TEAMThompson Prayer Request

Kaleesha and I took Philip to the doctor today and received news that Philip has Type 1 Diabetes.  Kaleesha has suspected this to be the case for about a week now based on some common signs he has been exhibiting.  They took a blood sugar reading of 506 in the doctors office (normal is 70-110) – so we were sent directly to the emergency room.  Philip has received 2 insulin shots to this point and his levels have come down.  In fact, they came down a little too much and he had to eat some snacks to get it back up.  We are negotiating the tricky part of stabilizing his levels without having a solid baseline to work with.  If I sound like I know what I am talking about, it is only because I have received a crash course in diabetes over the past several hours.  From everything we have learned, it sounds like getting Philip stabilized is the easier part – its going forward that is will be the most difficult.

The most humbling thing is to see family and friends spring into action around us.  One of the couples in our life group watched the other kids this afternoon – and we have been getting calls all afternoon offering to help us out in that area.  We were visited tonight by friends from Nathanael’s Pups football team who’s son has diabetes as well.  They were so kind to come see us and offer us advise and support as we enter this new journey.  Their son hung out with Philip and will be there to answer many of his questions in the coming weeks – we could not have asked for a better example of how to work through this.  My mom was on a plane within hours of getting the news this afternoon – she is having to spend the night in Dallas and will be here tomorrow.  We appreciate all the prayer that has already gone up for Philip and our family.

We were so thankful to learn that Riley Children’s Hospital is ranked very high in the nation for juvenile diabetes treatment.  Kaleesha and Philip are at the new hospital just a few blocks away - Philip thinks he has hit the jackpot.  He has both a flat screen TV and a computer/TV combo with internet that is suspended from the ceiling.  He was given a list of about 200 movies that are available to watch on them as well.  Across the hall is the “Teen Room”, complete with Wii and jukebox.  He has full access to the well stocked kitchen and kid’s play room as well.  He is also being spoiled by a fantastic staff.  We might have a tough time getting him to come home. 

As for Kaleesha and I – I think we feel like a rug has been pulled out from under us.  It is a very surreal feeling – I know things will be sinking in more and more over the next few days.  It is so hard to see your child suffer – we wish we could take this on for him.  We take great comfort in the fact that we serve a God that wants to be intimately involved in every detail of our lives.  He desires to celebrate our victories with us and hold us when we grieve.  It is hard to see His plan in all of this right now, but I have every conviction that he is going to use this to strengthen our relationship with Him and bring glory to His name.  Please pray that we would be faithful to hear His voice and do His will.  Please pray that Philip would feel His presence and trust His Savior throughout this whole process.

Just to finish this post with a lighter note – Philip was his usual  quirky self when getting his first ever insulin shot tonight.  Kaleesha had run home to tell the kids goodnight and pick up some supplies for the next few days.  I watched Philip decide that he wanted his shot in his stomach – usually the last option for most people.  Part of his reasoning was that with “six-pack” abs, it would not really hurt (not sound logic).  Philip has not been a stranger to needles by any means during his short life – so it was no surprise when he plopped down on the bed, yanked up his shirt and said “I’m ready”.  He truly is one of a kind.  

-Wayland

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