Abby goes from total discomfort and feeling bad most of the time to
brief moments of giddyness and cutting up. It's a sight to behold...
Today was a long day, filled with more questions than answers. The doctor making rounds today happens to be Abby's primary physician. It was comforting to see her in the midst of this crisis. The short version is Abby's temperature is up again, her bone marrow is still not working well (she needed a blood transfusion today) stomach is worse. The good thing is that her pain is well managed and they are now giving her even more antibiotics and an antifungal to try to help her.
The longer version is:
Abby's doctor thinks the wound on Abby's stomach looks "impressive" and "very concerning". Dr. Cain is reserved and poised, so that is about as much excitement as she ever expresses. I appreciate that she was honest with us. It was stressful to hear, but important to know.
Dr. Cain is consulting with a Pediatric Infectious Disease Physician and a dermatologist (to biopsy and diagnose the skin infection). They were already consulting with a Gastroenterologist, pain management physician and surgeons. As soon as Abby's counts recover she also wants to consult with an allergist, to determine if Abby is truly allergic to the "big gun" antibiotics that Abby seems to be allergic to. The hope is that she is allergic to an additive, instead of the actual medication that might save her life.
I am VERY thankful that so many talented doctors will be watching over Abby, but it also is draining to me to deal with so many people. It is necessary, but hard as well. Each specialty sends a separate resident and/or medical student to assess Abby every day. Then each specialist comes into our room, at different times, to assess Abby (usually surrounded by a group of medical students).
We also get to interact with nurses, physical therapist, wound care specialist, dietary and housekeeping on a daily basis. Everyone of these people is an answer to prayers and a blessing to Abby. I am very thankful for each of them, but I am also a very private and quiet person, dealing with the constant parade of helpful people is tiring for me. Please pray that I be able to communicate effectively, and the strength and wisdom necessary to help and care for Abby.
Please continue to pray for:
- Abby's healing
- Our other children (we miss being at home together)
- wisdom for the doctors and nurses
- strength and wisdom for Brent and I
I want to be sure and thank God for blessings along the way.
Abby has not been on medication for increased intracranial pressure for many weeks. She has had no problems with increased pressure.
Abby's pain is well managed. Abby is still in remission. Our wonderful friends have continued to care for our other children, we have had several people help to make this hospital stay easier for Abby and I, and we many, many people are continuing to bless us from afar. Your emails, comments and cards and care packages bless us more than you will ever know.
27 comments:
Thanks for the update! Praying for all of you!!!!!
we will certainly pray for your family and your beautiful little girl. You are an amazing family.
So glad she's feeling so much more comfortable; it must be so great to see smiles!
Brent and Michelle,
I know so many are praying for Abby and your whole family...At my Salon here in Kentucky there is never a day that goes by when someone does'nt ask how she is doing. Your a part of our family now, my daughter Cassie continues to pray for Abby every night before bed, she cares so deeply for the Riggs family and has told anyone who will listen about serious life magazine..thank you both for opening your life up to so many, your light shines bright and it reaches more than you'll ever know! (((HUGS)) to Abby! We love you guys!
Maria Jeffries (KY)
Praying for Abby's stomach infection to show some improvement and for her medical staff to have wisdom in treating her.
What a relief to know that she is not in constant agonizing pain. I understand the seriousness of her situation, however, and I am praying many times a day. I have sent messages to countless people all over the world as well.
Thank you for the update and please hang in there.
Kelli Bosarge
Praying you have a good night and that more answers will come tomorrow. I'm thankful Abby is having no problems with increased pressure and she is in remission. I will continue to pray for her comfort.
I know what the parade of doctors and students can be like. I can't imagine doing it for as long as you have been doing it. I'll pray for your ability to communicate well with them along with continued strength and wisdom as you care for Abby.
Thank you for your update.
Nora
hugs {{{{{{{{{RIGGS}}}}}}}}}}} to
all of you as you go thru this ordeal with dear Abby. You've set one example of REAL CARING PEOPLE!
