Rough Times

Matthew, being silly, on the far right

Didn't I say I'd write a happy, peppy post next? In just a minute, I will put up a few pictures, but first - a review of a hard week for the Reimer family.

Friday after school our nephew (Gerald's brother's son) came home from school with a fever. By Saturday he was unresponsive and they took him to the hospital in Lawrence. From there they moved him to Children's Mercy in Kansas City Saturday night - very, very sick. Yesterday early in the morning, he was diagnosed with Addison's Disease. It's an autoimmune disorder in which he'll need hydrocortisone three times a day. It's manageable but it is chronic and can have times of crisis.

The family had already been through a lot that week - Troy had been traveling and while he was gone, the kids had several snow days, a blizzard and their daughter, Lucy, got her foot stuck in a frozen creek. After Matthew had gone to the hospital, Troy got sick and now Ben is sick too. They are, of course, exhausted and overwhelmed with the events of the week. Matthew should be released from the hospital in a day or two.

The same day Matthew was diagnosed, Gerald's dad went in for cataract surgery. He very wisely declined my offer to do it for him since I've seen so many . . . The surgery went well but then they had to drive home three hours in a blizzard! Thankfully, their wonderful pastor and wife were with them to be the drivers.

Please keep the Reimer family in your prayers!