His blood levels are continuing to come into safer zones.  So the doctor is very encouraged, therefore dialysis is still in the holding off stage.  Thank God.  One statement he made was, “Zachary has improved better than I could have ever hoped.”

While the doctor was sharing the blood results he stated, “Zachary’s kidney function is now up to 22%, which is such an improvement over the 8% where we started.  We typically send peoplefor dialysis when the function is around 23-25%.  But since we continue to see improvement we’ll continue to hold off.”
I was a little confused, I was under the impression from talking with my “ex” that from the start they were around 25% function.  Somehow that info transferred wrong probably due to both our stress.  Either way this was new news so I  asked him, “Just to be clear you said his kidneys are now functioning at 22%,  but there were at 8?”
“Yes, that’s right.  That’s on a scale of 1-100.  100 Being excellent.”
“8%?… 8?… Well.  That was…was…well…”
My brain was going into a bit of overload reeling with unspoken thoughts, “8% out of a hundred.  My god that’s nearly 0.  How low can a person go?  Does death set in if you are at 0?  Like with your heart?”  But nothing was coming out.  I was processing, trying to come up clear on this.  What this meant.  What the kidneys did…all without asking what seemed like a ridiculous/obvious question.  Just as I was about to form the question anyway, because I wanted to know the doctor, who must have sensed what I was thinking, said, “Yes, Zac only had hours to possibly days to live.”
“Goodness it seems that his appointment came at the exact moment necessary to save his life,” I said.
He raised his eyebrows as he processed that fact, nodded and said, “It would seem that it did.”
While looking at Zac I stammered, “He seemed so…so…I mean, it would have come as a complete surprise if…  Then I looked over at the doctor in a state of bewilderment.  Did we not know anything was changing because he can’t feel anything from just below his rib cage down that kept him from knowing there was a problem with his kidneys?”
“Renal failure is really a silent alarm…” Then he went on to explain how feeling in the kidneys works and why it goes undetected.  And why people will die suddenly…

Tonight I’m going to say again that I’m so thankful.  Thankful to have Zac today.  He had two drastic situations in his body: his potassium levels were so high  he could have had a heart attack at any minute AND his kidneys were all but shut down.  So I’m thankful.
Thankful For:
1) The Medical Community.  For their tests that caught the problem and intervention of placing an indwelling catheter the Friday morning (after the Wednesday clinic).  Thankful for the other various things that they’ve done since for Zac’s recovery process.
2) For my Naturopath, John Solomon Sandridge, thankful he told me that very night what supplements to put him on and how he must have his diet drastically changed.
It’s hard to imagine what would be if every little thing hadn’t gone exactly as it did…

We still have a very long race to run.  His kidneys have a lot of revitalizing to do.  They removed the indwelling catheter today so his kidneys and bladder will again be called upon, making his cathing vitally crucial.  However he will have a catheter in place during the night while he sleeps so urine flows into a bag so no pressure is building on his kidneys.  Zac’s body can in no way tolerate a single missed cath, anymore than it can him not eating right for every meal or not taking his supplements and meds.  We are still in the move by move, hour by hour recovery process, and we will be here for awhile, doing what we’ve been doing.

The next two weeks are very critical.  The tests at the next appointment will show how his kidneys are handling not having urine released constantly and flowing into a leg bag.  There’s a good bit of medical detail here that I’m going to skip, but that’s the basic information to help you get the gist.

We also had a lengthy dialysis informational appointment today and…well… let’s just say, we don’t want to go there.  Just for starters there is no recovery.  And the process of doing it daily…again…well…

We didn’t have the kidney transplant meeting yet.  That’s was bumped till next time, but the little that was covered with that…well…let’s just say, we don’t want to go there either, it isn’t as easy as, shall we say changing out a part on your car.

The doctor did write the excuse for Zac to only have half days and I’m thankful because Zac has been falling asleep in his afternoon history class and as he says, “And I like that class.”

After said appointment I worked for a family I haven’t seen in awhile and caught up with their mom when she got home.  Then around 7 picked up Grace so we could have a Walmart “shopping excursion”…you know…pick up a few groceries, then: check out the electronics, $5 movies, post-it notes, cute nail files, jewelry, the new Swiffer 360 degree duster…Kept her out longer than I probably should have.  Who knew you could have so much fun in Walmart?

