Parker, the young son of a friend of mine, is very sick. He was admitted with a collapsed lung and big concerns with infections. He’s been put on serious IV antibiotics and is doing a tad better tonight. He has ARPKD and has always had breathing issues. I met his mom through the PKD Foundation and she is one strong mama. Another son of hers has special needs too and her hands are quite full yet she handles it all with grace and strength. I’m anxiously checking her blog to see what progress he has made. He’s a fighter – we know that for sure. There were docs a little over a year ago that gave him little to no chance to survive after birth. It’s scary to watch your child in the hospital, but for those of us with chronically sick kids its even more frightening because one issue can lead to another or uncover something you never knew about or something that you didn’t think would come so soon. Not that this cannot happen with people who have healthy kids, but for people like us it is always part of your thoughts every time they run a test or the doctors comes through the door.

A while ago I mentioned my cousin and how she was sick. Turns out that the good fortune of a cyst in her ovary lead to the early discovery of ovarian cancer – stage one. The surgery to remove her ovaries lead to the early discovery of uterine cancer. She’s now fighting the cancer and doing okay. She’s got a strong attitude and I’m very proud of her. I love you cuz. And I owe you a package…it’s my turn this month. I swear, it will be in the mail by Friday.

I must also mention a friend who was paralyzed in 2002 while working on a Habitat for Humanity House. She is currently in a facility fighting an infection in her bloodstream that rendered her sick enough she doesn’t remember something like 5 days. When Gage had his transplant she visited us – this was not easy for her – and we were touched by her presence and her prayers. We love her and hope that the end of January brings release from the facility and a healthy rest of the new year.

Lovely S was released from the hospital today. Preliminary reports say the tumor was benign as the doctors predicted. We’re so happy for her and her family. Her little sis, Quinny B’s BFF is going to come over tomorrow if we aren’t sleeted into a school closing (please, let there be school tomorrow) because we’d love to have BFF over here for some fun!

Poor Quinn and Julian with their genetically crappy sinuses. They are having a rough nasal time right now that requires a lot of saline, tissue and prescription nasal spray.

Back in September when Gage tried rapamune he got some horrible ulcers (and lost a lot of weight from the pain while eating) all over his mouth and down his throat. Since then he’s not really let his lips heal from the trauma and has started they habit of pulling skin off his lips. So, with the colder weather there is a lot of opportunity to mess with his chapped lips. He will not stop. And every time I see him doing it I think about all the germs he is putting in his body and it makes me terribly nervous since it’s winter. His immune system is compromised and each time I see his dirty finger nails move towards his mouth I freak out a little bit. Plus, his lips look strange now – almost scarred up. I guess this is how it will be for winter.

I just got over a cold but have a nice little cough. It is fading however so maybe this is the end of it.