Praying for Remission by Prograf

Luke met with the pediatrician Tuesday, and the nephrologist yesterday. The pediatrician prescribed another rounds of antibiotics for an ear infection that Luke has been fighting since before he went into the hospital on New Year's Eve. It had dawned on me Monday night that Luke could not hear me everytime I said something. At one point I found him to be studying my face and then looking around him as if to get some clues as to what I was saying. Then replied with an answer that had nothing to do with my question. I asked the pediatrician if this could be from the ear infection and she said that his middle ear is so inflamed that it is pretty much closed, and the ear drum is bulging. So, in other words, Luke is in pain, and not hearing so well. Hopefully the antibiotics will clear this up once and for all and no other action will need to be taken.

The nephrologist appointment went well. Luke is going to continue his Prograf, and we are hoping that this alone will put him back into remission. The nephrologist seems to think that another round of prednisone might be needed. This is the steroid that made Luke blow up to almost twice his size, have horrible mood swings, and a very hard time sleeping. And, let's not forget it did nothing to help him!!! The neph said that some kids are resistant at first, but if they try again at an older age they might respond. Another reason that this might be worth trying is that when Prednisone works for a child it not only puts them into remission, but often heals them for good. While Prograf has put Luke into remission in the past (and I am confident that it will again) it works like a band aid and once Luke is off the Prograf he relapses right away. So the plan is to keep up with the Prograf for three to four weeks to see if it will once again put him into remission. If this doesn't work we will consider the steroid again. Not something I even want to start thinking about right now!!!

The pictures are of the kids in their Halloween costumes. I figure since I didn't write for a year that I could highlight some of the great times we had in the past year.