Have a super day, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-oh Tuesday Zac’s principal called and expressed an apology for how a couple of the teachers were at the meeting on Monday

It’s so cool how one works and works and does and does and then suddenly pop, zing, you can stand back and stare at what you’ve accomplished.
So.  Soon.  Very, very soon I’ll be sharing with you… a string of completed projects.  Is that exciting or what??

Stay tuned 

Had a meeting with all of Zac’s teachers and the principle at 9 a.m. this morning…
Missed school needed to be discussed and taken into consideration.  The teachers were unaware of the severity of Zac’s condition.  Some didn’t have a clue at all.  The woman that’s in the office where does his period as an office aid, instead of gym, shared that Zac had told her he was having problems with his kidneys and that he repeatedly stated, “But it’s not life threatening.”  So, of course this had caused her to sense that something was seriously wrong with Zac’s health and even though he wasn’t expressing it verbally he’s scared and/or very concerned.

I was overwhelmingly supported by the principal with my request to lighten his load and to see what options we had with the rest of the year so that he might pass.  I was very thankful for her position and caring attitude.  She truly was my advocate during the meeting and therefore ultimately Zac’s.  In all my years of dealing with my sons health issues, both in the medical arena and school I have never had anyone step forward and without request or prodding become my advocate to such a degree, until today.

My heart was deeply, deeply touched.  Gratitude flooded me with emotion.
However, I had to suppress tears a couple times while being surprised at two of his teachers positions.  These two needed continuous reminding by the principal that Zac has serious/critical health concerns that are life threatening making his school the secondary consideration and certainly homework, needing to be done after a long day at school that tires him, was not much of a concern at all.   Here are two of the more notable moments of their input:

• One teacher went into a lengthy dissertation wanting to know if I was prepared to be responsible for Zac being passed on to high school with serious gaps in his education since his grades all year have been very low and were it’s being considered to lower his requirements all the more.  Putting him at risk all throughout high school. (which I really don’t agree with at all)
• Another teacher was gratingly disgusted that Zac didn’t seem to care to try in her class esp. after all of her offers to help him “one on one” during his lunch break.

I pointed out that several things: Zac’s health had obviously been declining before we or the doctors were aware.  Therefore it stands to reason that Zac’s grades would reflect that.  How I had also seen him decline all year but didn’t know what to make of it really.  For instance at home he was getting to where he didn’t want to do much of anything for himself anymore and I shared other bits of examples as well.  I went on to say more when the principal stepped in and took over.

• To the first she informed: that whether Zac went on to high school or not was a decision that would lie with the IEP committee and if he was moved forward than that would be their decision.
• To the second she pointed out: that Zac is a student that is in academic classes all day due to his needing academic support and to ask him to give up his one break from it is something that is unreasonable.

There was more but I think my post is long enough and you get the picture.

I will tell you I was speechless with the support and it drown out the negative from the “2″.

Overall three teachers and the principal were amazing to deal with and I’m thankful for their support that he has received and will continue to receive from them.  I do hope time and sleep will jar the others into more consciousness…

In regards to his care at school his output is being modified and they are looking into having him on a half day for the rest of the year.  So that he might not get so worn out during the week causing him to miss more school because he’s just too tire to attend.  I love the idea.  Hope that it’s possible and if it is that the doctor will write the script supporting this well thought out solution.

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-the ex’s attitude was better today even when he came home as I was serving up Zac’s dinner, just before heading off to work

Today Zac was on a “down”.  I noticed the drawn look and washed out color in his face immediately upon picking him up for his Naturopath appointment.  He mentioned how tired he was on the way and I encouraged him to consider going to bed maybe around 9 for awhile rather then his 10:30 ish he is so determined to hold to.

After the appointment I ran a couple small errands and took him home to make him a meal.  I was going to make it for all my kids but Blessing, my oldest, had prepared a sweet potato soup for them already so they didn’t need a meal from me.  That is according to me and their father.  They on the other hand were totally not interested in the beautiful velvety smooth, pumpkin colored soup that warmed the insides and nourished the soul.  Instead they complained and begged for the same option as Zac.  But a deaf ear was applied to that request and soup was ladled into bowls, crackers and bread was placed in the middle of the table, and I prepared a meal for Zac.  If only sweet potatoes weren’t on the always avoid list, I would’ve been able to have him eat it with some bread and viola the night would have wrapped itself up.

