Soldiering On!

Tonight, I’m glad to be posting again. Qavah has been living pain free days for nearly a month and we are thrilled for her. However, the past two weeks we kept forging through a maze of little trials and took no time for updates. The intense concentration on getting Qavah’s diabetes under control was holding my attention.

The problem Qavah is having presently has to do with the slowness of her healing process because of diabetes. After several trips to the doctor, tomorrow she is having a CT scan with contrast to examine the surgery area. We are praying the CT scan on Qavah will show significant healing. Our local physician suggested putting in a drainage tube but added, “that would have to be done in Cleveland.” We really are praying this test will show there is no need for that.

I’m going to mention the name of Donna Powell, who spent the night before Qavah’s surgery praying for her. It touched my heart so deeply to know that she did that. It’s her prayers, along with everyone else’s, that is getting Qavah through this long ordeal.  All those prayers back on May 5 were like praying her recovery forward …to victory. Thank you for praying and I especially thank Yeshua, the Great Physician, for overseeing Qavah’s healing. Amen!

Great Nights' Sleep

These past few days have been so healing for all of us. Paul and I were struggling with a virus during our trip to Cleveland that left us exhausted and with a lingering cough. We’ve been able to sleep in and get some sunshine during the day. It has helped so much to just be at home and nap when we need it. 

Qavah is doing very well. She is healing so well. There are many ways we see her life has improved post surgery. For one, she is able to sleep through the night. She also seems to have more interest in doing things. We’ve been on the phone to Cleveland about a few of the wrap up details, but mostly, our attention is turned toward being home. Moving forward, we are hopeful that Qavah will be able to do the things she wants to do without having to deal with pain anymore. Thank you for your prayers and continued commitment to pray for Qavah. Things are so much better; prayer changes everything.

Leaving Cleveland

After a second night of sleep post-op, we all woke up this morning refreshed and decided to slowly pack and get ready to leave for home if we felt like it.

It was a nice slow pace this morning and I listened to worship music as I cleaned and packed our little apartment at the Ronald McDonald House. Praise and worship has so much more meaning after being with families all hoping and praying for miracles. I read the journal in our room this morning - the one parents sign before leaving - and on almost every page people wrote about the steadfast love of God and His mercy toward the sick children. It’s so true. We’ve witnessed all of it. So I wrote,”God is the author of all of our stories; may our stories end with Praise and Honor for our Holy God who has given us Hope all along the way.” Our stories are really about Him.

We left Cleveland feeling grateful for the hospitality and excellent quality medical care of The Cleveland Clinic. Qavah is asleep and probably going to sleep most of the way home. Watching her sleeping so peacefully makes for a quiet trip as we watch the flat Ohio farmland give way to the mountains of West Virginia. 

We have been so grateful for all the prayers and notes of encouragement this past week from all of you. We have felt strengthened many times knowing we were not alone. As we will probably be home this evening in time for Paul to start mowing, we look forward to seeing many of you soon as we resume our regularly scheduled activities. 💐

Good Morning!

I know you will rejoice with us when I tell you that Qavah had a fantastic night of sleep. There were no issues. She is feeling great this morning and getting around well.

Many times in the past I have heard women try to explain the pain of endometriosis and it sounded so miserable. But often times it is hidden and goes undetected in the best of MRI scans. Yesterday, during the surgery here in Cleveland, there was endometriosis found in Qavah in an area that was near nerve endings. In a brief explanation, the surgeon said she removed all of the endometriosis and cleaned out what was not seen in any tests but possibly the source of years of pain. This morning, Qavah is getting around and wants breakfast. So now we are praying this recovery, and the revelation of what was found and removed, will be the beginning of new and better days. 

Qavah’s follow up appointment isn’t for two weeks and can be done virtually. We’re thanking God this morning for all the things He has done for us and for Qavah behind the scenes. So many things He had to arrange and rearrange but the end result is seeing His kindness to Qavah. She is sitting here peacefully beside me.

