How is Jack? An update after Monday’s Appointment

First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your prayer support and encouraging emails were a huge boost to us and a sweet thing to be able to show Jack as he grows through this experience. It was awesome to see so many of you write back as well as encourage us on Facebook.

If you missed the first update this past Monday, you can read it here.

Now, here’s how the last few days went. A few hours after I sent the first email on Monday, we felt the need to immediately take Jack back to the emergency room at the Children’s hospital where our specialists are. Jack’s pain had increased as the morning went by. However, x-rays revealed that he wasn’t in any emergent danger. That said, the time we spent with the doctor left us feeling like we were being asked to “live with the current state of things as the new normal” The amount of pain and discomfort Jack felt, didn’t feel like a doable new normal to us. That made us more resolved to see the new doctor the next day.

Bethany and Jack drove the 2.5 hours across the state and were met by my parents who provided much-needed support for them as they spent several hours with the doctor and his team. And we’re encouraged with the new direction. This doctor wanted to run a number of other tests on stool and blood samples from Jack (including 7! vials of blood -wow!) The team there had some other helpful advice, concerns, and direction, which confirmed that we still had options to consider and weren’t simply constrained to “live with it”.

They made it back home by about 9:45 pm that night after a long day but came home encouraged. Here’s what’s next:

•Analyze test results and confirm whether or not there is still infection present in Jack’s ‘gut’
•Treat infection if present
•See a ‘Motility’ specialist in our local area
•Circle back to see whether there is another issue taking place in Jack’s upper GI system
•If things improve for day-to-day health, Jack will see the doctor again in six months
In the meantime, Jack will finish the school year at home as he is still having quick onset bouts of occasional pain, etc..

So, will you keep praying for him? He’s dealing with some tough adjustments for someone navigating middle-school and adolescence and having to let go of things like a class field trip to nearby Universal Studios. And especially pray that we can continue to help Jack learn to do the things that he himself can do to minimize his symptoms.