I prepared wagon wheel pasta, spinach, zucchini, and green pepper chopped small with a dash of dill and basil, a small amount of chicken chopped into little pieces, all sauteed together with some chicken broth just before pouring over the pasta.

The entire time I prepared this meal I kept looking at Zac and thinking, “He really doesn’t look very good.”  And of course the mother in me that wants to down play what I’m seeing reasoned, maybe he just needs to eat and go to bed extra early.  Get some nutrition and some sleep and he’ll be great in the morning.  Zac gobbled up the meal enjoying every bite, took his supplements, and then about 45 minutes later began to look even worse.  He said he was feeling like he did last week before school.  The day he woke up feeling fine and within 20 minutes was dizzy and wanted to throw up and nearly did.  He went back to bed that day and slept most of the day thereafter.  Within a few minutes of referring to that day, dinner was coming up along with the supplements. Poor baby.  The vomit didn’t give him an easy time of it coming up.

Once he was through he posed no argument to going to bed and went right then.  I get him settled, tucked him in, turned on his meditation CD, hugged and kissed him, and he hugged me back, hugging has sort of been off cast for a couple years since he has become an older “guy” now, turned out his light and left.  With a heavy heart.  These are some painful moments to be divorced and living in another household regardless if I am only five minutes away…

As far as my day.  I worked 9:30 till 4 with the twins I care for on Tuesdays.  Did Zac’a appointment and the whole cooking thing, helped him through his sickness, put him in bed, came home, and hit the computer, to work on our business.  Then turned to my blog.  After this I plan to slid into bed to sleep, to rise early, and head over to my sons home so that when everyone vacates the house I’m there with Zac.  However tomorrow I do have some very important business items to tend to and thankfully Blessing will be around the house for awhile possibly allowing me the time to go and get done what needs done.  We have a doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon as well.  So off to downtown Birmingham once again.  I only hope that this time it doesn’t take over an hour to find a place to park like it did on Monday when they closed off the parking garage to Children’s hospital because it was full, even though every time I circled I saw cars exiting in groups of three and four and I can only assume it was freeing up some spaces.  It was like the city was hosting the Marti Gras, I defied anyone to find a place to park.  I parked blocks away after leaving Zac in the lobby to wait for my return.

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane

Slowly we went through the magazine looking at everything with the detail I would if I was at home with my feet propped up on my couch, when the doctor entered the room.  White lab coat all buttoned up and a Mickey Mouse tie poking out above.  He had seen the results of the ultrasound and although he was very happy to see one of the most crucial blood levels go down remarkably since two weeks ago, he still had that drawn look of concern….

With Zac having two weeks of the implanted catheter it took the pressure off the kidneys completely so they have been able to shrink.   Allowing him a better look.  Then his graven look expressed itself in words, “There’s more loss of kidney tissue then I once thought….What does this mean long term and Zac having some form of renal support is that it’s looking even more definite.”

Well chosen, gentle words and I knew it.  Been in this hospital thing for 19 years now.

So I did the return of well chosen gentle words in the form of a question, “Let me ask a question.  So by renal support you’re referring to dialysis?”
“Dialysis and kidney transplant, yes.”
“Are you able at this time to determine if his care will have to go to those lengths?”
“No.  I can’t be absolutely certain.  And certainly this is the kidney specialists area so let’s get his appointment on Wednesday with him and I’ll see Zac again soon….”

More conversation.  More gentle proddings to Zac to keep up what he’s doing and, “Zac the good thing is your 15, the bad thing is that your aren’t 3 and don’t have your mother to make sure you cath on time.  Every time.  And do your bowels, every single night.  It’s impossible for her or your dad to do this for you.  This rests on you.  And you haven’t any margin for error with the state and condition of your kidneys.”

He told us that Zac’s physical appearance looked much better then last time.   And I told him how his diet is 100% fresh and I’m following the diet sheets as if God would strike me dead if I veered from them.  Then he mentioned that that was very good and necessary and to keep that up.  However his eating more now than he was, due his appetite being reduced from the kidney failure, only means that the kidneys will be under more stress.  So now with a little more time they’ll be able to see just what the degree of the loss of kidney function is.