And I'm blessed to have run across your blogland!!! Thank You & I'm heading off to talk to God about the specific things you've requested :) Thanks!
~Joni
Continuing to pray for Abby...praising the Lord for the blessings you count. Praying for strength and clarity for you...
I know all too well that the parade of doctors, med students, etc is tiresome and just weary. I am praying for your heart, that you will find rest. That in the midst of the many people taking care of Abbey you will feel the presence of the Great Physican...that He would hold you and Abbey throughout your days.
Praying too for your family...that He would care for every need and hold your family so very close.
Wish I could give you a hug in real life and let you know that I understand...praying for a good day tomorrow and a restful night for you.
Believing in His blessings,
Dana
Praising the Lord for the postitives, and lifting you in prayer with the concerns.
Just want you to know that my four year old is praying faithfully for Abby to "feel better". We want nothing more than for God to heal Abby, she is such a blessing to even those that don't know her! The fact that she can put a smile on her face in the toughest of times tells me I have no reason to ever have a "stinky" attitude!
Hospitals are so rough with all of the coming and going. Ugh! Hang in there. We will do what we can with the prayers. We think of you often and ask others to pray as well. God bless you all, The Feuerborns
Thanks so much for the update. We've been praying all day and awaiting this to know how to pray specifically!
Praying throughout each day!
Dear Brent and Michelle,
I am amazed that Abby looks as beautiful and healthy as she does. God's creation never ceases to amaze me. Please tell her we think she is beautiful without hair, even when she had a purple tongue. If I did not know her story, I would not be able to tell she has been through so much. Perhaps when others are staring at her, it is because of her beauty, she has the face of an angel. You can see kindness in her eyes, and when she feels good you can see laughter in her eyes. It is very difficult to pray for God's will to be done, when you hope so so much that Abby will beat the odds. I know I don't have to tell you this, it just became so obvious to me after reading Brent's post on the power of prayer. I honestly do care about her outcome.
Brent, you tackled a big one in answer 11. I give you credit for having the guts to dive in....and am sorry that you have to deal with negativity during Abby's illness.
I appreciate your answer to question (9) the power of prayer. I was just thinking about that question 3-4 days ago and here it is on your blog. I don't attend church because of illness, but God has a way of getting me the answers I seek. His attention to detail is amazing. I also believe that prayer is for us, as all of the instructions in the Bible are for our benefit.
I have been praying for your family for a while, I just never had a reason to chime in. Kayleigh's blog and your blog have brought me a deeper understanding of christian love, for that I am grateful. My next step is to learn to "do" things for others as well as pray for them.
Much love to your family,
Stephanie
THANKS for the update. Glad Dr. Cain was a familiar face. Hang in there and prayer pouring for Miss Abby!
~Elyse~
Praying!!!
Mary
I had to laugh while reading this. Sometimes, you will put at the top of the post, which one of you is writing, but tonight you didn't.
Since Brent has been doing so much of the writing recently, I just started reading, with the assumption that Brent was writing. Until ... I read ... "I am such a quiet and private person." What??!!! Sorry, but Brent doesn't seem very quiet or private. (In a GREAT way. I love his boldness.) So, I quickly scanned the post to confirm the actual writer, and then found where you said, "Brent and I". Oh, yes, Michelle is writing tonight. :)
Thanks for jumping in and sharing with us tonight, Michelle. I am soooo... sorry for all of the stupid stuff that people have written in the last few days to Brent. Actually, I am totally appalled by the behavior of some adults. He responded well!
Keep the faith. Hang in there! KNOW that you are all loved and prayed for. The power of the internet is absolutely amazing in a situation like this. When we had our critical hospital stay 3 1/2 years ago, I had never heard of a blog. Oh how I would have loved the encouragement and fellowship during those loooooong weeks in the hospital with my little guy.
You are LOVED!!!
Laurel
mama of 13
You are both in our prayers,Even as our little one is in the hospital with blood infection after blood infection and getting ready for a transplant very soon.I will pray for abby's pain and for rest for you all and that you will be home soon as a family!!!
