More Variety!!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,
who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1: 3-9

Today Sandy and I were suppose to go to Tijuana for an MRI but they couldn't get a driver, so we will most likely be going tomorrow afternoon.

It has not been a good day for Sandy, she didn't eat breakfast and then threw up her meds just before lunch. At lunch, she ate 1/2 bowl of soup and small pc of fish. She is down another 5lbs since yesterday (124lbs). They gave her a shot to stop the nausea and something for her stress. Now the doctor said we should make a list of foods that she would like (healthy ones) and she can have them. They also put her on protein shakes made with coconut water and fruit. They will also go pick up bananas for her, because they usually do not keep much fruit on premises.

Sandy is not sleeping well at night. Her mind is too stressed so this makes her very tired during the day.

The chiropractor had good success with treatment today. It is nothing like our chiropractors back home, but very beneficial nonetheless.

Sandy has a six hour IV tonight that will start at 6pm.

If the gynecologist can fix her issues quickly we may be able to get out of here around the 7th which means we should be home in time for the fundraiser. I saw our bill today. I pray that God will bless the fundraiser!! When we do go home she will do so with a suitcase full of drugs! The doctor also said that when the vaccine is ready we will have to give her 45 shots in the abdomen --one every other day. Any volunteers???

Anyway, one of the inmates and I plan to get together tonight to try to make coffee. She smuggled in some grinds. It might taste like "drank water" (Low German saying) but as long as it has some caffeine, it's worth a try! We tried to bribe some of the workers to bring us some coffee, but they are all brainwashed. [Later text: One of the inmates just snuck me a packet of perk coffee grounds. In the bathroom drinking it. It's a bit crunchy but good. Feel like a criminal!]

Tomorrow Sandy will have throat surgery 1st thing in the morning.
So, hopefully I have better report tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers and support!

-Susan

More food!

GOOD NEWS! NO more wheelchair!!!! Her swelling is way down.

Last night was not a good one for Sandy; she had a meltdown around supper time. She called home to speak to Katie, and because Katie was not feeling well she cried the instant she heard Sandy's voice. Sandy is already a bit stressed out about things at home and hearing Katie was hard. She had not eaten since breakfast that day, and so by 7pm she was vomiting and feeling lousy. They gave her more meds via IV and finally a banana (her 1st one since we got here). Rick called and she finally drifted off to sleep. The doctor thinks that we may have to have Rick come out as well, if things don't improve (Daddy's girl).


The surgery that she was supposed to have today for her throat blockages was postponed until Wednesday. Not sure if her meltdown had anything to do with it.

We are on a [strict] vegetable diet. They only give us fruit for snack 2 times a day, which is about 7 raspberries or blueberries. Sandy ate at lunch today but is still not feeling great. She is very tired.

Today the doctor saw her at 7 in the morning and she had lost another 7 lbs since yesterday (down to 129). This means they will reduce her diuretic and she is now able to try treatments.

Sandy saw the dentist today to check if her fillings are toxic to her body. She has some usual stuff everyday which I really don't get. It has to do with sound waves to the liver. There are about 5 stations. She is required to do 2 per day for 1 hour each.

Today, they gave Sandy her first Ozone vaccine which is supposed to reset her immune system. What they do is put Ozone (03) into a syringe, draw some of blood, mix it together, and inject it -into her butt. Ouch! She gets one more Ozone vaccine this week. They also drew a HUGE tube of blood which they will use to make another vaccine. We will have to come back to pick it up after we are done these treatments because it will only be ready in 2 months from now. 

Sandy had an appointment with the nutritionist and they decided they will give her more cooked foods and berries to get her weight up. She's lost too much weight; she is very malnourished now. But this is good news about the food! Now for sure no more liquid day! YEAH!!
 
Bottom line: everyone seems to be in agreement that her birth caused this. C-section = Bad. No breastfeeding = Bad. Swallowing feces in womb = Bad. Cow's milk = bad. Childhood vaccine = bad. All these things together = Bad!
 
Sandy has to see the psychologist at 5, then more IV time. Our day ends at 8pm at which time we both go to bed.  


Tomorrow, we have to go to Tijuana for an MRI and Thursday a OBGYN is coming to check her out. Dr Mesa thinks that doing these things should not be overlooked because her health issues could be related to the health of her uterus. Anyway, that means we will leave the grounds! I will pretend to go to bathroom and find coffee because I know they don't stop. At least, that's what the other inmates told us. Do they have cafeterias in Mexican hospitals??? This will surely keep me up at night.

-Susan



 We wait in hope for the LORD;
       He is our help and our shield.
 In Him our hearts rejoice,
       for we trust in His holy name.
 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
       even as we put our hope in You.
Psalm 33:20-22

"Day Off"

 Today is Sandy's "day off". She will only receive her iv and medication. The doctor said I could take her out to the pool and hot tub. We had ourselves a little church service because there are some awesome Christians here! We got together around 11am for the service and had prayer, singing, and one of the guys led a bible study. This was so good.