So the old rock and a hard spot, the catch 22, the damned if you do and damned if you don’t are at work.

Then we left.  As we moved up the white sterile hallway toward the light at the end, from the wall of windows leading into the outside world, I was feeling surreal.  Steadying myself from slipping into mother paranoia.  Sort of mindlessly I said, “Zac.  So whatever you do, miss a cath, not eat right, don’t take your supplements, fail to do your bowels will carry devastating results.  But then whenever you do, eat right, take your supplements, cath on time, do your bowels will work to build your health.  Wow you are on a minute by minute move by move crisis.”  His response, “Why do you have to repeat what the doctor just said?  I heard him.  God.”

I was a bit ticked.  But withheld my tickedness and without an annoyed voice said, “Let me be a mother for a minute will you?  I’m not attacking.  Not all up in your face.  I’m a bit stunned and absorbing it.  It’s my job to help you heal and my job to make sure you do what you’re supposed to do.  So give me a minute to be a mom.”  That’s where that ended.

Now I know this is a way Zac can be at times, but I also know he was dealing with his own realities.  His own shock.  His own fears.  But dawgonnit why must kids do that?
The drive home was peaceful.  Filled with positiveness and laughter.  Even if my stomach felt like it was recovering from someone hitting me as hard as they could.
Then work.  The old, way to make the money to pay the bills gig.  Which I honestly totally forgot I needed to go to till suddenly it occurred to me!  I made it just in time.

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-

Meditation CD’s are something that I have used for the last four years.  I put them on, go to sleep, and let them play, I also listen in my truck, and when I sit quietly during my day.  I actually started with “night sleep recordings” to assist my learning as an elementary student.  Influenced by a movie that Disney aired, the one with the college student that was studying to be a scientist and did things with monkeys such as put records on for them at night to listen to while they slept.  Then he did the same for himself so that he could learn while he slept–this memory is very vague so forgive any inaccuracies.  Well, I was so convinced to the effectiveness of this method that I started doing the same thing for myself.  I used my tape recorder that I had received that year for Christmas to record my spelling lists, vocabulary definitions, history facts and so forth.  I read them over and over till the tape ran out.  Then when I went to bed I pushed play and go to sleep.  Back then I always wished it could repeat itself.  On test day I would even set my alarm to go off early just so I could play it again before I went to school.  I would, of course reset my alarm.  I continued for years with this practice and have always believed that it is one of the reasons I got good grades.

So my belief in learning and meditating while I sleep is something that I was sold on long before my Naturopath created his first meditation CD for health and healing.  I bought one of the first ones he sold and began listening.  Then a few weeks ago he began an exciting new series of meditation CD’s.  He advanced the meditations to a whole new level.  These are personalized for specific needs and each is customized with the individuals name.  Just in time for Zac’s health issues.  And I am so thankful.  I’m also thankful that Zac asked to borrow the CD I’ve had for health and healing for the last four years.  He on his own wanted me to bring it over for him to use.  And I swear there was no “mother coaching” of the slightest degree to influence him    Now he has his own personalized CD, that he purchased with his own money, to address his health and proper eating.  And Zac was the first to receive this particular CD, which of course he thinks is pretty cool.

Zac had a great day.  He and Dan slept over last night and Zac slept till 12.  He obviously needed it.  When he got up he wanted to eat now!  But I told him he had to have a glass of water first for his kidneys.  He wasn’t happy with me at all.  And wrangled to drink the water and eat immediately.  It was all I could do to get him to wait the 20 minutes for his body to process the water before he ate his fruit and took his supplements so that the water wouldn’t dilute the fruit and supplements and not digest well.  But he did it.  Then throughout the day he ate great and I have to applaud him because for his lighter meal he even ate the Spaghetti Squash simmered with fresh tomatoes, basil, and a little pepper served with a slice of bread, even though he was moaning about it while I prepared it for him.  I watched as he ate bite after bite and played Monopoly with Grace and Caleb, who had come over after they did all the other things they wanted to do today.  He ate the whole thing.  When he was finished I had to ask, “Did you like that Zac?”  “Yeah it was good,” he answered.  So all I can say is, another successful meal. 

That was my day as “mom”, my day as a entrepreneur/business woman consisted of many phone calls back and forth first with John Mark and John Solomon then with John Solomon as we move our business forward and there was some computer work as well…of course. 

