The Results are IN!

Well, I know some of you have been waiting to hear from us for a couple of weeks now, so I wanted to let you know where we stand. 

Ben got to see a very nice pediatrician here that checked him from head to toe.  Initially he told us that Ben looked good, which was very good to hear as many causes of long term anemia that can't be corrected are very scarey.  He told us that we would temper the blood results with what he could see in person.  I could tell he was preparing me in case the labs were bad and trying to ease our nerves while we waited.  I was appreciative of his attempt, but the long and the short of the whole thing is we've been battling this for a while.  I had done some research on what tests they might run to find the solution, and those weren't great either.  So, when the doctor called a couple of days later to let us know initial results from the bloodwork, I was a little incredulous and waited for the whole story to come out before letting you know.  The phone report was that Ben's labs were, get this, NORMAL.  Well, that makes no sense and then again, how many people were praying for our sweet boy?  So I breathed a little easier, but waited to hear face to face what the doc thought.  As we sat in his office and looked at the lab results line by line and saw them fall in  the normal range, with the exception of two little numbers that were only a hair outside.  There must have been 30 or so result lines.  Then the doctor floored me by saying, "He's totally fine.  Don't give him anymore medicine."  This child has been on iron supplements for a good portion of the last 2 years and all of the sudden, he's fine.  Seeing my questioning look, the doc said (in his Brittish accent) "If you would like to do something for him, go get him a Mac Burger."  Yes, they have McDonald's here, can you believe it?! 

So as crazy as it sounds, Ben's fine.  It sounds so weird because we expected a lot of answers, but not that one.  Then again, that's exactly what we prayed for, so why am I surprised?  My favorite African reached in the vehicle the day before we left, put her hands on Ben and prayed that God would heal him.  Praise be to the God Most High, that heals.

When I get back home, I'll send you some pictures of Ben petting a lion and feeding a giraffe. 

Why aren't you back home, you might ask.  Well, it seems that we are currently stuck here because of me!  I had a little fall, out west, that I wrote about.  It seemed to have caused some sort of injury to my neck/shoulder/arm that doesn't want to heal.  Since we are here, I had to see the doctor too.  I didn't get off quite so easily as Ben, at least not yet.  I had my MRI today and hope to get some answers tomorrow.  I know I'm not so cute and cuddly as Ben and since I did fall and hurt my own self and there is no way this is not so life threatening, you are not quite so interested in my silliness.  I just thought I'd let you know why we are still in Jo'burg.  I don't know when we'll get back home, but I've got work to do, so it can't be too much longer.

So, thanks for your prayers.  Keep them coming if you don't mind. 
With Love,
Heather