Finished!

Qavah’s surgery is complete. We know the surgery went well though we don’t have any detailed update from the doctors. Qavah is currently in the post-op recovery room.

Surgery

Qavah’s surgery just started. We were told the procedure should last anywhere between 1-5 hours depending on what is needing to be done. We are praying the surgeons will make the very best decisions. May they be tools in the hands of the Great Physician! Thank you joining us in prayer! 

Update

Qavah's IV has been placed in her arm but she is waiting to be taken back to the operating room. Qavah's surgeon is still involved in another lengthy procedure that is going to continue for a while longer. 

Qavah is just calmly lying here and from time to time we talk about something we want to do when we are home in Virginia. Please join us in praying that Qavah's surgeon will be refreshed and strengthened when it's time for Qavah's surgery.

Surgery Time Scheduled

This morning we woke up early to get to Qavah’s appointments. We walked together in the cold fog from the Ronald McDonald House to The Crile Building.  Everything went smoothly and we decided after the appointments to spend the rest of today resting. We are keeping our hearts and minds fixed on what God is doing here. We’re making the effort to keep out the noise of the world and stay quiet before Him. 

At our first meeting with anesthesia this morning, the nurse read over Qavah’s medical notes and said,”I am reading this and feeling like Qavah is here for her miracle tomorrow.”  Since that statement came out of our first interaction with a medical person this morning, I’m believing it was a special Word to encourage Qavah. 

Surgery is now scheduled for tomorrow, May 6th, starting at 11:45.  We will arrive two hours early at 9:45. God bless Qavah’s surgeons with a good night of sleep and give them special insight tomorrow. Amen!

Thank you to all of you who are praying for Qavah. I know we will all be praying with faith that can move mountains.

Arrived

We have enjoyed this day of travel. A room at Ronald McDonald house was open for us when we arrived an hour ago. An answer to prayer! We unpacked and settled in, and plan to do something fun tonight with Qavah. We’ll probably watch a movie; one of her favorite activities. 

It’s May 2nd; the day we celebrate adoption day. We have even more to celebrate this year with all the good things that will be happening for Qavah. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be here and rest. Love to all on this beautiful Spring evening! 

Stronger, wiser, and full of hope

It has been many years since I stopped writing to these journal pages. Writing had become such a part of every day life, and it blended in seamlessly to my routine. It was a way of expressing my gratitude to God for His daily provision and strength, and it was a witness to His sustaining grace. 

Then one day, I opened the “Family Journal” to write an update and found that a couple of people had “fun” with the comments on my journal pages overnight. I was already emotionally exhausted by the years of what seemed like endless doctor visits and hospitalizations and found someone had written,”it seems like you really enjoy all this illness.” I broke down and cried over the lie that morning. Nothing could have been further from the truth. We had watched Kathryn teeter on the brink of starvation in total despair. Doctors seemed to shrug her off as though she was just seeking attention until a smart surgeon took over and made a major repair to her abdomen. Although there were victories, I needed time to stop writing, grow spiritually, and mend. 

I put my writing aside the day I read those comments and continued forging through another decade of extreme health issues with Qavah and Kathryn. I went to work trying to find ways of teaching Qavah, who had been diagnosed with an intellectual disorder, and kept praying for miracles which came in the form of some great children’s therapists. 

So here I am again, posting to the Campbell Family Journal, on the brink of another miracle for Qavah in Cleveland on May 6. And as I write tonight, I think about how I have grown tougher skin. All comments are welcome but will be moderated before posted. I want this to be a daily stop for anyone needing encouragement, or anyone needing to feel you’ve just read something that has meaning for you in your walk with God. 

I have a song I am clinging to as a reminder that to get through anything, I will find my victory by standing still before an Almighty God. He will win all these victories because while I wait, He is making all things new.

Link to the song: He Is Making All Things New