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-thank you to all who pray for and keep Zac in your heart with supportive thoughts for his healing

1) Did a bunch of work on my computer in the morning, then off to a several hour, productive, meeting throughout the afternoon.
2) Then off to cook and clean up a healthy meal for Zac, and Ben: Boiled chicken thighs, Angel Hair pasta, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, green beans.  (The other children weren’t there as they had gone with their father to Sarah’s first night for her ballet performance.)  And, again, I have to say, Zac is doing so well with his diet and I’m so proud of him.  Prior to this he refused to eat chicken and most vegetables and now he barely complains.  Thankfully.  Tonight he was telling me tonight how amazed he is that I can do so much with so little.  The “so little” is due to the limited amount of foods he is allowed.  The dietician handed us three, yes count them three seperate diets.   One for low sodium, one for low potassium, and one for Hemodialysis which is low sodium, low potassium, low phosphorus.  Now, what I have to do is cross check each for what he can and can’t eat.  By the time I’m done the list is, more than narrow.  Thankfully I spent 23 years cooking a whole food diet for my family.  And thankfully I’ve always been good at “doing a lot with a little”.  One thing I’m good with is food.  It’s something that I’ve developed over the years.  I wasn’t born with it by any means.  And we’ll just ignore the first time I made homemade french fries and a column of fire, the width of the pan, shot to the ceiling and wouldn’t quit till I got the courage to lift the fry pan out of the pan.  Then my landlord came five minutes after this event and I wouldn’t open the door.  I just talked through it, to his annoyance.  But how could I?  The place was filled with smoke!
4) Went to Walmart to grocery shop for meals for Zac.
5) Took groceries back to his home.  Left the groceries on the kitchen floor since the last time I shopped his father said, “You spent forty dollars grocery shopping, supposedly for food, but I haven’t seen any.”  This time I let him know, “I was going to put the groceries away, but I left them for you so that you can see them this time.”  That’s what happens when you primarily shop the produce section.
6) Took one of John Solomon’s prints to France’s home so she can take it to the office tomorrow for the woman who ordered it.
7) Finally got my mail, after not picking it up for two weeks, and I’m overdue on my power bill…again.  I don’t know what it is about paying my power bill.
Did some cleaning around my apartment.  I love it after I clean.  And although I love it and I know that cleaning is next to Godliness I just wish someone else could get this part of the “Godly”.
9) Sat down to blog, smiled, and my lips cracked.

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-oh, Zac went to school today.  He said it felt weird after he had missed so many days and one of his friends said they thought he had died and happy to see him again.  Although he laughed I could tell he felt touched.
-I just remembered earlier I decided I was going to talk more about my mom, me, and my healing and then forgot, tomorrow I’ll do that

Update on Zac…
Monday: he woke to go to school but wasn’t feeling well.  So he stayed home and I stayed with him.  Healing is an up and down process.  But it sure rattles one when the down comes.  I feed him totally  healthy all day and kept his supplements going down him.  He slept a lot.  My, 16 going on 17, daughter Sarah wasn’t well either, stomach bug, she sat with him for three hours while I had a meeting for our business.  Came home, cooked lunch, feed them both, called the doctor to see about moving his Wednesday appointment because I had gotten work for that day, they told me that it was impossible to switch up this week.  All appointments of this nature had to be on Wednesday.  In the process the nurse informs me that we need to be prepared to have Zac admitted into the hospital if his blood levels weren’t improved enough.  And that the doctor was fairly certain that this is what we would be doing.  They would start an IV and additional meds as well as dialysis.  That was a surprise and didn’t help Zac any.  His good spirits slumped.  And so did mine frankly.  After my evening work I brought Zac here for the night.  We went to bed early.

Tuesday: he stayed home again.  He was much better but felt he shouldn’t go because he wasn’t in tip top shape, and he wasn’t.  He wanted to rest all he could before the appointment on Wednesday and I had to say that I and his father completely agreed with him.  Both Scott and I had to work so I set him up with his supplements all ready for him to take, freshly made grape juice, and food in the crock pot.  I was only 8 minutes away so if need be I could be home quick as a wink.  Carrying a set of 21 month old twins, but I would have been here.  I stayed in contact with him a few of times via the phone and he was fine.  At four I finished up and came home to take him to his appointment with his Naturopath, John Solomon Sandridge.  Then back to his house where I cooked dinner and hung out with my kids, home around 10:30, got online to blog and discovered that all our sites were down.  An hour plus later after doing all I could to get them running, I  chatted with a friend through Facebook then went to bed… and cried.

