Katelyn's Journey: September 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

"Todays hardships make yesturdays problems old news"

Hey Everyone,

School is going good, i am starting to get involved in some clubs. Recently i have felt sad because i realized i cant dance anymore but then my friend and i joined the dance club at school. Even though i cant dance the advisor is making sure i can get involved!! She said i can help teach and we also get to go to shows too. I am really excited!
Here is a cool quote i found:
"Smile don’t frown Look up don’t look down Believe in yourself Don’t let yourself go Just be who you are And let your life flow."

Please Pray:-my finger, i sprained it and pulled a ligament, it makes it difficult to write and to push myself it also hurts alot
-my sister who has recently developed pink eye

Lots Of Love

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Remembrance.....

I would like to take a moment to think about everyone who died, was injured, or helped save lives in the September 11th attack.

Thanks God for allowing me to live in such a wonderful country. That i can get good medical care, that i can beleive in whatever i want, and that i can go to school (even if it is boring or hard sometimes)!

Love Ya
Katelyn

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

3 day adventure!

J.J and Katelyn in KAYAK!!

Shelby and Katelyn

HEY EVERYONE READING THIS.......

I had an amazing time camping on the 3 day weekend!! We had so much fun! Although we got a little sunburnt and very dirty we had a blast! I hope you all had a good weekend and a nice break! I totally did not want to get up this morning for school; i think i hit the snooze button like 5 times! It was somewhat challenging trying to wheel myself across the dirt and gravel. I had a hard time getting in and out of the boaats because i had to wait for someone to carry me in and out! Thanks if you helped me i really really appreciate it! On the last night we all walked down to the beach (someone carried me) and layed on blankets and star gazed. It was amazing!! We saw some shooting stars and 2 really cool shooting stars where they left a white trail as the went across the sky! It was so beautiful! it really made feal so humble and blessed! When you see the stars so clearly it feals like your sitting next to God as he paints this beautiful masterpiece! I felt like i could reach up and touch the stars and brush my hand against Gods fingertips! As i lay on the cool beach looking up at the stars i thanked God for everythiong he has provioded for me and all that he has done for me these past few months!

Prayer requests:

I am now without an aid at school so please pray that all goes well. i am very nervous as i dont hve any help. i am a lone ranger! luckily my teachers are amazing in helping me when i need it!

i am having some more tests done to see about my processing disoarder please pray they go well

my energy and spirit level..i sometime feel weak please pray for physical and spiritual strength

Love Ya All,

Katelyn

How it all began...

In Febrary, Katelyn first developed a severe unknown allergic reaction that caused her eyes to be swollen shut for over a week with orbital cellulitus and her whole body to itch. She was on high doses of antibiotics and steriods to clear up this contidition.

Next, in April she came down with a very bad flu virus that caused her to loose a lot of weight in a short amount of time. Katelyn ended up in the hospital due to dehydration and the inability to keep any food or liquids down. She underwent many tests and evaluations. At one point, she had lost more than 15 pounds. After 3-4 days of testing, it was finally determined that she had SMA syndrome, which is a small intestinal blockage. A feeding tube needed to be placed past the blockage before they could begin tube feedings.

Unfortunately, there were many complications involved in this process. They had to do feedings through her IV until the tube moved to the right location and multiple times they had to move her IV as her veins kept giving out. Eventually, they got the ND tube placed and after 2 weeks in the hospital we got to go home on home feedings until the blockage cleared and she could begin eating on her own again.

We started having complications almost immediately after going home. Her system struggled with the change in formula we went home on and the change in medications. Also, her feeding tube became clogged and required a trip back to UC Davis to have it cleared. After only 4 days, we were back in ER as her GI system developed complications. We were released for home treatment but the next week ahead brought further problems.

The following weekend, we were back at the ER due to the tube being clogged again (apparantly this isn't unusual). This time they brought in the Intervention Radiology team to pull the old tube and replace it with a new one. They choose to sudate her for the procedure this time. Again, there were complications arising from the medications and when she finally pulled out of the sedation she had lost all her muscle control. Her body had finally been through one too many traumas and shut down.

Katelyn was admitted again and we spent the next 2 1/2 weeks in the hospital in the rehab program. The one success while we were there was that she slowly began eating and the feeding tube was finally removed and done with.

Katelyn was released on May 29th in time to attend her 8th grade Graduation the following day. She was still completely dependant with no muscle control but she wanted to attend her graduation anyways. Strapped into her wheelchair, she wore a huge smile and accepeted her diploma.

Katelyn is now home and with the aid of a hospital bed downstairs, we are able to care for her here. She continues to have rehab therapy locally with a therapist she likes and has worked with in the past. Her progress is slow but the prognosis is for full recovery but it could be weeks or months, they just don't know.

Katelyn's Journey