Prayers for my baby, Sofie-Update

Our youngest daughter Sofie has had 2 swollen toes for over a month now. No pain, so redness...doesn't interfere with her gymnastics or anything. We had exrays and they were fine, but the Dr suggested. juvenile Arthritis. I didn't want to think that was it and put off going to the dr for another week. We went to her pediatrician last week and he said Rheumatiod arthritis. Given her dads recent diagnosis with Chrones, also an auto imune disease, this is not what I wanted to hear. I just came home and cried. I can't imagine my little angel having to go through pain her whole life. But, yesterday John and I took her to the rhematologist, and yes, that is what it is...a type of arthritis called jia. we are waiting the test results from her blood tests to determine the severity of it and give possible ways it may progress. It is not in her joints rigt now. It's just the ligaments that are swollen, which may be why there is no pain yet. The main concern of the dr was getting her eyes checked every 3 months by an opthamologist, as it can spread to the eyes and can cause permenent damage, if not caught early.
I posted a quick prayer request on facebook, but wanted to give you all, my dear family, more details. As some of you know, Sofie is the athletic one in the family. She has been told by her dance instructor that she has "almost freakishly upper body strength" and her gymnastics coach says that she is gifted in gymnastics. She spend one day in the 3-4 year old class, then they moved her up to the 5-6 year old, she is now in the Rising Star program with kids much older than her. She loves all sports but really loves tumbling and the bars in gymnastics. I just can't bear the thought of her knees being in her pain and her not being able to do what she loves to do. I just don't want my little angel in any pain EVER. Please join me in prayer and ask that God heal her. I know He can , and if it is His will that she be healed, then it will happen. I want to believe that there is a purpose to all this that I just don't see yet. Do you know that new Laura Story song? Gosh, it just brings me to tears each time I hear it now.
Please pray for Sofie and for our family to help her get through this.

Lara, I am praying for her! I replied via facebook and text but wanted to reply here also, I am praying for her and for you!!!!
Try not to stress over it while on vacation, and know, she will pick up on things that you let bother you about it. She will get her strength from you while dealing with this! I learned this myself having 2 of my 3 kids have some serious health concerns at times in their life!
Prayers girl and try to have a good time! Give Sophie hugs and love from us here!

Lara that is sad news. Let's hope and pray that she has nothing more than her swollen little toes and the condition never stops her from doing the things she loves. I'm sure she will find a way, even if it is a little more difficult. She sounds like such a strong, easy-going little thing!

Oh my gosh.... and she is so precious!! There is a reason for everything, I firmly believe that. My hopes and prayers are with her and the family and I pray something can be done for her to avoid her from enjoying her life to the fullest. God Bless!

I'm so sad to hear that Lara - she is such a gorgeous wee girl and so talented. I will be praying for her and for your whole family, big hugs to you both

Sofie, I love you so so so muchhhh I send you a big Hug and a Kiss, hope you feel better little princess. Lara, you and your familly are in my prayers.


Cristina.

Thank you all for your prayers! It means a lot to know you gals will be here for us through whatever gets dished out over the years with this. For now, let's just get those little toes unswollen with her meds. Sofie has been calling them her "fat toes". If she stubs one some one bumbs her, she'll say, "Ouch! That is my fat toes!" She's a funny little girl...

Oh my goodness! Her fat toes, she is to cute!!!

I will keep you guys and your little princess in my prayers. Hugs, April

Not being familiar with JIA, I, of course, did a little research on it. Since the diagnosis is inevitable and we cannot do anything about that, I pray she has the Oligoarthritis because many children will outgrow this type of arthritis by adulthood. It is good that she is athletic and that will help keep her joints moving. That's the most important thing is to keep those joints moving. I pray it remains very mild and she has no complications further down the road and that she does outgrow it.

Lara, I'm also praying for you to calm your spirit and troubled mind.

Lara, so sorry to hear this news.
I am praying for your

She is so beautiful and gifted. I am sure God has a
purpose for her. Stay strong and have faith all the prayers
for healing will be answered.

HUGS

Lara,
Send you love and prayers for your beautiful lil'one! It's so heartbreaking to have your child have something and theres not much you can do. Keeping her in my prayers and know God has a plan. I had to smile about her "fat toes" comment,they handle things better then us,so sweet! Hugs barbi

Lara,



Life is so not fair sometimes! Sophie is such an adorable little girl! I hope and pray the medicine works for her. Find a good specialist and stay with them so they can watch her grow and make changes when necessary (instead of "trying this or that"...). How is hubby?? You and your sweet little family are so beautiful. I will keep you in my prayers.

its always so heart breaking when the lil ones get so sick. but on the up side of that too, the young ones tend to bounce back the fastest. my nieces are the ones with hurlers, and to watch them you would never guess they have anything wrong with them.
will definitely keep you and your lil one and the family in my thoughts and prayers.....((((HUGS)))))

Lara, I'm sorry to hear your troubling sad news. I will also pray that the JIA stays mild with no pain and that she outgrows it. Sofie is so young - maybe there will be a cure before it has a chance to progress! Either way, I will pray for her.

oh Lara, I will keep Sophie in my prayers, God in his infinite wisdom does everything with a purpose in mind, I know he will heal her and make her all good...
see you thursday...
hugs,
Carmen in nj

Test came back positive today for ANA, which means she does have some type of auto-immune. I just feel like crying....my poor little baby. She is dancing right now for us and putting on a show. To think that she may have arthritis at 3 is just too much...please continue to pray. The HLAB-27 is not back yet, so please everyone, keep praying. That is the one specific for arthritis.