Wednesday/today: Much crying this morning at 7, I canceled with the family I was supposed to work for, I just couldn’t get it together.  I can always get it together, so this was hard for me to do.  I even called a girlfriend to get her to, well, basically give me permission to be a mess and not go to work, then she prayed over me for my strength and Zac.  I went back to sleep and woke up feeling much better.  Strengthened by her love and prayers the only thing I was left with was a stomach full of butterfly’s when I took Zac to his appointment with the kidney specialist…
First blood work and urine sample.  Then the wait…
I am more than thrilled to report that Zac’s levels were significantly improved.  The doctor himself was amazed.  He was so thrilled and overwhelmed he couldn’t hide his excitement.  He was surprised to no end because, as he said, they really have done very little intervention so far.  Just the implanted catheter and the few supplements they gave us scripts for for vitamins, they just knew that the serious step of dialysis was going to be required.  We didn’t tell them that we’ve also added herbal supplements and treatments to assist his body to process the minerals better.  Some things are just better left unsaid.  But I did inform him that Zac has cooperated totally with the drastic diet change and has eaten more fruits and vegetables then he ever has in his life.  This doctor was so overjoyed he was like a little kid that just got an A on his spelling test.  He was bubbling and beaming from ear to ear and couldn’t keep himself from going out to the nurses station and canceling the room and admit papers he had processing for Zac.  At one point he said, “Something you’re doing is working.  Whatever it is keep doing it.  These results are very significant.  They still need improvement however from where we were last week till now it’s exceptional.”  As he was leaving he thanked Zac for all the work he had done to accomplish these results and Zac chuckled an thank you.

Well, you know that my eyes were tear filled and I did all I could to not break down with relief during the appointment.  However, after we calmly and mannerly entered the elevator and the doors slid closed I turned to Zac and shrieked, “Yes!  You don’t have to go to the hospital or have dialysis.  Yes! Yes! Yes!”  Of course I added a few jumps and a little dance to it as well just to get all the excitement expressed.  Then all the way home I kept saying, “Well, what we do works.  Add what they did to it and you are on the path to well,”… “I can breath again.  I don’t think I’ve breathed in days.”…”Thank God.  Thank God.  You didn’t go to the hospital, you’re getting well.  No dialysis.”  Zac, my 15 year old subdued son, didn’t say much about his excitement and relief but he did say, “I know” a lot and he couldn’t help but have a grin from ear to ear and chuckle at me most of the way home.  So, it’s obvious he’s relieved and thankful.

Soooo, as the doctor said we aren’t out of the woods on Zac’s health yet.  Not at all, but the hospital is not a needed option now.  Zac levels need much more improving and once he regains full kidney function he will have to take proper care of himself every day as he is now.  But we are certainly on our way.  We have an appointment in two weeks rather than one since things are doing so well.  They are still scheduling us for the dialysis and kidney transplant information sessions to have us informed just in case.  And of course his blood will continue to be monitored and if there is a major reverse then we’ll have to consider dialysis again.   But if we keep on the course not even the doctor seems to anticipate that outcome.

Night, love ya and thank you all for your prayers and positive affirmations, they have been felt and abundantly appreciated.  Please continue.
Theresa Jane
-who is going to bed smiling                                and thankful

