Pray For Tristan

Along the lines of my last post, I wanted to share a prayer request. A friend of mine from high school has a young boy (about Madi's age) that was recently diagnosed with Lyme Disease. They have three older children and have recently moved to Texas and are serving the Lord there.

I have included an exerpt from their website that tells a little of their story:

I knew from the start that Tristan was going to be different. Unlike my other three pregnancies, I did not pray for a healthy baby. I prayed for strength to deal with whatever the Lord was going to send our way. At two weeks old our doctor consulted a neonatologist concerning Tristan’s health. At four weeks old he was admitted to the hospital for observation. At six weeks old he was diagnosed with a rare, potentially life threatening birth defect, and at just eight weeks old he was again admitted to the hospital for major surgery. Three procedures and eight days later, we returned home with our precious baby thinking the worst was now behind us.

Within three months we again began to fear something else was wrong. By nine months old our doctor agreed, and the testing began. Test after test showed nothing, yet doctor after doctor said, “Something’s wrong!” We slowly began to realize that no diagnosis was far worse than the fearful words “life-threatening.” The unknown can’t be fought. It can’t be treated, and it can’t be beat.

In just three and a half years of life Tristan experienced 11 different specialists in two states, 6 surgical procedures, endless blood work, several MRI’s, ultra-sounds, CAT scans, x-rays, a spinal tap, an endoscopy, a colonoscopy, and 2 misdiagnosis. Throughout it all we mentally prepared for the worst, but continued to hope for the best.

Finally, in March 2009, we were given a diagnosis of Chronic Lyme disease. In spite of all our preparation we were not prepared for the path that this diagnosis would take us. Shrouded in medical and political controversy, Lyme patients are left to decide their own fate. Phone call after phone call proved all the research to be correct. Our son had a disease that no doctor wanted to treat. When hearing his age, we were turned away. Nothing could have prepared us for this. While not guaranteed, there were treatment options. We understood there were risks, but when doing nothing is guaranteed to fail, how could we not try? We had watched his health steadily decline, and knew we would do whatever necessary to get him help.

Hope was finally raised when a medical center in Arizona agreed to accept Tristan’s case. He will be the youngest Lyme patient they have treated, and a treatment protocol has to be designed specifically for him. They have not promised us the world, but they have offered us hope. In his short life Tristan has suffered with constant fevers, extreme fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, rashes, abdominal pain, and a weak immune system. He has also been recently diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis. If even one of these symptoms could be lessened to make his life just a little easier we would rejoice!

Costly? Oh yes! As a result of the controversy, insurance companies will not pay for much of the treatment necessary to fight the disabling affects of the disease. (Lyme has a disability factor equal to that of congestive heart failure) But, as any parent knows, no price is too high for the well being of your child. We have all dreamed at times of, “saving the world!” Right, now we are simply asking your help to save one child.

For More Information, visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tristan1

By Melissa Varner

On Friday, May 15 from 6-8 pm there will be a fund raising event at their church in TX to help with the medical expenses. The one treatment in AZ is $22,000 (which God miraculously provided), but that does not counting living expenses, food, etc. There will also be follow-up treatments at home plus all the expenses they have incurred in doctor and ER visits so far.

Please pray that this fund raiser is successful and an encouragement to the Varners. Please also pray for strength and wisdom for their family as they deal with Tristan's health needs (he suffers through a lot of pain, exhaustion and fevers) and for God's Will in the healing of their little boy.