Forums · Where angels walk
Hi everyone,
I've been off the board for the last few weeks and I wanted to let everyone know what has been going on...
About three weeks ago, Brianna started running a high fever. We took her to the doctor a few days later and she was diagnosed with strep throat and given antibiotics. Rather than getting better, she seemed to get worse. Two doctor's visits and one ER trip later, her little mouth broke out in horrible sores. I laid her down for a nap and when I checked on her an hour later, my baby was lying in a pool of blood.
I grabbed her and met James at his office and we rushed to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, about 150 miles from our home. Texas Children's Hospital is one of the top ranked facilities of its kind in the U.S. This is where you take your child when you know there is really a problem. In the last few weeks, I have watched a parade of misery and triumph going in and out of those buildings.
Brianna was examined and immediately admitted. After a few hours, the doctor's gave us a preliminary diagnosis: a condition known as ITP, which is a severe reaction to a virus that causes antibodies to attack platelets. The condition can cause severe bruising, tiny blood marks on the skin that resemble freckles and even internal bleeding.
Several days passed and Brianna's platelet count fluctuated. She was not responding to treatment. At that point, we heard the words that strike fear into any parent's heart: leukemia.
To say we were devastated is an understatment. I was barely functioning during the days leading up to her testing. The night before Brianna was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy to determine whether or not she had the disease, I slept fitfully on the sofa bed in her room but I remember having a dream about an elderly African American gentleman looking into the door to the room and bowing his head silently. I thought nothing more of the dream.
Brianna was taken into the surgery room, the proceedure took about an hour total. James and I returned to the room with various family members to await the results. After spending a few excrutiating hours, James decided to go down to the food court to get some drinks for us. Leaving the elevator, he stepped aside for an elderly African American man dressed a little shabbily in a white shirt, suspenders and khakis. The old fellow looked James in the eye and said, "God bless you, Mr. ******." James was very puzzled as to who the man could have been and returned to the room. He mentioned the incident to me to see if I knew of anyone who could have matched the description and I was at a loss, I could not imagine anyone down there knowing us by name.
Finally the doctor came in. Our baby did not have leukemia. This was the best birthday present I have ever received. Brianna does have ITP, a condition that will go away within a year. It isn't a pleasant condition, but it sure beat the alternative.
That afternoon, I called my biological father who had left the hospital the day before and told him about James strange encounter on the elevator. In a strained voice, he said, "Wait, ask James if the man was wearing a white shirt, dirty khakis and suspenders." James confirmed that was indeed what the old fellow had on.
My father then told me what had happened to him upon leaving the hospital. He had just pulled out onto the main street in front of the building and got caught by a traffic light. He had rolled down his windows to cool down his truck in the 90 degree heat. An old gentleman approached his vehicle and his first thought was "Great, a beggar..." The old man came to his window, smiled kindly, looked him in the eye and said, "God bless you , sir."
Was this a coincidence? Was it an angel? A spirit guide? Have we just watched "Bruce Allmighty" one too many times? I don't have the answer, but I'd like to think a Higher Power was at work.
I mentioned the story to a young doctor who was on the floor and he chuckled and jokingly commented "Yeah, we hire those folks...", but I could tell it made him think a little. I mentioned it to another relative who had once worked in the Medical Center; she choked up and told me that she had often heard similar stories during the time she worked there and that something other than just doctors and nurses walked the halls in the facilities that make up Houston's Medical Center complex. Miracles occured there every day.
I can't begin to tell anyone how traumatic these past few weeks have been for us. However, Brianna is on the mend. We are out of the hospital, but she will return to the hematologist weekly for a while until her platelet levels stabilize. Looking at her, you would never imagine anything to be wrong. She still has some bruising from all the blood that was taken for testing, but other than that, she looks fine and is just as active as always.
Our mystery man is a little puzzle that will likely never be solved; but I believe during those nights prior to her biopsy when I was praying so hard for some sign that my little girl would be okay, someone somewhere was listening and sent a messenger. Outside the lobby, where I would occasionally sit and gather my thoughts, there was a sign : "Miracles in the making." Our family received one. =)
I've been off the board for the last few weeks and I wanted to let everyone know what has been going on...