This past Wednesday we had an appointment with a Kidney specialist.  Hours later we exited the building with loads of information to process and a stack of papers for a diet Zac needs to follow.  All the news and the numbers on his blood work was, well, troubling.  All except one number.  The potassium level.  That went from…”Zac should/could have died of a heart attack, to his levels being NORMAL. Within one week.  What happened within that one week?
1)  Zac began taking the supplements that Dr. John Solomon Sandridge, our Naturopathic Spiritual Intuitive, recommended he take from the day we got the news.
2) Dr. John also gave him a treatment for potassium.  Which is a simple procure where an activator is used to click on his acupressure points around his body.  The treatment allows the body to process whatever it is treated for.
3) Friday afternoon the urologist placed a permenant cathered so that urine would drain straight out of his body into a bag strapped to his leg.  This keeps all pressure off the bladder and therefore the  kidneys, which would challenges their function and health.
4) Zac stopped eating anything that was boxed, bagged, canned or frozen.  He is eating 100% healthy foods.   Now this is how he ate his whole life pretty much, until his father and I divorced.  Since then his father uses an (un) healthy portion of processed foods so the diet isn’t that much a challange for me.  The challenge comes from the restrictions he is narrowed to.  Which is challenging but not overwhelming for me to prepare meals.   The problem is from the restricted choices Zac has vegetables and fruits he doesn’t like at all.  So that makes it tougher.   I’m on a see saw with Zac right now…”What about this Zac?”  “No?”  Okay.  How about that?”  By next week I’ll have a menu whipped together for him.

Yesterday was Zac’s birthday.  He turned 15.  He wanted Papa John’s pizza and cheesecake for his celebration meal.  However that couldn’t happen as he is at too much risk for his kidneys.  He compromised, with a good attitude, to have a very healthy meal: pasta, chicken, zucchini, corn, carrots, and only a small piece of cheesecake.  I was so proud of him because he’s been talking about this birthday for months and the meal was very important to him.  But his health has taken first place and he did what was necessary.

After the party I hung around with my kids.  Later that evening I took him to  see Shutter Island.  To the 12:20 a.m. show.  He thought that that was totally great.  He was so jazzed it surprised even me.  You know Zac has so many restrictions in life from being in a chair and now his new health challenges that being out that late, to see a movie was most exciting.  His father thinks it’s ridiculous so that makes it even sweeter for him.  To do something that his father balks.    And now he’s 15 he should be able to do things like this, his friends are, and now so is he.  We got into bed around 4 a.m..  When I left him to go to my bed he said, “This has been a good birthday today.  Even though I wished we could have had pizza I liked the meal you made and I got to have cheesecake, even if it was a small piece.  And I got to go to a midnight showing of a movie.”  I have to say that tears sprung into my eyes as my heart of gratefulness that he really enjoyed his day.  My heart also breathed a silent prayer that we would have many more to celebrate together.

We slept in till 10:30 got up ate a breakfast of fruit.  Then a lunch of healthy foods then off with Grace included to see Wolf Man and Avatar.  The movies were my gifts to him.  He LOVES movies and he has been looking forward to all of them so for him it was a good as the camera his dad got him.

I have had a full weekend to say the least.  Worked all of Friday evening.  On my way home picked up Caleb and Zac to stay overnight.  By the time I got them it was so late that Caleb got in his jammies and climbed into my bed.  In the morning I did a few hours of work  Saturday on the business but since then it has been focused on Zac and my other kids.  Tomorrow will likely be work absorbed on our business.  We start off with a meeting at 10 a.m.  Then I’m off to Zac’s school to clarify and verify that they are doing what he needs done while he’s there.  And my job in the evening.  Full day…

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-who is thankful to all that are keeping Zac in your prayers and thoughts for the return of his health

Honestly I have felt this dragon in me all my life.  Completely unaware of it being my sign, or what I was feeling, and certainly the significance of it being so.

Dragons are symbols of great power, strength, endurance, courage, and incredible wisdom.  So I have to ask… what’s not to like about having that as your sign???  However there’s a flip side to having the dragon and that is that the one that carries it must also learn to tame it.  The dragon has a lot of fire in them.  I have had a lot in me.  I’ve had to really learn how to tame and control her.  The last six plus years was when that journey took serious shape.

The dragon analogy is used a lot in life.  In a lot of ways.  And right now this analogy is applicable.  Right now I’m dealing with it in a manner of facing the difficult.  The dragon.  Having to lean hard into what I believe and know to be absolutely true.  However the truest of tests has been placed at my feet and it’s taking all the strength of the dragon to get through.

