Monday, June 15

I had Jere and Kristen’s three youngest boys while they took Jana to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for a test to follow up on her SMA – a secondary problem to her stomach pain and nausea – probably due to fast weight lost. (Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is a rare digestive system disorder)

I took the boys to Wal-Mart to shop for the Children’s Auction for the Truck Rally on June 27.

The first thing Jared found was this pack of fireworks. I thought that may be popular at the auction.

Just about the time we finished shopping I received a phone message from Kristen saying that the SMA had disappeared! This is a short excerpt from what Kristen wrote on Jana’s Caring Bridge note:

Both radiologists came into the room, and said ,”We just don’t understand, she is completely open, there is no blockage today” The older of the two radiologists said, “Could this be a fluke? We haven’t seen this before, but the SMA is gone.” Jere and I looked at each other, and said, “No fluke. She has thousands of people praying for her, and this is a true miracle.” Neither of the Radiologists could say anything, except for the fact that they would call her GI specialist and give him the report. 

Jana had been placed on a high calorie, high fat, liquid diet three weeks earlier, and said she wanted to go to Olive Garden for her first meal when she could eat solid food again.

Within a few minutes of getting the message that the SMA was gone, Kristen asked if we wanted to join their celebration at Olive Garden. I said, “Yes! Yes!”

Jere helping Jesse with his personal pizza.

Ian

I think this was Kristen’s meal.

Jana and Deb

Josh

My dessert

Several shared these small desserts.

The entire group

Jared acting silly – like he was stuck under the table.

Jere showing Jared and Jesse how to make a “tornado” in Jesse’s water.

Roy and Deb

When we got back to Jere’s they set off a set of fireworks – to continue the celebration.

Jake got all excited. We could hardly believe it, because he had been afraid of fireworks before this.

Kristen eventually put him in the garage, because they thought he might get hurt.

To finish the celebration, Jere lit an oriental lantern.

We watched it take off and float away…

…until we couldn’t see it any more.

Oh, what a day!

The doctors have tested Jana for everything that could possibly be causing her nausea and pain and everything has been eliminated during the past ten months. One of the first things eliminated was her gallbladder, but she is always tender in that area, so a surgeon is going to remove it on July 8. Join us is praying that removing her gallbladder will remove her pain.