A Health Update

      Cordelia is having a bit of a tough week... Early last week it was discovered that she was fighting off an infection (which, as we all know, is not great for her right now). In an effort to determine where the infection might have been, and ward off anything bigger, the Doctor's did another "tap" to empty her belly of about 4 oz. of fluid.

     Apparently last night was a pretty tough night. Cordelia is not sleeping well because she doesn't feel well and is uncomfortable (if you can imagine trying to soothe a sick baby WITHOUT cords and monitors and feeding tubes, you know how hard that is...now add the extra challenge of all of this stuff in her way making it that much harder for her to get comfortable and Cliff and Dani to even be able to soothe her).

 The doctors did LOTS of tests today...they were checking her liver and looking at her lungs, doing scans to figure out where the infection is coming from. Please pray that they would have clarity and wisdom and the right information to determine where this infection is coming from and what they need to do to clear it up.  

     She is on antibiotics now and and they seem to be helping.  The doctor's told Cliff and Dani that as long as the infection cultures don't show any considerable growth in the next day or two that she will still be a possible candidate if a liver becomes available (the concern with infection is that she would miss an available liver), but a LOT is up in the air right now.

   So, if Cliff and Dani weren't getting any sleep before this bout of illness, they're REALLY not getting much sleep now.

    So, prayer requests this week? Prayers, prayers, prayers for Cliff and Dani's strength and protection over their health. Healing for Cordelia's infection and answers to the tests.  Please pray that God would just be covering them in health and strength as they walk through this day by day.

    On another note, the bills are starting to come in, a reality that can be a bit staggering at times...like the one day in the hospital where Cordelia had an EKG and needed anastesia and it all cost $14,000. Yup, you read that right. No, I didn't add an extra "0".

    One day = $14,000!

     Now, obviously that is not every day, but as you can imagine these things all add up.

     Fortunately insurance covers the majority of that...the cost of that one day to Cliff and Dani was around $80 (crazy, huh?!).

    That said, they're beginning to have a LOT of those smaller $80 type bills coming in...they're doing pretty well right now, but it just highlights the importance of the benefit and our fundraising attempts for them.

     My sister and I are heading out to Cincinnati to visit this weekend-- we're going to try to push them out the hospital door on Saturday night to go out to dinner or just do something together as a couple that is not within the confines of hospital walls. Please pray that Cordelia stays healthy this weekend in particular to that they feel ok enough to head out for a few hours together...they need it and deserve it!

     We'll take pictures and videos and come back with an update next week.