Seeing the pattern from below

Today Kendra and I had to return to WRAMC for what we thought was going to be a routine cystoscopy.  This is when they pass an optic scope through the urethra to get a closer look at the bladder.  We weren't really expecting anything out of the ordinary.

Kendra has a stoma, which is an artificial opening in her abdomen thru which she uses a catheter to empty her bladder.  This was placed in 97-98 time frame when the surgeons also enlarged her bladder through augmentation with lower bowel material.  While the augmentation allows her to hold urine for a longer period of time, it also took away any chance that Kendra would be able to empty her bladder completely by muscle manipulation (for lack of better terminology). The stoma was created because of the trauma she had experienced up to that point.  The idea of learning to cath through her urethra was more than she was willing to entertain.

Now that Kendra is 18, she wants a more "normal" appearance to her belly.  We started this whole thing to explore what options she might have. Another concern that we've been made aware of since coming back to this area is that the surgeons are discovering that a few patients with an augmentation more than 10 years old are developing bladder cancer.  They are now routinely checking the bladder for any "abnormal" growths.

So.. the cystoscopy today was to do a routine check for abnormal growths and to allow the doctor to see if the urethra was able to pass a catheter for voiding. While doing the exam, she discovered that it would indeed be possible for Kendra to void using a urethral catheter... that was the good news.   

The rest of the news is rather incomplete and I can't say that it's good, but it is fixable.  Kendra has 6-8 very large bladder stones.  These can form when there is too much mucus present in the bladder. Most stones are avoided by having patients irrigate the bladder to help remove excess mucus (this is due to the bowel material that is present).  Kendra has long been neglecting her flushes.  I guess we should have been a bit more forceful over the whole thing, but you know.as with any teenager, you can lead them to saline, but you can't make them flush.. ARGH!

Also, Kendra has vaginal stenosis, which is a severe tightening of the vaginal opening. In laymans terms, at the present time, she can not, should not, could not have sexual intercourse without severe physical repercussions.  This was a total and unexpected surprise. But it is fixable.

There have been so many times in our lives that in hindsight I can see the touch of God's grace on circumstances.  Knowing from a very young age that I would have a special child prepared me for the day he/she might enter. Meeting Paul and knowing that this was the man I was supposed to share this life with. The delay we faced in having children, made our marriage so much stronger when Kendra was finally born. In all these things, I can see now the pattern of the Master Weaver.

And again I see that same providential pattern showing up in our lives.  Paul has applied for this school here in Maryland every single year since he had the prerequesite flight hours in to be competitive for a slot.  That's an application faithfully submitted yearly for 10 years. Because of his flight qualifications (Apache) this is the ONLY possible assignment that he could have that would put us this close to Walter Reed. And when should this assignment come through but when it could most benefit Kendra as she is approaching adulthood!

Have goosebumps yet?  Because I surely did when God spoke to my heart and comforted me this afternoon.  All the fears and concerns I had when first hearing the news I have now laid at His feet.  He is so good and He knows best the plans that He has made for us.   I am so incredibly humbled and so incredibly thankful.

There is still much to figure out, but at least we are now aware of the problems and we can begin to slowly build a plan.  The next step is an MRI of Kendra's pelvic region so the surgeons can have a better idea of what "all is going on down there."