J+L Crosby Life

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura 

kidney damage

bowel obstruction

blood

platelets

stomach pain

urine samples

capillaries

vomit

call immediately

if

when

if

rest

joint pain

bruises

owies

I can't walk mommy

don't worry

it's probably 

normal

watch her

closely

chemotherapy

primary children's

reoccurrence

cyclical

serious

everyone leaves

she'll be okay

my leg is hurting

I can't kneel

Leukemia

These words are constantly swarming through my head right now. Since February 22, Mary has had a rare blood disease. Last Wednesday, she had another cycle of purpura (those bruises you see on her legs). This sent us into another bout of tests. 



Mary didn't flinch when she had her blood drawn, she sat there, perfectly still and talked to me about Sally's new clothes (her little doll in the picture). She got a "monster" for being so brave. Having her blood drawn was way more traumatic for me than for her (I am a baby around blood and needles... uhhh.  I am having trouble typing just thinking about it. My hands are going limp.) But not Mare Bear. She couldn't figure out why I was making a big deal about how brave she was... she said it didn't hurt. Wow. Is she MY daughter??


Glad to report that Mary's blood work has come back normal. The doctors finally told me that they were so concerned about her because she has symptoms of Leukemia. I had an entire day to wait for test results and fear the worst. Although her tests are normal, I probably won't feel relief until her symptoms are gone. We hope that Mary will be all better within the next couple of weeks.  She is on some steroids that are supposed to stop her blood vessels from breaking for good. Mary will be having more and more tests for the coming months. For now, we are praying for the best.


I am just amazed by Mary's courage through all of this. She has only complained a few times when her ankles and knees have been so swollen she had trouble walking. Some of the touching phrases from the past few weeks,
Mary says:
"Mommy, I can't move because I have owies all over me."
"Mommy, my legs hurt."
"Mommy, do we have to go to the doctor today?" (nope, we don't) "Oh, GOOD! Cause yesterday we had to go to THIS many!"(as she holds up 4 little chubby fingers).
"Mommy, hold me, I'm not feeling really good."


Doctor's orders, she isn't allowed to run, jump, do her gymnastics, or anything physically rigorous. Try telling that to a 3 year old... :) 


Thanks to all who have known and have been praying for her, she surely "feels dat in her heart," as she always says. And we do too. 


Love to all who have been, or are going through an illness, or the illness of loved ones. It is an extremely humbling thing to watch one you love suffer, and not be able to take it away. As hard as it is, I feel that physical pain and illness teaches me empathy, reliance on God, and knits me closer to the ones I love.