Moving Right Along, and Some Realities of Remicade

Anna and her brother, Joel

Anna continues to make post-surgery progress.  She tried eating some Chex Mix last week, and decided that she is now ready to eat chips and snacks again.  Today she asked if we could eat at Texas Roadhouse---her first attempt at eating steak since her surgery.  She can do it, as long as she cuts it into tiny pieces and takes her time.  That's the key to eating for her (and I believe we as a family have all slowed down our eating a bit, so that Anna is not left eating alone at the end of a meal---and that's a good habit).  I remember about two months ago, the orthodontist told Anna that by October, she would feel almost normal again, and be able to eat almost all of her normal foods.  He was right!  Patience and perseverance.  That's what it took.

The only medical-related appointment for Anna over the past few weeks was her Remicade infusion on Friday afternoon.  We had scheduled it so that Anna could participate in a field trip to the Carlisle Army War College that day.  She had a great time and had much to tell me and show me (from pictures from her phone) and exclaim about when I picked her up. It was a beautiful day on Friday for a field trip, and the students were outside all day in the wind, touring and walking and visiting the interesting outdoor, interactive museum on the grounds.  On the 20-mile drive to Hershey for her Remicade treatment, she became increasingly subdued, prompting me to ask her several times if she was doing okay.  She was just tired and wiped out.  And then a few hours of Remicade dripping into her body increased her tiredness.  Once we arrived home at 8:30 p.m., she went straight to bed and slept for 12 hours.

This is the reality of Remicade for Anna.  Whenever she has a long day (even though it may be filled with fun and interesting moments), her body needs adequate time to recover---usually a "day for a day" as I've noticed. We take the bad with the good.  The Remicade infusions allow Anna to have the vision to fully enjoy field trips and other pleasures.  So I'm thankful for Remicade to some degree.  I get concerned as a mom when she is abnormally quiet and subdued.  But I'm learning to accept that and know that "this, too, shall pass---with adequate rest." I'm a realist.

We want to thank everyone who prays for Anna and for us.  We know that there are times when the Lord is carrying us through the challenging times and giving us peace and sometimes working to adjust our attitudes.  We have so much to be grateful for---like the fact that Remicade even exists and is helping to control Anna's uveitis.  And for the insurance that covers the cost of the Remicade (I was astonished when I saw a recent insurance statement which had the cost listed, and it humbled me to know that this cost has been covered by Anna's two insurances---I know I cannot take that for granted.)