Health Update #3

My health status has moved in leaps and bounds since the 5th. The Doctor gave my most recent blood test a "A" with a giant smiley face on it. That document now hangs proudly on my parents refrigerator the same way a child's artwork or report card would. On the whole, I feel good. Wednesday I went rock climbing to test my bodies capabilities after a 2 mile hike, then yesterday my mom and I successfully completed a 9 mile hike without much difficulty.

I thank everyone who prayed for clarity on the spleen issue. On my moms side, I have had various family members with the same condition take both their spleen and gall bladders out- and for the better part of a week it looked like I would need to follow in their footsteps. That all changed on Monday after a weekend of mom researching this disease and myself reading her notes. As the years have continued, so has the knowledge of this condition expanded. Doctors know much much more about it now than when my mom was struggling with it as a teen. I was diagnosed with a mild case of hereditary spherosytosis which means that I get to keep my spleen as long as it doesn't act up. Hooray!! My fall and eventual collapse from parvovirus was textbook in nature, and so is my hereditary condition which has made it easier to asses. I have a classic case of mild hereditary spherosytosis and that's why it's gone undetected for so long. What this means is that I will most likely go on to live a normal life with a slightly enlarged spleen. My abdomen scans revealed gall stones as a byproduct of my condition and that is scheduled to be removed shortly. My surgery consultation was moved until August 29th, then surgery should take place 1-7 days after.

In conclusion, I'm feeling strong and thankful to be alive. I've overcome or nearly overcome the potentially deadly parvovirus and now we are dealing with the separate condition which is my hereditary disease. My gall bladder is getting the axe soon after the 29th, we sure had a good run though and I will miss it. I'm tremendously thankful for Gods provision. The Wednesday before I was admitted into the ER (Friday) I was in semi-remote Whangamata, 2+ hours east of Auckland. I'm thankful I was in Auckland when all this went down. I praise God for the life he has continued to allow me to live and the clarity and peace that has come through the prayers of the NZ/US/+beyond, body. It has brought much joy to my heart to be in Sequim/PA reconnecting with friends and students- the summer sun hasn't hurt anything as well : ) Thank you for your love.

Grace and peace to you all.

His,
Piper

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.