January 2012-August 2012 Update

2012 has been full of challenges for Kadyn.  We usually like to sugarcoat things as much as possible.  However, there is just no way to sugarcoat what Kadyn has endured the past 8 months.   When her treatment regime was increased due to the cecostomy in December, we looked forward to having "our Kadyn" back pain free. But as we all know,  life does not always go as planned.

Here is the rundown of hospital stays since November:

• 5 days in November for a bowel clean out
• 8 days in December for a clean out and cecostomy
• 1 day in February for chait door placement (step 2 cecostomy)
• 3 days in April for a clean out, endoscopy, biopsy, colonoscopy, and motility testing
• 4 days in August for clean out and ct scan

Total days in hospital = 21

Today...we are waiting to find out where we go next for treatment (Buffalo, NY or Columbus, OH)

From the motility testing done in April, we know that Kadyn's intestines do not move like they should.  We are searching for the best solution and hoping that our next hospital stay will be to fix this ongoing problem.

I read a quote today that stopped me in my tracks.

You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it. 
                                                                                                                                               -unknown

This is so true.  Kadyn was a born fighter.  She has this unstoppable spirit and an overwhelming love of life.  I was looking for pictures of Kadyn for the Kadyn's Krew website and as I scrolled thru the thousands of pictures I have of her and Koy,  I realized that she is smiling in 99% of them.  I truly believe it is because Kadyn knows what it is like to have days no one could endure with a smile.  This, in turn, makes all the other days that much brighter and makes her that much happier.  I have had friends tell me that they love to watch Kadyn when she is experiencing something new because the look on her face is that of pure joy.   For me, it is truly one of the best sights in the world.

Koy and Kadyn have brought so much joy and love to our lives.  They are true blessings.  While Kadyn's diagnosis was one of the hardest realities to grasp, we are learning to live our lives to the fullest and we refuse to waste a single second.  Having a child with a life-threatening disease has taught us to do just that.  We pray every day for a cure, and when we aren't praying, we are playing, laughing and loving on the two greatest gifts we have ever known.

We have been overwhelmed with the love and support of our family, friends, and even strangers who have joined our fight against CF.  There are no words for how much we appreciate all of you.  We know we could not do this without you!