I'll be praying hard for her. HUGS and prayers.

Lara, sometimes there just seem to be no words to convey the emotions and thoughts we'd like to express. This is one of those times for me. There are times when we want to rant and rave and shake our fist at heaven, wondering what is the lesson we're supposed to learn here.

The only one I can catch hold of at the moment is that we all need to love our families. We need to savor every minute and gather all the moments of magic that we are given every minute of every day. It's times like this when slowing down, and taking time to smell the flowers begins to open our hearts and minds to what is TRULY important in life.

Of course I'll add my love and prayers to all the others here ... but your little Sofie sounds like my 4 yr old grand daughter ... a force to be reckoned with! Sofie, and God will get you through this just fine.

I'm so sorry Lara. Will keep praying that the other results come back clear!

I will continue to pray too Lara - that is so sad. Please let us know when you get the results

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Lara.

I just want to thank all of you for your prayers and for your emails to me and personal stories..the good and the bad, I appreciate you all sharing with me. I couldn't sleep at all last night. I just kept having all sorts of horrible dreams. Most of them to do with church or people at church. I am sure it's just the inner part of me wrestling with God on this whole thing. John said a prayer at dinner last night about thanking God for everything and whatever comes our way we know he has an ultimate plan. I said well if it plan is to make her sick, his plan sucks. Really, I am allowed to be a little mad, aren't I? I just see no rhyme or reason to the whole thing. Not that there is ever a better child to throw this disease on, but really, why a 3 year old that has this natural athletic ability? No one else in the family is remotely interested in sports at all...just Sofie, yet she gets thrown with the disease that effects her joints. Can I say it's not fair?
Well, I am going to enjoy the last day of our vacation here at the beach. We drive home tomorrow, and I guess I'll have to start calling around to get her appointments come Monday to get her eyes checked. Apparently this is the thing the dr seems to be most concerned with, as if it starts in her eyes, the damage cannot be undone, so you must catch it early.

Lara, perhaps He chose Sophie for this because she IS athletic and can show the rest of the world that a disease like this does not need to slow you down or stop you from doing things you enjoy. I totally get that you are angry and that's okay also, but do not lose your faith over this. Let it strengthen your faith that God will help you through this.

Lara, I'm reading a lot of different things on diet and JIA. The University of Oslo, Norway did research on JIA and it showed that a strict vegan diet reduced inflammation by 90%. It appears that animal fats(including dairy and eggs) and gluten cause inflammation. Google seems to be down for me right now or I'd give you some links.

This is the first time I have been on this thread. Lara sorry for the pain you and your family are going through.
It is true the little ones seem to bounce back, but they can also sense if something is wrong.

By the way you speak you are a strong woman, we as a family have had quite a lot thrown at us. We had only moved into our new home and decided to retire, the next day my hubby was in hospital, after many tests and trips back and forth they told us he had ulcerative colitus, he was in hospital for 3 months having numerious operations, and finally had to have a total colectomy, I won't go on. Just stay strong and be positive.


In my prayers

Loretta

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Lara
We are praying for Sofie and you as well -having a child that is ill is very hard on the Mommy !!!
Please take care of your self -often care providers neglect themselves and their own health .... we are here if you need support or anything else !!!!!!
We care and sure are praying!!!

Lara, I am so sorry for your little sweet daughter, just I was reading about this medical proble. I promise that will pray for health your daughter.
Millena

Lara iam so sorry to hear this terrible news about sophie. My prayers are with sophie and you and your family. God bless you all hun.

Lara.. so sorry, have been tied up for the whole summer. So much going on, I haven't even touched a baby since beginning of May, so I'm just catching a breath today. It's so hard, when you love someone to even anticipate that they may have to suffer. But, for now, she is o.k.. One of my hardest issues is living today for today. When I am afraid or depressed, it's usually because I'm dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Although it's our human nature, neither one of them is helpful. Try to focus on today and I will be praying that God will give you the strength to do that. You can handle this moment and that is all we can do! God walks with us and even carries us when we cannot walk by ourselves. Turn to Him and give it to Him..... We are all praying for you and Sophie....
Hugs,
Terri

Lara you and Sophie are in my thoughts.......I have arthritus and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy..........But with love and prayers we can hope she will come throught it all, just be there for her a big hug and kiss always helps..........You know the saying that we often use with little ones "kiss it better" I am sure that will help her.

Thank you!!!! Continued prayer is awesome! So far the medicine has not helped her toes, but it has not gone into anyther joints yet, so that is good.