Rhonda
I am continuing the prayers for Abby and your family!!
I feel you on the parade of people. They are all so helpful and dear to us, but I'm also very private and often feel like I'm in a fishbowl.
She looks great. I hope she is feeling very good today.
xo Lena's mom
So glad to hear Abby's pain is being managed better. Still praying and praying and praying for her.
Nancy
First of All Oncology RN needs a heart transplant,maybe this one can have feelings since hers seems to have lost those.Just heard about Abby and her story today from a friend of yours named Kelli Bosarge.It touched me very deeply because I have a 7 year old son who is battling ALL Leukemia.I will definetly pray for Abby and the rest of her family.
I am thankful that Abby is getting some relief, and her pain is controlled. Praying for all of you, stay strong, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. I truly believe God has a plan for Abby, her purpose here on earth is not done. Only God !!
I just read what OncologyRN said... and it grieves me. The pain, comments such as these must create, when you are already so worn out... Let me say that I completely understand your love for Abby and how an adopted child instantly becomes your very own. The moment I saw my daughter I loved her more than any person I have EVER loved. (I adopted as a single, never married, first time Mommy) Brent, I know you love Abby and she IS your daughter. Of course Abby never ASKED to be adopted, but believe me there are literally MILLIONS of older orphans that wish they had been adopted at a very young age and Abby NEVER has to have those feelings, or wonder if anyone will ever love her or choose her =) As for "parading" her pain. I am so refreshed at your openess and willingness to be REAL. Too many Christians today try to put on a happy face, say "God is good" and are never willing to show that real life happens and it is not ALWAYS a rose garden (infact, is it EVER a rose garden?). And as for you getting a "REAL JOB" HA! Welcome to ministry. I do not know of any full time minister that has not been told that. My dear Pastor has been told that by Christians in his own Church! So sad... I myself have been in full time ministry and heard that complaint, even though the hours of 24/7/365 SEEMED like a REAL job! ;) I just want to encourage you both, and let you know that though you may have offended some, you have ministerd to so many more. The Christian life is offensive, look at how many people Jesus offended (and continues to offend even though He is supposedly dead in those people's mind!) If all you were getting is pats on the back and praise THEN you would KNOW you were doing something wrong! I am not in a position to help you finacially, so I am so grateful for people who are, but I am in a position to PRAY and PRAY and PRAY, so that is what I continue to do for you and your beautiful family! ;) Whatever path God chooses for sweet little Abby, I know that it will be the very BEST plan for her. I also know that Abby will always be able to look back on this time of her life and KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, how indredibly loved she is by her Mommy and Daddy! What aa amazing gift God has given her!!! But I also know as an adoptive parent that WE are the ones who have truly been blessed with an incredible and amazing gift!!!
Well I am off to get ready for Church and then go wake up my precious gift and get her ready to go to Church. "Thank you God for the gift of adoption, both my daughter's and my own as your daughter. Thank you for loving me before I even knew I needed to be adopted, just like I loved my daughter before she knew... Thank you for providing an earthy Mommy and Daddy for Abby that love her more than they could ever adequately express. You truly are an AMAZING God and I am so thankful that I can call you Abba (Daddy) and even though my daughter does not have an earthly daddy she has an Abba! Help me Lord, to show my daughter that her Abba is truly the BEST daddy she could ever ask for!"
MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU RIGGS!
Michelle,
I know you've been in the medical field and know how important training is for med students and residents, but you need to take care of yourself, too. If it's getting to be too many people and too much, there is nothing wrong with asking for no more med students &/or residents - it's your prerogative.
Praying as always.
What a blessing you all are. Keep the faith and keep going! We are behind you with prayer and belief. So thankful that Abby's pain is better managed and will continue that her marrow comes back and further questions will be answered. My girls (9 & 4) prayed special for Abby at church this morning and periodically throughout the day I "catch" them praying and often they tell me it is for Abby, she is sick.
God Bless - Keep the faith - Keep real to yourself and know words can hurt, but our hearts are well protected with Jesus' love and blessing.
Still praying!!!!
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