That is our new "normal". After years of temporary treatments that only "masked" the true problem, today we finally found the answer. Asthma. While I knew deep down that Nora had asthma, it was so good to finally hear the diagnosis. She's had breathing issues since she had bronchiolitis at 4 months old. They have progressively gotten worse. Our pediatrician has done a great job treating Nora's "flare-ups" but nothing ever really worked and things just got worse.
We've known since Nora was six months old that she had a nut allergy. How severe that allergy is we were never told. The allergists we had seen previously blew it off. They gave us a prescription for an epi-pen and said watch for a reaction if she's exposed. They blew us off when it came to Nora's breathing problems saying it was just a seasonal problem. Her eczema...well, they all said it was just dry skin. We requested breathing tests and allergy skin testing but to no avail. The last allergist said we should just wait it out until Nora turned 6. She told us that even though Nora's nut allergy had tripled in a year's time...nothing we could do. While I am sure there is nothing we can do other than continue to avoid nuts...this mama's instincts said there was more to the whole situation.
Today, Dr. Wasserman gave us the official diagnosis. Asthma. And as he said those words, it brought tears to my eyes. I was sad for Nora to have this issue, but I was excited to hear somebody tell me that even though she has asthma..."we are going to work through this and make her feel better because we will set up an asthma action plan" Silly I know. But finally I have somebody that cares about my child and her well being. For us to be able to handle this issue daily and not just cover it with a temporary "band-aid". He asked Nora if she plays any sports and Nora said no because she always starts coughing and wheezing when she runs. He told her not to worry because if she wants to play soccer in the spring, she would feel good enough to play!
My brave little sprite cried but remained tough for her skin test. It was not easy to watch! Her little back was covered in welts after about 5 min. Molds, dust, cats, dogs, grasses, trees and numerous other lovely things...she's allergic to them. But we have an allergy action plan!
Her eczema...we have a plan to clear that up and keep it under control.
I hate that my child has to deal with allergies and asthma and eczema. But I'm so glad we have a plan in the works to treat her and keep her healthy. It's been so hard to watch her struggle to breath and to react to so many different things each season that would set her allergies into a spiral. I will continue to pray daily that she will eventually grow out of these issues but until that time, we will fight them and help Nora stay well. I realize that her "issues" are pretty simple in the grand scheme of life and there are others out there with much more severe and scary problems, but as a mom I can't help but want my child to be healthy and she deserves it because no matter what the illness...no child should have to suffer! I ask that you keep my sweet girl in your prayers and pray that as she grows these "issues" will go away!
On a sad note...For over 10 years I have been the patient to the kindest and gentlest ob/gyn I've ever met. He helped me through a scary time with some bad papsmears. He saw me through my first pregnancy and delivered my precious Nora. He hugged me while I cried after realizing my second pregnancy was not to be. He shared a special story with me when my mom died and let me cry and vent in his office only days after her death. He delivered my precious Madelynn. This spring he went on medical leave due to some health problems.
Over the summer, I was having lunch alone and looked over at a nearby table and saw he and his wife. I watched them for a few minutes. He read the paper while she read her electronic reader. They picked food off each other's plate. What I saw while watching them, were two happy and content people. I didn't see his illness, I didn't see her worry. I saw a sweet couple enjoying their time together. He looked up and saw me. I stood there at their table and we talked and visited for a few minutes. I told him that he had to come back because I couldn't see any other doctor because I didn't trust a doctor like I trusted him. I told them that if my husband and I were to decide on a third child he'd have to be there to deliver. I told his wife that I had commented to a nurse while in labor with nora that he was the best doctor. the nurse sort of turned her nose up and i asked why. the nurse said "he's not vey nice to the nurses and pays way more attention to his patients." i asked the nurse..."if you were on this table preparing to give birth to a new life, would you really want a doctor that was chatting and enjoying his nurses or a doctor that was fully focussed on you the patient? she said...i take your point.
Maybe not everybody liked him as much as I did. That's ok. But for me, he was attentive to me and my needs and that is an excellent doctor in my book! He was caring and grumpy and kind. He loved bazooka bubble gum. He loved his job and he loved bringing babies into this world. We joked that Nora, whose middle name is Rose, was really named after him. He passed away yesterday. And I am terribly sad. My heart breaks for his wife and his two sons. He will be missed! Please pray for the family of Dr. Rose.
This picture was taken by Nicole Eades the night Madelynn was born. I had this blown up and framed for Dr. Rose shortly after Madelynn was born. I knew the moment he saw the picture it meant a lot to him because his joy was written all over his face.
until next time...
I'm sorry to hear about Dr. Rose. I know how much you liked him. That makes my heart sad for his family.
Posted by: Melissa | November 30, 2010 at 08:04 PM