RESULTS...

Well, the results finally came in from Isaiah's week long stay at CHOP back in October.  1)It was determined that a lot of the pain he's been experiencing is due to an overgrowth of bacteria in his gut.  Because of how Isaiah's bowel formed and his multiple surgeries, his gut has areas that don't push food through normally leaving little pockets where bacteria pools and grows.  He now has to be on antibiotics for the first week of every month to try to keep the bacteria in check. The antibiotics have helped to cut his pain down.  He is now eating a tiny bit of food each day.  2)The manometry test looked for nerve innervation to the bowels and bowel activity.  It showed that Isaiah's bowels do not contract or relax normally.  His bowels are relaxing when they should be contracting, contracting when they should be relaxing, and at times hyper-contracting.  This abnormal activity level does not allow food to flow through normally.  3)These tests all showed that Isaiah had damage done to his Vagus nerve, probably the result of some virus or from previous surgeries, causing bowel neuropathy. The good news is, the damage can be reversed over time.  The best way for Isaiah to improve, is for him to start eating again and to come off of his tube feeds.

This Wednesday, Isaiah is having surgery.  He is getting his ear tubes replaced, his g-tube site revised, and reconstructive surgery on his left hand to separate the webbing between his pointer and middle finger.  It wasn't separated before because his orthopedic surgeon originally thought he had no movement in the index finger.  Now that he does have movement, separating the fingers will give him 4 "more functional" fingers.  He will be in a cast for 2 weeks.

Please pray:

1. For surgery to go well on Wednesday, for a quick recovery, and no complications. There will be 3 surgeons operating: Dr. Chang, ortho/plastics; Dr. Germiller, ENT; and a general surgeon.

2. For continued health for my nephew, Jude.  He is home, and is growing, but still has a long road ahead of him.  Also, pray for his family, as they adjust to a new way of life.

3. For my grandparents, David and Georgina Solt, as they travel to Costa Rica for 4 months.  They are 87 and 90 years old.  We will miss them while they are gone.

4. That we can get Isaiah back into Good Shepherd's feeding clinic next summer.  He will need to be there again for another 4-8 weeks.

Thank you again for all your love and support.  We truly could not handle this journey without your partnership.