Prayers for my sister Katherine :)

Hi everyone!

I apologize for not updating more frequently! It has been a bit of a crazy time in the Stevens household! 

I think it's safe to say the 'honeymoon' period that followed my homecoming has come to an end and with summer vacation being here and everyone being home, we are all trying to find and adjust to our 'new normal''. :)

As for me... I am feeling really well and have been getting into the pool and doing my water therapy as much as possible! When I first started going into the pool my energy and muscle strength was depleted in about 10-15 minutes and I would need a lot of time to recover afterwards.

Now, I am feeling a lot stronger and able to tolerate over an hour in the pool at a time!!! 

I also have been enjoying going to the beach!

I LOVE the water-- especially the feeling of being able to move in ways I am not yet able to on land! It is incredible!! I honestly still have to pinch myself when I think of where I once was, in a hospital bed for 5 years, unable to even move or be touched... and where I am now-- in the water, moving, living and enjoying life! God is so good!

....I also have the best water 'therapists'-- My sisters :) 

Speaking of my sisters...A big curveball was thrown to us last month... Katherine began feeling sick.

My normally vibrant, active sister, who takes awesome care of me, began instead laying in bed during the day, feeling fatigued and having gastrointestinal symptoms that continued to get progressively worse...  instead of better, as time went on. We know from experience, that is never a good sign!

Three weeks ago she underwent extensive testing and was diagnosed with both Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Anyone who personally knows our family knows that our Dad has struggled greatly with crohn's for most of his life.

The doctors say her case is very 'rare' because of the way it presented and because oddly, Katherine's disease is in a completely different part of the intestine than my Dads. Her's is in her entire large intestine and colon, my dad has it in his small intestine.

Also, the dual diagnosis of crohns/colitis they say only occurs in 5% of patients... Again, Rare.

I am not surprised...rare...That is just how us Stevens' seem to do  things... Never 'textbook' or 'normal'! :)

For now, she has started on a treatment regimen that seems to be helping a bit with some of the symptoms and she will be having an appointment with another specialist soon to get another opinion and hopefully rule out the possibility that she has another rare condition that her labwork is suspicious for. Please pray she does not, as this would be a much worse option.

Needless to say, it has been a crazy time here! My poor mom feels like she finally got me better... And now she has a new patient! A lot of people often say "Well, God only gives you what you can handle!"... I do not really believe that. I know a lot of people, my family included, who have been given exceedingly more than they can handle! What I DO believe is that God gives us the grace and tools to get through and learn how to handle whatever circumstances we are given. With Him, we can do all things! And in our family, there is no doubt that my mom is one of his most amazing "tools"! She is the glue that binds us. Please pray for strength for her and for her sanity! :)

Please keep Katherine in your prayers!  For the healing of her GI system, wisdom for her doctors as they figure out the best treatment, and also for patience. She is 21 and just wants to go back to her normal life.

The challenges may seem great... but God is greater. If I am 100% certain of anything, it is this! After all... Look how far we've come! 

Thanks for checking in! 


God bless!
Jessica

"Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." (Isaiah 41:10 MSG)

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