About three weeks ago, Brianna started running a high fever. We took her to the doctor a few days later and she was diagnosed with strep throat and given antibiotics. Rather than getting better, she seemed to get worse. Two doctor's visits and one ER trip later, her little mouth broke out in horrible sores. I laid her down for a nap and when I checked on her an hour later, my baby was lying in a pool of blood.
I grabbed her and met James at his office and we rushed to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, about 150 miles from our home. Texas Children's Hospital is one of the top ranked facilities of its kind in the U.S. This is where you take your child when you know there is really a problem. In the last few weeks, I have watched a parade of misery and triumph going in and out of those buildings.
Brianna was examined and immediately admitted. After a few hours, the doctor's gave us a preliminary diagnosis: a condition known as ITP, which is a severe reaction to a virus that causes antibodies to attack platelets. The condition can cause severe bruising, tiny blood marks on the skin that resemble freckles and even internal bleeding.
Several days passed and Brianna's platelet count fluctuated. She was not responding to treatment. At that point, we heard the words that strike fear into any parent's heart: leukemia.
To say we were devastated is an understatment. I was barely functioning during the days leading up to her testing. The night before Brianna was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy to determine whether or not she had the disease, I slept fitfully on the sofa bed in her room but I remember having a dream about an elderly African American gentleman looking into the door to the room and bowing his head silently. I thought nothing more of the dream.
Brianna was taken into the surgery room, the proceedure took about an hour total. James and I returned to the room with various family members to await the results. After spending a few excrutiating hours, James decided to go down to the food court to get some drinks for us. Leaving the elevator, he stepped aside for an elderly African American man dressed a little shabbily in a white shirt, suspenders and khakis. The old fellow looked James in the eye and said, "God bless you, Mr. ******." James was very puzzled as to who the man could have been and returned to the room. He mentioned the incident to me to see if I knew of anyone who could have matched the description and I was at a loss, I could not imagine anyone down there knowing us by name.
Finally the doctor came in. Our baby did not have leukemia. This was the best birthday present I have ever received. Brianna does have ITP, a condition that will go away within a year. It isn't a pleasant condition, but it sure beat the alternative.
That afternoon, I called my biological father who had left the hospital the day before and told him about James strange encounter on the elevator. In a strained voice, he said, "Wait, ask James if the man was wearing a white shirt, dirty khakis and suspenders." James confirmed that was indeed what the old fellow had on.
My father then told me what had happened to him upon leaving the hospital. He had just pulled out onto the main street in front of the building and got caught by a traffic light. He had rolled down his windows to cool down his truck in the 90 degree heat. An old gentleman approached his vehicle and his first thought was "Great, a beggar..." The old man came to his window, smiled kindly, looked him in the eye and said, "God bless you , sir."
Was this a coincidence? Was it an angel? A spirit guide? Have we just watched "Bruce Allmighty" one too many times? I don't have the answer, but I'd like to think a Higher Power was at work.
I mentioned the story to a young doctor who was on the floor and he chuckled and jokingly commented "Yeah, we hire those folks...", but I could tell it made him think a little. I mentioned it to another relative who had once worked in the Medical Center; she choked up and told me that she had often heard similar stories during the time she worked there and that something other than just doctors and nurses walked the halls in the facilities that make up Houston's Medical Center complex. Miracles occured there every day.
I can't begin to tell anyone how traumatic these past few weeks have been for us. However, Brianna is on the mend. We are out of the hospital, but she will return to the hematologist weekly for a while until her platelet levels stabilize. Looking at her, you would never imagine anything to be wrong. She still has some bruising from all the blood that was taken for testing, but other than that, she looks fine and is just as active as always.
Our mystery man is a little puzzle that will likely never be solved; but I believe during those nights prior to her biopsy when I was praying so hard for some sign that my little girl would be okay, someone somewhere was listening and sent a messenger. Outside the lobby, where I would occasionally sit and gather my thoughts, there was a sign : "Miracles in the making." Our family received one. =)
Oh Carrie...I am sorry to hear about your little girl...but I am so glad everything is getting better for you. I do believe in angels and miracles and it does sound like your family received a wonderful miracle...I will be praying for you and your family everyday...and I believe everything is gonna work out! May God Bless You and Brianna through all of this....
Katt
Katt
WOW that was scary.
I'm so very glad Brianna is doing better.
I'm glad you and James are doing so well with this.
I was afraid through most of your story that you were going to tell us something awful about Brianna. What she has is bad enough but I was afraid it was going to be worse.
