"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace." _{Ephesians 1:7}

---

Our Rachelle Update: Wednesday - February 16, 2005

Hello Family,

Hope this finds you all well and doing good. Most of you I have been out of touch with for quite sometime, I think of each of you so often. So much has been going on it has been hard to find time to give updates. The last six months have been very difficult and have been an adjustment for us but, I think things are starting to smooth out a bit for a while?

I guess for those I have been out of touch with the longest I should start briefly at, November of 2003, Rachelle was having so much difficulty walking on her own without falling we decided to avoid broken bones it was time to only allow her to walk with help. So we started using what is called a Gait Belt so we could hold on to it but, still give her the feeling of some independence as she walked. In January 04 the Doctor gave us a RX for a wheelchair, which we finally got in August 2004 (We were using a loaner till then).

Rachelle was still doing well walking with help, but after a while she would get tried. Her wheelchair is beautiful, custom made and purple (since that has always seemed to be her color) with her name scripted on it. She got it just in time for the new school year. Then around the end of September she started having problems with her right knee, not wanting to bend it and extreme pain. I took her to about 12 doctors’ appointments and at least 5 different doctors over the next several months and none of them could tell us what was wrong. At least her neurologist gave her some pain meds to try to help.

After a few weeks she would not stand on it anymore. We were extremely frustrated! Also over the months she had been having more choking problems we had to start blending all of her foods to try to avoid choking and aspirating. Then she got very sick on New Year's Day and we ended up taking an ambulance ride to Loma Linda ER. She was having trouble breathing. After several breathing treatments and oxygen she seemed to be doing better. They took an X-ray and found that she had fluid on one lung. Later we found out it was caused from aspirating on some food while with one of the home nurses two days before. She was released to come home as long as the antibiotics were working or she would have to be admitted to the hospital. (I'm trying to keep this as short as possible so I'm not going into everything that took place, but we had some other ordeals with those Doctors during this time.)

After we took care of those things, she got better. Then after she was better she still just wanted to sleep all the time! It was hard to get her to wake up just to eat. She was having a reaction to her (second type of) pain meds. (For her knee) It took 10 days to get it out of her system; during that time she started having what looked like seizures in her sleep. Her Neurologist (the one doctor who always does his best to helps her and never gives up)! Ordered an EEG. Which showed no seizure activity at that time? Since the meds have been out of her system we haven't seen anymore episodes. The nurse explained that those pain meds can cause hallucinations which in her sleep could look like seizures. She was still having pain and now it seemed to be moving to her legs and back, so he gave her a different pain med. This one is for nerve pain. She has been back to herself every since! Two weeks now, she has been back at school, smiles and giggles most of the time. She still has a little pain when she is being transferred (bed to wheelchair, ect.).

After talking again with some other parents of children with this syndrome it seems this may be part of the regression. We are waiting for an MRI appointment to rule out anything else.

Rachelle will continue to need prayers. She is doing well for her age with this syndrome, which is an answer to prayer.

I know this letter has covered quite a bit of time, but, what ever little bit of time I've found to spare (thanks to the nurses) I've given to Todd, Josh and to our Lord in "Redemption" Ministry. Which has brought many added prayers and some very caring and encouraging friends. I think that is the one thing that has helped the most, people showing their love and concern. I know the Lord is always with us but, there have been times we have felt very alone and then we get an encouragement card or a loving phone message. We would once again like to thank each of you for your continued prayers. May the Lord bless each of you.

Another answer to prayer, our Neurologist has helped Rachelle get into a program called California Children's Services. They are the ones who got us the wheelchair and now with the Doctors help we are getting some other needed equipment, like a special shower chair and hoyer lift. I've been lifting Rachelle for about two months now, she weights about 78lbs. So it is becoming difficult and these things will save my back. Also, he is helping us get an evaluation for therapy services and a barium swallow test. So I will try to keep you up to date with these tests and things.

I am so thankful the Lord gave me such a wonderful husband and my children who have all taught me invaluable life lessons. Love is very amazing and very powerful! Have you thanked God for it today?

Love, Teresa, Todd, Josh & Rachelle

. . .  because of Calvary

©Copyright 2006 Redemption Ministries. All Rights Reserved.