We have answers.

Isn't it funny how, sometimes, we pray for answers and then we get them but don't really like the answers that we were given...not sure if it's valid to ask for a second opinion...

Tricia had an appointment with her Allergist today in which they went over some test results from her last visit. We got a definitive answer to our prayers: Tricia has a severe allergic reaction to...cow's milk and all products containing it.

This made some immediate sense as Tricia has always sensed that milk was a bit unsettling to her so she has never really had an appetite for it. Our next question was: if Tricia is allergic to milk, then why does she happen to have a huge, life-threatening reaction between the same small window of the last 5 months (25th to the 6th of each month)? Apparently, Tricia's body has some sort of tolerance level for milk product...up to a certain point. Under her current diet, it generally takes her 4 to 5 weeks to consume enough milk product before her body then has a severe allergic reaction from it.

So it came as no real surprise then to think back to the most severe reaction that she has had--which was this most recent one that led to her hospital stay. The diabetes doctors had her on a very regimented diet and the controlled carbs that they had her consume at every single meal in the hospital was...you guessed it...milk! 1.5 days of milk at each meal and she almost dies from it!

We will continue to be cautious for the next little bit as there are definitely some trace elements of milk product in Tricia's system and the Allergist will continue to conduct a few more tests. This will be a severe change in diet and lifestyle which we are trying to view as a blessing.

The timing of all of this is what is so unbelievable to me...I think many of you remember that Tricia was approved to get an insulin pump to help normalize her diabetes. She started the learning curve for the pump this week (which we are very excited about!). This will allow her to have a less diabetic-like diet. They say that timing is everything...consider this: Can you even imagine having to live off of a strict diabetic diet and, at the same time, not be able to eat milk products! Really, if this were the case, you could basically eat meat and grass. We feel blessed with the timing of all of this as the pump will help Tricia to have a normal diet (minus milk products) now.

Tricia and I wanted to thank all of you for your prayers, thoughts and words of hope and comfort...this has helped to give us hope and confidence. We truly feel like the Big Man has held our hand through this entire ordeal from the move to California to present time. We don't believe that we would have made the tremendous advancements that have been made recently under any other circumstance. Again, thank you.

Bennie
"Sometimes people need to learn to work together and cooperate. This is called sharing. They teach it to kids."--Dwight Schrute