2014 PIF Recipient

thanks guys..

Sorry to hear about your daughters surgery, dam thats scary. Day 5 back to normal? Unreal! Happy to hear shes safe!

Great to Hailey smiling again.  Bring lots of joy to my heart. 

Hey guys,

Hope everyone is well. Its been a few weeks since Ive checked in, so I thought Id do so. First I want to say THANK YOU for all the great support. I dont have any family on my side other then my mom, and shes on the other side of the country, so it feels nice to have the support.

Some good news is my wife found a new job, really close to home shortly after we were released from Lucille Packard PICU. Even better she loves it.

As for Hailey, shes doing great! We just had a pulmonology appointment yesterday up at Lucille Packard again, and her lungs were crystal clear, finally. This was a 1st. Shes been working really hard with all her breathing exercises, she earned it. They have confirmed asthma and allergies. So the docs have been working with us to keep it from flaring up. We received asthma education and shes currently on Singular once a day, Albuterol as needed and flovent 2 puffs twice a day with the spacer. They will be adjusting this over the next few weeks and or through her next cold or two. Her oxygen levels are the best they have been since september of last year! Her tonsils are now small, they were huge for months. The true test will be how she handles her next cold.

Looking back, the Lucille Packard doctors think she should have been hospitalized Christmas day when she was down for the count with what was diagnosed as walking pneumonia. Lucille Packard wasn't involved then, but they suspect it wasn't just walking pneumonia

Anyway things are going well, we watch her closely for any signs of asthma and keep her eating healthy. We do have allergy testing coming up next, so we should be able to reveal more then.

The doctors and nurses up at Lucille Packard are top notch! We paid the PICU a visit yesterday and thanked them all with a small gift and card. They were thrilled to see us, as most kids they help, they never see again. Sort of. strange feeling going back in there, very emotional too see the people who saved her life..Good people.

Been chatting with Jim, and yes, the massive wave of bills is moving in, trying to make sense of it all. Its a bit overwhelming. I knew the many doctor visits and two different hospital stays would be big, but I was blown away by what it cost to take a ambulance ride. Working with Stanford, they may cover some things, we shall see. Still trying to figure it all out..

Again, thank you all. It means so much to us, its been a rough few years here at our pad. We love you all for the phone calls, cards, donations, support and most of all being a friend.

Ill log on more and check in, been so busy with work and doc appts, research, bills, work and just being down right tired. Im looking forward to some diving or fishing, its been way too long. I really wish we could make Albion.

Grandma bought Hailey aquarium passes, we have 2 guest passes good all year long, we like to offer them to anyone who would like to use them, anytime..


On a side note, wondering what type of flooring you have in your home if you have a child with asthma, or even adult asthma?

THANK YOU ALL!

Glad to hear all is going well!  My niece had asthma at her age as well.  The good news is they often grow out of it.She now either no longer has asthma, or it has at least been unnoticeable for the past few years.  Diet makes a huge difference.  If she was on it before, get her off of all the processed foods you can.  My sister also gave her fish oil, which seemed to help reduce the amount and severity of the attacks. 

Allergies, same deal, eat healthy.  Daily doses of locally grown honey also is good.  Do you know what she is allergic to?

Thats good to hear!

yeah she eats well, I mean she has a candy here and there, or an ice cream, but for the most part she eats fruits and veggies, plain pasta, nuts, humus, brown rice and such, hard boiled eggs. She eats very little meat and pretty much drinks water, other then the occasional milk with or without cereal. Ive been trying to get her to do the honey thing, she wont. I cook dinner every night for the family. She used to love salmon as a toddler, but quit eating it. I have blood sugar issues, so we try to be very careful.

Allergy testing is coming up real soon! I have horrible seasonal allergies.

Thank you for the advice!

My son fights allergies and has asthmatic attacks when he gets a cold and his lungs are already stressed.  Allergies include nuts, eggs, and cats.  As we had cats before he was born, we did a full house cleanse.  Full house washdown including steam treaments of pretty much everything (heat neutralizes the proteins he is allergic too) as well as a cleaning of the ductwork (big ass vacuum thingy) plus an electrostatic filter on the heater/ac unit.  It's a constant battle, but you get used to it (and the house stays clean!).  He is doing much much better these days.  Finding out what she is allergic to is step 1, then you can figure out how to clean it out and keep it clean.  You know how to reach me if you want more feedback!

-Allen

Great report, glad she is getting back to her "old" self. Local Honey can keep you from having to take any allergy med, but it doesn't work for everybody. I take 2 tea spoons and it works great for me, but not my daughter. It also takes a couple weeks to really start working. One way to try it is on toast, also to mix with peanut butter.

Pork,

glad to hear your lil charmer is doing well.  If you can squeeze it in, let's do lunch sometime soon in scruz. 

Martin

Awesome news!

Thanks for keeping us updated, Porky!

This is great news!!!!

good to read she is getting better.

Glad to hear things are improving for Hailey, keep up the positive attitude and take care of yourself also. 

Pork,

glad to hear your lil charmer is doing well.  If you can squeeze it in, let's do lunch sometime soon in scruz. 



Martin

Martin, send your number again.

Little update.

Its been a long few weeks with lots of blood draws and allergy testing.

Her allergies are mainly to grasses and trees, like me.

No allergy to pet dander or dust mites so that good.

Her CH50  (compliment) came back low, this compliment is part of the immune system,  as any parent would be, Ive been literally worried sick. Im told this is very rare and to retest, so we drew more blood and are retesting, just waiting for good news to come back I hope.

During this time shes had a fever, which again, worried us. It finally broke after a few days. Turns out now she has the "hand, foot and mouth" virus that was going around the preschool. Her little feet,hands and mouth have painful blisters. Another missed week of school. She also has a slight crackle in the lung. Over all she is in good spirits though, just misses school.

Back to the doc again today for a follow up and hopefully all of her lab results.

Then back up to Stanford for a pulmonology follow up.

 

Thanks Brent for the update. I hope that the second test comes back more positive. She needs a good break. Love you guys, Craig