OnPrincipleBlog

Hey all,

Here’s the latest in the on-going Chronicles of Savanna. Yes, that’s right - ongoing.

First, here’s a recap to remind you as to where we are in this story:

1. Savanna, while always small for her age (below the charts for weight), her weight gain through her first year was consistently running in parallel with what would be expected.

2. Her Doctor carefully watched this weight progression with the following guidelines:
1. Even if Savanna is under weight, as long as she is progressing in parallel with the charts, all is well - relative to her.
2. If she dips below this parallel progression, due to her already low weight, she would assign Savanna to a pediatric weight specialist.

3. About 6 months ago, Savanna evidenced a significant drop in weight.

4. First visit to the specialist resulted only in a prescription to reduce water intake, replace it with whole milk (higher in calories/fat) and to supplement this milk with 2 packs of “Carnation Instant Breakfast” each day.

5. This regime was followed regularly for 6 weeks. Upon the second visit it was discovered that Savanna had grown in length, but had actually DROPPED in weight - after a higher calorie diet.

6. A few more visits resulted in an x-ray which revealed a stunning degree of constipation. Such constipation in children is not necessarily indicative of any serious issues, but when combined with the on-going weight issues, it seemed clear something must be causing the problems. Fortunately, these Doctors are very concerned not to press for invasive testing until absolutely necessary, so we went for several less invasive tests.

7. We cleared the constipation - confirmed through a Barium test. They took blood and found no issues with human growth hormone, iron levels or other indicators. We tested for cystic fibrosis, and it was returned negative. One test was performed for Hirschbrung’s Disease. It wasn’t a conclusive test, but is the only non-invasive one - negative as well. Prescription: now that constipation is lessoned, keep up the high calorie diet and see what happens.

That was about 2 months ago. Savanna had another visit this week. The verdict???

1. She has gained growth in length - again. She’s low on the charts, but she is on the charts! Yeah!!!
2. After 2 more months, cleared of most constipation, with consistently high-calorie supplementation - Savanna gained. . .

Drum roll . . . .

4 ounces!

Clearly, not an encouraging finding. Yet, Savanna is completely healthy and wins the hearts of all the Doctors and staff with her smiling, playful personality.

At this point, the Doctors - specialists for 25 years in pediatric weight issues - just laughed with us and summarized, “Well, she really does still have us stumped doesn’t she!?!”

At this point, there are 2 directions to head:

1. Focused, invasive testing
2. Continued calorie supplementation

Since she is currently so healthy, the Doctors have opted for Option B. So, armed with a few new ways to stuff extra calories into our little Tinker Bell, we returned home.

We are endlessly thankful for your prayers and support. Savanna continues to warm our home with her personality and impress us with her development in all other areas - Amy’s potty training her this week, with incredible success!

On Principle,

CBass

Update:

Amy’s Grandfather Petersen handles a skilled pen. Here’s a fun poem he dittied this afternoon:

And here’s the long awaited update on Savanna:

We took her to Children’s Hospital on Monday for a full complement of Barium tests. Upon arriving, the nurse warned us that Savanna would absolutely cry, scream and holler during the Barium intake and initial fluoroscope tests.

Nope.

Savanna loved the Barium (she asked for more during one of the breaks in testing), laid still and was obedient during the tests (3 hrs of testing total, though with numerous breaks) and absolutely LOVED the purple hospital gown (a beautiful purple number with open back - I’m sure we can get you one too).

In fact, the only tears came when we cruelly forced her to separate from the gown for the trip home. . .

The results have been researched and . . .

there are no narrowing or “kinks” in her intestinal track. This is WONDERFUL news, but it does leave the Dr’s in a continued state of puzzlement.

At this point, we will leave her on a reduced dose of laxative to ensure no further blockages set in. We will stuff her full of high calorie foods and see the Docs again in one month. If she gains weight and shows some other positive signs, we will continue on this regimen for the indefinite future (possibly the next few years). If she doesn’t gain weight, it may be time to escalate to a pediatric gastroenterologist for more testing (probably invasive testing).

We can’t thank you enough for your prayers, love, support and shows of concern. We are encouraged by our current state and look forward to more positive reports in the future. If you feel so led during this next month, please keep Savanna in your prayers.

Many, many thanks!

The Basses

Hi everyone, this is Amy writing. Christian waxes more eloquently but I wanted to personally thank all of our friends and family for their prayers, thoughts, emails and words of encouragement. It has been incredible knowing that we have so much support. As a mother, it’s never easy to see your kids go through things, but I must say that because of the support of my incredible husband and my family, I’m actually doing well. I also feel so blessed to have been directed to these particular specialists. The way they have treated Savanna and related with us has been a true blessing.

The last time Christian updated his blog we had visited the hospital to have a repeat x-ray and a sweat test for Cystic Fibrosis.

I’m pleased to announce that the sweat test came back negative. Thank the Lord she does not have CF.

We were quite confident that she didn’t but the doctors wanted to rule it out as some of her symptoms did fall under this disease. The x-ray, which last time had shown excess stool in her system, is still showing moderate stool. This was a little baffling to me knowing how much laundry and how many diapers we have changed over the last couple weeks. Because of the excess stool as well as gas in the belly, they would like to run an upper-GI x-ray on Monday. This will require her drinking barium so that they can get a detailed picture of her intestine. The Dr’s best speculation is that there may be a narrowing somewhere in the intestine which may be causing the problems.