Yeah, he could be some sort of angel. Or just the garden variety human angel who spends some of his time helping out people in little ways. But knowing your last name is really thought provoking. There might be a logical explanation but it would have to be a pretty darn good one.
I'll be praying for you three. White light. Good vibes. Whatever you want to call it. Be well.
[ October 18, 2006, 10:24 AM: Message edited by: nakis ]
I'm so very glad Brianna is doing better.
I'm glad you and James are doing so well with this.
I was afraid through most of your story that you were going to tell us something awful about Brianna. What she has is bad enough but I was afraid it was going to be worse.
Yeah, he could be some sort of angel. Or just the garden variety human angel who spends some of his time helping out people in little ways. But knowing your last name is really thought provoking. There might be a logical explanation but it would have to be a pretty darn good one.
I'll be praying for you three. White light. Good vibes. Whatever you want to call it. Be well.
[ October 18, 2006, 10:24 AM: Message edited by: nakis ]
*wiping away a tear*
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful story with us. I am glad that your daughter is doing well.
As for your mysterious visitor, I am not sure if he was an angel... but I believe he was definitely a loving spirit.. the label doesn't much matter. *soft warm smile* ...
It is so good to be reminded that such wonderous things happen especially in places such as that where so much negative can be found.. perhaps these things serve to balance each other out somehow....
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful story with us. I am glad that your daughter is doing well.
As for your mysterious visitor, I am not sure if he was an angel... but I believe he was definitely a loving spirit.. the label doesn't much matter. *soft warm smile* ...
It is so good to be reminded that such wonderous things happen especially in places such as that where so much negative can be found.. perhaps these things serve to balance each other out somehow....
Just wanted to update everyone -- Brianna had her first post-hospital doctor's visit with the hematologist. They did the blood work on her and we waited several hours for the doctor to see us.
Brianna's doctor is a pretty difficult fellow to read; however, when I first caught a glance of him he seemed to have a bounce in his step that I had not seen before.
He came in the room grinning and asking how she was doing at home. I commented that she seemed to be doing great, her bruises and skin discolorations had all but faded, her appetite was good and she was quite active. He smiled and said, "You don't know her latest platelet numbers, do you?" I shook my head no.
When we left the hospital, her platelet count was 16,000. 140,000-150,000 is normal. Her count today skyrocketed to 99,000.
We still have a ways to go, but this was an incredible gain and we are all walking on air. She'll go next week to our family doctor to be tested and the following week back to the hematologist.
Our family is so very thankful for all of the kind thoughts, prayers and white light that have been sent our way. Brianna is a very special little person. Everywhere we go, people stop us about her. She is incredibly outgoing, bright, funny and beautiful.
Going through something like this puts things in perspective for a person. I no longer get aggravated stepping on Lincoln Logs on my way to the bathroom, finding an apple core hidden in her clean laundry or even the nightly battle for just "one more story" or "one more episode of SpongeBob." We are just so very thankful to have this wonderful little girl who is our daughter. =)
Brianna's doctor is a pretty difficult fellow to read; however, when I first caught a glance of him he seemed to have a bounce in his step that I had not seen before.
He came in the room grinning and asking how she was doing at home. I commented that she seemed to be doing great, her bruises and skin discolorations had all but faded, her appetite was good and she was quite active. He smiled and said, "You don't know her latest platelet numbers, do you?" I shook my head no.
When we left the hospital, her platelet count was 16,000. 140,000-150,000 is normal. Her count today skyrocketed to 99,000.
We still have a ways to go, but this was an incredible gain and we are all walking on air. She'll go next week to our family doctor to be tested and the following week back to the hematologist.
Our family is so very thankful for all of the kind thoughts, prayers and white light that have been sent our way. Brianna is a very special little person. Everywhere we go, people stop us about her. She is incredibly outgoing, bright, funny and beautiful.
Going through something like this puts things in perspective for a person. I no longer get aggravated stepping on Lincoln Logs on my way to the bathroom, finding an apple core hidden in her clean laundry or even the nightly battle for just "one more story" or "one more episode of SpongeBob." We are just so very thankful to have this wonderful little girl who is our daughter. =)
That's wonderful news. I'm sure she'll be right as rain in no time.
Yeah, doctors are almost as hard to understand as women. =) (slap) (owww) =)
When parents complain about this or that, about what their child does, how they're running around so much, etc,... I often remind them that as bad as that can be sometimes, it's still better than when they are sick.