She lost 4 lbs of fluid since yesterday. She is down 7 lbs from when we got here. When we arrived she was 143 but today she is 136. This means that the medication is working!!

Most likely Sandy will have surgery tomorrow. They will use a camera to go down her throat to remove any possible blockages near her stomach. They will have to put her completely under for this procedure. In addition they will start a vaccine to fix her disease. 

She is scared.

-Susan [In text messages]

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
-Philippians 4: 6-9 

Caffeine deprived, but still alive!!

Well, it's official. We can't escape for a espresso. We checked all angles. We don't even have access to the beach; just a sharp drop and rocks. This place is tighter than Alcatraz!!! Sandy wants to tell the nurse that she is cold, get lots of blankets, tie them together and throw them over the big wall [to escape]. I'm not so good with heights. Bad idea.

I will send pics of our lovely white outfits we get to wear, complete with white socks and sandals. Red neck style! Awful perdy!!

This morning she walked to the dining room for the first time and everyone cheered! Right after breakfast the specialist came and drained her lung. Her lung was 60% full and he told us that they never take out more than 1 liter at a time, because it is too dangerous.He was very gentle and drained it very slowly, he only took out 750 mL (when we were in Steinbach in February, 10 l mL was taken out. On March 10 in the States 2500mL was drained, and on the 22nd of March 2500mL was drained when we were in the American hospital).

Sandy is very weak, and was in recovery for 1 hour. She had to wheelchair to lunch (recall she walked to breakfast). Most of her day was canceled as she is too tired. She didn't even wake up for her IV treatment after lunch; she slept right thru it.

The specialist started her on a new med this afternoon, Beta Blockers, and some different kind of diuretic [which helps in the formation of urine]. He wants to stop the fluids from building up and going to the lung, he says draining is NOT a solution. He put her on restricted fluid intake, only 1 liter a day. Sandy is happy about that because every Thursday is liquid only day. Now we don't have to do it! Last Thursday we were SO hungry after supper that we each had a life savor which we found in her bag it never tasted soooo good! [Kim's note: I remember her packing those! Cheaters!]

As for me [Susan], I am having one doozer of a time with drug rehab [drug=caffeine?]. Thursday I was throwing up, Friday came the headaches and last night [Friday night] I got no sleep. My WHOLE body is in so much pain and I only have relief when I stand. I'm taking pain pills but they not helping too much. Hope it goes away soon.

Meeting lots of really nice people here! Most of them are Christians! We are all praying for each other, which is cool. Everyone has really taken a liking to Sandy. There are about 20 patients here and we share computer time.

Best part: her Doctor is muncho hot and young but extremely good. She is getting her lymphatic draining massage at 5 pm and she is super happy her colon hydrotherapy (enema) was canceled today. Oh and we are 2 hours behind you guys [in Manitoba].
-Susan

Feel free to leave comments as they will be encouraging to the family!

Introductions

Hello and welcome!

I'm really excited about this blog because the purpose of this is really close to my heart. The reason for this blog is to bring glory to God through his child, Sandy. Sandy and Shaun, her loving husband, have two adorable kids and live in Manitoba.

Currently, Sandy and her mom, Susan, are at Sanoviv Medical Institute in Baja, California (www.sanoviv.com) seeking treatment for the health issues that have been plaguing her for most of her life. Recently, Sandy's health took a turn for the worst and she was admitted to the Steinbach hospital for a lengthy period of time. Since then she has been in and out of the hospital. A very amazing nurse recommended Sanoviv to Sandy and her family and was living proof of the wonderful things that they accomplish there.

It has been only by God's grace than Sandy is alive today and God has baffled even the doctors!!

This blog title is called "On Eagle's wings" because of a passage found Isaiah 40: 
²⁶ Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
       Who created all these?
       He who brings out the starry host one by one,
       and calls them each by name.
       Because of his great power and mighty strength,
       not one of them is missing.
 ²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob,
       and complain, O Israel,
       "My way is hidden from the LORD;
       my cause is disregarded by my God"?
 ²⁸ Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.
 ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.
 ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;
 ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

No matter how we may feel, we can place our hope in the Lord, because God is faithful!!

More will be posted in the coming days so keep coming back for updates! I will be posting e-mails from Sandy and her mom and providing information about the upcoming fundraiser (Sandy and Shawn have been financing her costly treatments through the bank).

Most of all, KEEP PRAYING!! Pray for Sandy's health (and sanity). Pray for Shaun and the kids as they are missing a vital part of their life. Currently, the kids are staying with some of Sandy's aunts and uncles during the week as Shaun must continue to work to support their family. You might be able to imagine that this is a hard transition for everyone. Pray for her parents as they are also apart as her mom is staying with her at Sanoviv. Thank God for his wonderful love that He has been revealing during this time!

-Kim