Christian and I are encouraged that they are getting to the bottom of it and grateful that the doctors are staying on top of it. We would appreciate your prayers for Monday. My prayer is that this test will solve the mysteries and that the Lord will either heal or lead the doctors directly to the problem so that it can be solved and we can move on. Although the test is considered noninvasive I would specifically ask for prayers that I wouldn’t be too anxious and that Savanna would be at peace. The radiology staff has been very wonderful with Savanna but it’s still so hard to see a little fear in her eyes as she’s not quite sure what’s going on. Having Christian there is always so reassuring for both Savanna and I and we’re grateful that his work schedule has made it possible for him to be at all of the hospital visits.

We’ll keep you posted as soon as we have more information. We love you and cannot thank you enough for all of your support. I am so confident that the Lord’s hand is on this situation and even though I have moments of anxiousness, I’m actually at peace and know that Savanna is in the Lord’s hands. She’s the most happy, bubbly little person and the frequent hospital visits have done nothing to alter her happy little self and we pray that it remains so.

Full of gratitude,
Amy

Friends and Family,

Wasn’t that the name of the old “MCI” calling plan? Does anyone remember MCI anymore?? Well, that’s just a memory lane down which we don’t need to go.

This update is primarily a request for prayer, but, heck, I’ll never pass an opportunity to brag on my family either.

Prayer Request:

Our middle daughter, Savanna, (now 21 months) is just on of the cutest little people you’ll ever meet. The issue is that she’s just that, one of the littlest people for her age you’ll ever meet. In fact, on the percentage weight charts she registers an official NULL for her age. Until a few months ago, she was holding a steady parallel progression to the chart, though way below the bottom ranking. Our Dr’s felt this at least indicated she was growing in healthy, proportional manner, even if inexplicably small. Around teething time, her weight dropped. The drop wasn’t significant, about 1 - 2 pounds, but when you are 18 months and 16 lbs (average kids are 20 lbs at 12 months), the Dr’s wanted some specialists to get involved.

After numerous trips to Children’s Hospital and even more numerous lab tests the growth specialists (Dr’s specializing in pediatric growth for over 20 years) were completely stumped - until the x-ray. She eats larger portions than does her 3.5 yr old sister, is constantly happy and complains of no stomach aches. So we and the specialists were very surprised to learn that our little Savanna has quite a large back up in her bowel track. We’ve had her on a mild, and very common, child laxative for 6 months or more. But due to her complete lack of the normal symptoms, no one suspected anything. The current theory is that the back-up is causing stool to harden - which is prohibiting her body from absorbing nutrients - which is stunting her physical growth.

So, big deal right? Why the prayer request? Well, now that we’ve engaged in an intensive spike in laxative and laundry, the attention turns to find out the reason for the back-up. These reasons run the gambit from serious to benign and are too numerous to get into at this time. For example, in addition to some x-ray work today Savanna will also underwent a non-invasive Cystic Fibrosis test.

So, we ask for your prayers along the following lines:

1. We are deeply convinced that Savanna, as with all children, was purposefully formed and placed on this Earth by a loving God who knows her and loves her better and more perfectly than Amy or I can or do.

2. Her possible health problems, if any indeed turn up, are not the end of the world - or the end of God’s goodness. There’s just way too much we don’t know about this world. But what we do know is that our passage on this Earth is very short in the grand scheme of Eternity. We also know that our perspective of pain, of health and of joy - indeed, even our deepest perceptions of Heaven or judgment - are drastically short-sided from the perspective of this God who formed and loves Savanna.

3. Our faith (and our personal experience) informs us that God is very much at work in this world and in our lives. Pain, suffering, disappointment and physical limitations simply don’t change this core fact - they just highlight there’s a lot we don’t know or understand (see #2) above. At the same time, we know that God has invited us to participate with Him in the process of our coming to understand His will and, perhaps, to see His hand move in physical healing. Perhaps He won’t. But perhaps He will. (2 Samuel 12:15-23)

I’ve experienced extremely sad circumstances when God didn’t respond according to our requests and I’ve witnessed honest, medically proven miracles of healing. Both in response to the same prayers. Both were eventually recognized to be victories. In both cases, God was sought after, the veneer of our daily lives was ripped away and we all faced truer questions of life, meaning and eternity - and we were all better for it.

Thanks for allowing me this surface, theological ramble.

In short, Amy and I would be very thankful if you could take just a few minutes to join us in prayer for Savanna’s health.

Family Update:

In other news:

1. Alexa (3.5) is in swimming lessons. True to her last name, the girl is a little fish. Her teachers at the community center are amazed at her lack of fear of the water - not always a good thing I’m quick to remind everyone. She loves her newest word - this thing we call “Summertime”.
2. Savanna (21 months) the above prayer request not withstanding, is developing very quickly in verbal skills and comprehension. She is stringing together short sentences and plays the part of the absolute ham in the family.
3. Alayna (a whopping 2.5 months) is growing great (25th percentile for weight - right where we like’em), sleeps through the night and goes on and on about those quadratic equations.
4. Amy (she can share if she likes) has just done a wonderful job with this little clan and is quite busy holding our orbits together.

We love you all and miss you most of the time. Many, many thanks for your prayers and support.

Much love and gratitude,

The Basses (Alayna, Savanna, Alexa, Amy & Christian)