Prayers for Isabella Joy: Medications Galore

Please keep Izzy in your prayers tonight and tomorrow. She is having her first treatment of Rituximab, which is a type of chemo. This is supposed to deplete the B cells that have created all of the havoc in her brain causing her OMS symptoms. She will have 4 weekly treatments starting tomorrow for the next 4 Thursdays, they are all day infusions through an IV at the hospital. There are potentially dangerous reactions that can happen, so please pray that her body will respond well to the medication. Pray that her side effects will be minimal, and that she will be comfortable throughout the day. She is also on steroids this week, which is definitely no picnic. She also had her IVIG infusion at the hospital on Monday, so this has been a rough week for her. She did awesome with the IVIG, she didn't have any problems the day of the treatment and she has handled the side effects like a trooper, although the steroids are making her feel pretty crummy right now.

Our prayer is that Izzy's OMS will be completely in remission by the end of February. Her neurologist came to see her at the clinic on Monday and he was very happy with the remarkable progress she's made. He commented that her vocabulary and cognitive skills are even more advanced than his own 2 1/2 year old daughter who he thought was developmentally ahead for her age. Izzy's agility and motor skills are great now too, so the treatments have definitely been a success so far. Our girl is climbing all over the furniture like a little monkey and running like a pro, when a month ago she couldn't walk or even stand up. She has recently started putting together full sentences, she has learned her colors and shapes and can name almost any animal that you show her a picture of! (maybe I'm bragging about our little smarty pants just a tad bit). We are feeling very blessed because I know there are a lot of families struggling with OMS whose kids don't respond to the medications like Izzy has. Some take months or even years before they are able to function normally again, some stop talking completely or continue to have problems walking. All of the medications Izzy has already had are designed to treat her symptoms, the Rituximab that she is starting tomorrow is designed to kill the root of the problems, the B cells that don't belong in her body. PLEASE pray that this works. She will need to continue to have monthly steroids and IVIG treatments for the next year, but we hope that she will only need one round of chemo.

Of the many blessings that we have seen through this ordeal, one that God is making very clear to me right now is that this time in my daughters' lives is so precious. I don't know how much time I've wasted doing unimportant things around the house, worrying about messes and laundry, being too glued to my phone or laptop, getting ready for the next day etc...It is so clear that when I am with my kids, I need to be with them mentally and stop multi-tasking. People always say kids grow up too fast, it's easy to take that for granted but it is too true. I'm just so thankful that God is showing me how to slow down and make the time to play together while I still can.

Please keep praying for the miracles to continue. God is so good, all the time.