts are up. She has "something" on her arm, probably a blood clot and the redness is growing....she needs prayer now physically as well as neurologically!

Sitting here listening to the group SELAH "Greatest Hymns". they sing several songs on there that just speaks to my heart. One of them is "It Is Well With My Soul". The writer of that song lost his children in a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean. The ship and most on board were lost. His wife was rescued but not his daughters. On his way over to Europe to meet up with his wife, his ship's captain told him when they were at the place where his family's ship went down...He wrote that song based on that experience.


When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.


My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!


For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.


But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!


And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Sources: •Faith Publishing House, Echoes from Heaven, 1976 (168)
•Anonymous/Unknown, The Blue Book (199)

The last verse means alot to me....this situation turns my heart toward eternity even more. I understand that father's anguish as he penned those words... Before all of this happened, a few weeks ago I dreamed about the rapture. In my dream I was holding Sarah and saw the "the sky roll back like a scroll" it was an amazing dream. I'm looking forward to that day!

Across from the hospital is a very large cemetery. We've often wanted to walk through it, but haven't got the chance to. It's a reminder as a patient. a visitor, or staff comes out of the hospital, they face the cemetery...I've found it funny over the years in my sarcastic way. Now I look at it and think "death where is your sting" when this life is over, our heartache is ended...what a comfort. (don't' worry I'm not suicidal at all I just find it a comfort that one day life's trials will all be over) I think the old hymn writers spoke of heaven so often because of life's trials and tears on this earth.

Last night sitting in Selah's room, I read over my blog, since so many who don't' know me are reading it & it makes me wonder (and worry) about what all I have written :) But I loved reading the adoption posts and the posts since we've been home. I am still a blessed mom with the best kids in the world. I've experienced heartbreak but the joy does win out. I needed that reminder to myself.

So despite it all, I can still say "it is well with my soul" "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed"

Please keep praying for Selah, I still have hope that there will be a change neurologically....but it is so hard. Pray for our family, there is just this huge empty space without her, we miss her being with us so much. I am so thankful I never took a day for granted with her, the girls were so new to us, that every day seemed like Christmas to me when they got up:) It was just fun! I want that again, I want all of my kids home and healthy. I want to have to rush to cook them breakfast...and get them dressed...it's a honor to be their mom. This summer has been incredibly sweet, getting to know our two princesses! I want to go back to that.

Don't take your family for granted, no one is promised tomorrow. Hug you kids tight, be thankful for everyday annoyances and work. I wish our only problem was getting the laundry done...