UPDATE: Post-Mayo Clinic

We are sorry it’s taken a bit for an update since we've been back from the Mayo Clinic... With so much going on it's hard to find the time to write down our story in our own words...

Things have been a little crazy and busy and this recovery has been more difficult than we had anticipated, and on top of all that, Stacie is now also battling pneumonia.

At the Mayo Clinic Stacie ended up in the hospital a few extra days for complications from surgery and she didn't get released until Sunday. At our follow-up appointment Monday, the Doctor was concerned about a possible infection or bowel obstruction and ordered more testing. As always with our insurance, we had to wait and were scrambling on deciding what to do. After consideration and another consultation with the Doctor, he felt like we needed to do the testing even if we had to pay for it. 

We trusted what he said and got all the tests done and met with him the next day. We were able to be released Tuesday with strict instructions from the Doctor on what to watch for. It ended up being okay because we were able to avoid the huge monsoon that came through and were able to make it home safely. We feel so blessed that these doctors have been guided by the spirit with what to do. They listened and found things that would have eventually been a very big problem if they had been left untreated. 

For a little update on Reed, he had another round of steroid injections in his back yesterday and next week he will have the Bravo Study and a biopsy of his small bowel with the hopes of getting more answers. 

We are so grateful for all the thoughts and prayers on our behalf and for all of the help that we've received; weather it’s been meals, airfare and travel arrangements, help with our sweet boys, a shoulder to cry on, donations and so much more. Our hearts are full and we truly feel blessed. Having surgery so far from home was even more difficult than we could ever have imagined but we are so grateful for the expert care we received and I know I was in great hands.

We also want to thank our family and friends for caring for our boys during this difficult time and I would like to thank Reed for how he has cared for me and never even complained! 

The Lord’s timing is hard to understand sometimes and we feel like our faith has been tried with the whole Mayo Clinic experience. We are grateful to know and understand that it doesn't always work out the way we would have wanted it or the easiest way, but somehow it always seems to work out. We are learning so much and are most indebted to our Savior for all He went through for us and for all that He does for us!


As for the boys...

Payton has started 4th grade along with soccer; which has kept him so busy and happy. He also just received his Wolf in Scouting, and we are so proud of him. 

Camden starts preschool soon and he is very excited for that, and he can’t wait to play soccer just like his big brother.


We have the BEST family and friends and are so EXTREMELY THANKFUL for all that you continually do to help make things a lot easier for our family. WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!

A NEW HOPE FOR STACIE - Stacie's Surgery Update

We wanted to update everyone on Stacie’s status... 

On Tuesday, August 12th,  Stacie met with the specialist here at the Mayo Clinic Hospital. He felt that Stacie was at the point that she needed to have surgery and we scheduled it for the next day. We arrived early and after several blood tests and last minute adjustments they took Stacie back into the O.R. for her surgery. She had a few procedures done during the almost 3 hour surgery, including a diagnostic laparoscopy, excision and stripping of endometriosis throughout her lower abdomen, pelvis & colon, a cystoscopy and even a mini laparotomy. 

During the surgery they discovered an endometriosis implant located on her lower bowel and, when attempting to remove it, the bowel opened up. They were able to contain it and repaired it without having to do a bowel resection! (yet another Tender Mercy) They found that the endometriosis implant had grown into the bowel to a point where it was almost completely through the wall; which made that part of her colon very unstable. 

We were lucky that they discovered it here, during the surgery, where they were able to contain and quickly fix it before it caused major complications. The surgeon felt that the surgery went well but they will be keeping Stacie here a few more days in the hospital to make sure there are no more complications. The recovery has been a little rough but Stacie is doing well, considering what she has just gone through, and she is looking forward to coming home to her boys hopefully early next week! 

We are overwhelmed with the generosity, love and support that is shown to us on a daily basis! We are where we are today because so many of you have stepped in to lighten, and even have carried, our burdens when we felt we just couldn't do it anymore. 

We look forward to the day where we can strengthen and support others at the level you have all shown us. We are blessed to have our faith, our family & our friends! 

Thank you so very much. We love you all!!!

TM4TS - UPDATE AUG 2, 2014

We first wanted to say THANK YOU for all those who made it possible for us to have an amazing trip and an experience; one we thought we would never be able to have!!! We know it was a sacrifice for several of our family and friends and we are indebted to their kindness!

We had an amazing time with family and our close friends. We got a chance to get away from all the stress of life for a few moments, and felt like we got to take a breath. It was a much needed and wanted chance to regain some hope and clarity!

Unfortunately, since we have been back it seems like things have picked up right where we left them.  Reed is still going through some testing, procedures and following up with several doctors including a pulmonologist, cardiologist, immunologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, his neurosurgeon & his dentist; which worries him the most!! 

Reed is still not doing as well as we were hoping he'd be doing at this point. We were told that Reed was a complicated case with several problems happening at the same time and that it would take a while to try and solve them all. There are so many different things that were wrong with Reed that even the doctors commented that it was too much for such a young person to be going through and more so all at one time. Although it is very difficult to wait for a change to feel better, our visit to the Mayo Clinic gave us some hope and some ways to start working towards getting Reed back to his normal self.

In May, while Reed was going through his series of testing at the Mayo Clinic, Stacie was contacted by a specialist from the Mayo Clinic. He believed he knew what might be causing a big portion of Stacie’s problems.  He had been reviewing Stacie’s medical history and her current symptoms and he felt she may have what is known as remnant ovary syndrome.  It is a rare condition in which some ovarian tissue is implanted somewhere within the abdomen. 

This little piece of ovarian tissue can generate its own blood supply and respond like a normal ovary would to stimulation by FSH and produce hormones and even create ovarian cysts. The doctor gave us several tests she needed to have done and the results were sent to him. For the last few weeks Stacie has been going through all the testing and it has taken a toll on her.  To make things even worse for her she has come down with a severe case of Strep throat and a few days later she found she also has the flu. 

We have been trying to push through all of this and are fighting to keep things going. We have been given some hope in that we have found out that she will be having surgery down in Arizona at the Mayo Clinic. She is scheduled to meet with the doctor on August 12^th and will have surgery a few days later. We are praying that this is the new found hope that we need right now. 

We are determined to not let this keep us down, it can’t & it won’t!! We are stronger because of these trials and have come closer as a family & closer to the Lord!

We are forever grateful for those who have supported us in so many ways and continue to take our burdens upon themselves to keep us going. They are nothing short of a miracles in our lives and we are blessed to be surrounded by such great people! 

Thank you so much, we love you!!