Last Wednesday my son Zac, the one in the wheel chair due to being born with Spina Bifida, had a routine appointment to check on his vitals…. kidney’s, bladder, shunt.  These are appointments that we have attended twice a year for 15 years without a bump or snag of any real concern.  Appointments that we’ve endured.  We can wait in the waiting room one, two, three hours, then in the exam rooms for no less than three while doctors and nurses file through at various intervals.  Prior to the appointments we go to x-ray, ultrasound, and whatever else they require at the time…blood work, urine samples…  They are all day affairs that, over the years have become as routine as, well I can’t think of a word picture for this one.  But they’re routine.   Casual.  Boring.  A test to ones endurance at times.   They come, they go, they pass without any outstanding result.  So much so that I don’t go anymore.  I always had.  I was always the one that took him.  But since the divorce his father takes him.  His office is minutes from the hospital.  I’m minutes from the school.  Both separated by lots of traffic and a half hour drive during good traffic.  Someone needs to get my two youngest from school since these days will always take longer than the pick up time from Extended Day.  It makes sense.  It works.

Except this time.  This time was different. Those tests produced news.  News that every parent of a child with SB fears.  The threat  we all hear from when they are born…  I got a call from his father…Zac is in renal kidney failure.  A level 4.  There’s no level 5.  On a scale of 1-100.  100 being perfect, he is at a 25.  One point above the need for dialysis,  so it’s not “if” dialysis, it’s “when”.  And even with it there’s a very strong possibility that he’ll need a kidney transplant.  His potassium is so high that if it goes up at all he will/could die instantly of a heart attack.

I froze.
I asked slow, paced questions.
Tears burned down my cheeks.
I had a hard time processing everything.
“Yes, I’ll  go there when you get home.”  We need to talk with Zac.
We ended the call.
I went to my bedroom.
Closed the door.
Slumped hard against the wall and cried.  My body shook with convulsions as I internalized the sobbing wail.  I crumbled forward as a silent scream tore through me, sparing the boys from the fear of seeing me in this extreme reaction.  Of not understanding… since I was so far into pain and shock.
Finally, my trembling hand dialed the phone.  The well versed number that dials my friend.  My business partner.  My Naturopathic Spiritual Intuitive…John Solomon Sandridge.  The man who saved me from death 6 and a half years ago.
He told me what to give Zac.  He told me to change his diet immediately to all whole fresh food.  He encouraged.  He sought to strengthen me…  “This is difficult, but think and be positive.  Live today.  Today he is alive… He needs you to be strong.  Together.  Don’t sentence him to death…”

I pulled myself together.  His father and I talked with Zac.  He said he’ll do what he needs to to get well.

I have a Naturopath that I know can show us how to allow Zac’s body to heal.  I know from personal experience.  I know from my girlfriend Frances who 19-20 years ago was in level 4 ovarian cancer, there is no level 5, and given 2-3 weeks to live and is alive today with more energy and drive than anyone I know because, and only because of John Solomon Sandridge’s skill with the human body and getting it to heal with herbs, vitamins, food, and treatments.  I know from all the other people I’ve personally witnessed that have come to him half dead and live today.  I also have a strong medical community that is working with us as well doing all they know to do.
This is a great combination.
I have a good deal of peace now that I’m through the shock.
So what’s my dragon?   It’s one thing for me to have been snatched from the jaws of death, and Frances and others, and it’s another to watch your child brushing against it.  This is the stare into the dragons eyes.  This is the truest of tests for me.  To lean into the knowing and have unwavering faith that Zac’s body can and will heal itself.  And all we/he has to do is to follow the directions.  Daily.
Honestly I’m doing very well.  But I won’t tell you that there isn’t this little twinge in my stomach at times.  A ripple that moves through attempting to rob me of my peace.  But overall I’m restful.  Expecting his health to return without dialysis or a transplant–that he might or might not live to see due to how long they take to get if his health didn’t restore itself.  Which it will.

Thus far Zac has responded very well.  He doesn’t want to die.  He doesn’t want a kidney transplant.  So he has taken the supplements.  Every day.  Three times a day.  He’s willingly eating the meals I’m making him as I’ve taken over this area of his life.  He’s eating things that before he wouldn’t touch, like most vegetables and fruits.  He’s paying attention to the do’s and don’ts of his diet and adhering to them.  He’s embracing the truth that he can heal his body.   He’s amazingly strong about it.  He knows I got well.  He knows he can.  He trusts in John Solomon’s ability.  And I’m thankful, once again, for John. Doctor John Solomon Sandridge.

Night, love ya,
Theresa Jane
-who finally was ready and mentally together to talk about this in my blog…more tomorrow