It's so hard to be a parent. I still think it's the most important job in the world.
Yeah, doctors are almost as hard to understand as women. =) (slap) (owww) =)
When parents complain about this or that, about what their child does, how they're running around so much, etc,... I often remind them that as bad as that can be sometimes, it's still better than when they are sick.
It's so hard to be a parent. I still think it's the most important job in the world.
I am sorry Carrie to hear about your little girls medical problems.I am glad to hear things are getting alittle better with her health.I also believe in Angels.I shall say prayers for Brianna and your entire family.I hope things keep getting better and she keeps improving with her health issues..Sending white postive energy for you all.Take care of yourselves.
Carrie,
You know we've already talked about Brianna's illness, etc.
But reading this post about the stranger who knew your name and then Brianna's blood platlet count skyrocketting so soon afterward certainly gives me pause! Maybe that sign you saw in the hospital is right.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Give Brianna my love & hugs~
xoxo,
Kell
You know we've already talked about Brianna's illness, etc.
But reading this post about the stranger who knew your name and then Brianna's blood platlet count skyrocketting so soon afterward certainly gives me pause! Maybe that sign you saw in the hospital is right.
Give Brianna my love & hugs~
xoxo,
Kell
![[Jump]](graemlins/jump.gif)
We took Brianna back last Wednesday to the doctor and her platelet count was up to 220,000!!! This is in the middle of the "normal" range and is quite good, especially considering when she was hospitalized, the count was 2,000.
ITP is an odd disorder, it tends to get worse before it gets better, which it certainly did in her case. At first, she did not respond to treatment, which had everyone really concernced.
Part of the treatment of ITP is steroids, which I wasn't too wild about having her on; but, when you have a little one that ill, anything that makes them better is fine and dandy. Brianna is normally a very well behaved munchkin, but taking this stuff -- uhm, instead of her witch costume this Halloween I've considered dressing her in horns and a tail. The child will argue with a sign post, throw temper tantrums, etc...
With her platelet count doing so well, we've been able to reduce the amount of steroids and I see signs of my normally delightful little girl peeking through, which is a great relief for me! Even with the temper tantrums, I was just glad that she was able to throw her little hissy fits rather than the alternative of what might have been.
This Thanksgiving, we're going to northern Arkansas to visit my Dad. Our family has a lot of things this year to be very thankful for. =)
ITP is an odd disorder, it tends to get worse before it gets better, which it certainly did in her case. At first, she did not respond to treatment, which had everyone really concernced.
Part of the treatment of ITP is steroids, which I wasn't too wild about having her on; but, when you have a little one that ill, anything that makes them better is fine and dandy. Brianna is normally a very well behaved munchkin, but taking this stuff -- uhm, instead of her witch costume this Halloween I've considered dressing her in horns and a tail. The child will argue with a sign post, throw temper tantrums, etc...
With her platelet count doing so well, we've been able to reduce the amount of steroids and I see signs of my normally delightful little girl peeking through, which is a great relief for me! Even with the temper tantrums, I was just glad that she was able to throw her little hissy fits rather than the alternative of what might have been.
This Thanksgiving, we're going to northern Arkansas to visit my Dad. Our family has a lot of things this year to be very thankful for. =)
Carrie, that is wonderful to hear that Brianna is doing better...I am so glad to hear it! I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and a great visiti with your dad for Thanksgiving...I will continue to keep you, your family, and Brianna in my thoughts as the medicine intake is reduced and she gets back to being a normal little girl!
God Bless You All!
Katt
God Bless You All!
Katt
Carrie, I am so glad to hear that Brianna is doing so well. What a relief!!!
I can't say if the man who spoke to James and your Father was an angel, but I have to agree with Starlight, a loving spirit indeed! I find it very unusual that the same man would speak to James, knowing his last name, and approach your Father as he was leaving. A coincidence? No, I'd have to say, someone was looking out for you all that day.
Still keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers! Much love to you all!
Trin
I can't say if the man who spoke to James and your Father was an angel, but I have to agree with Starlight, a loving spirit indeed! I find it very unusual that the same man would speak to James, knowing his last name, and approach your Father as he was leaving. A coincidence? No, I'd have to say, someone was looking out for you all that day.
Still keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers! Much love to you all!
Trin