Done With Steroids

After a long week, Mark and I decided to stop Ruby's steroid treatments. After a 14 months of trying to fight these stupid seizures, we are tired. We are tired of dumping chemicals into our daughter's body, we are tired of making her feel miserable all the time, we are tired of trying to console her after we give her an injection each morning and we are tired of not being able to leave her with anyone in fear that she will scream the whole time. She is not herself right now and we miss our content and smiley little girl. It is time to accept where we are at with Ruby and think about her quality of life. We want her to be happy and content and the steroids made her miserable. If she was seizure free we would have maybe tried to push through, but we are still seeing a few seizures each day. After lots of discussion we just feel it is not worth making her go through another two months of this, especially since the seizures came back last time anyways. So, tomorrow we start weaning; we might be weaning for the next 3-4 weeks, but at least now there is an end to this misery in sight.

Part of me feels relief about this, but another part of me feels sad that it has come to this. For the last year we have always had another medical option to try and now we are at the end of that rope. The doctors don't know what to do with her anymore. Maybe this is when God will choose to do great things in Ruby's life, when all other options have failed. God is at work though and although it has been tough, I have a peace about where we are at.

A cool God thing--About a month ago, we sent a sample of Ruby's blood in to have some nutrigenetic testing done (this is part of the holistic health stuff I have mentioned before). It is hard to explain quickly, but basically we are putting her on a protocol that is supposed to help neurological inflammation, along with other things. The doctor we are working with tests for genetic mutations in kids and then sets up supplement and nutrition plans to help your body work around the mutations you might have. I wasn't expecting these results for at least another month! The timing was perfect. Just as we had to give up hope that the steroids would work for Ruby, God opened another door and helped us continue on this path of holistic health. We are excited at the possibilities that has to help Ruby reach her full potential.

God is good and although I don't always know what He is doing, He is at work and He knows what He is doing. He is holding us in His almighty hands; we are His servants and we humbly surrender to His will (that is easier said then done!)

Thanks again for your prayers. We are blessed to be a part of a community of believers that have been incredibly supportive through this ongoing journey.