Dr. Piccirillo

A year or so ago my lyme doctor, Dr. Piccirillo,  was written up by the state of Iowa.  He was written up because of how he treats lyme disease,  a disease that most believe does not exist. This has been a fight over the treatment of Lyme disease, and he has chosen to fight because there is a large amount of 1yme patients that see him here in Iowa, which I am very thankful for.  Iowa tends to be pickier on their health treatments, and lyme is a part that is very heavily watched everywhere but especially here in Iowa.

 A couple weeks ago things got stickier, there have been some articles published about him and his practice as a lyme doctor. He has a court date on December 7, and this will reveal what will happen to him. He could lose his offices in Iowa, he would then do all his treatments out of Illinois, or something worse could happen. 

 I do not know very much about the situation but I do know that he is in need of prayer. Prayer for favor in the eyes of the court, the Iowa medical board, even his patients. Lyme is a very controversial disease and Dr. P has willingly chosen to not only treat it, but to fight for it. He knows people are not crazy, but they have a real disease, one he himself has had.  I've been with Dr. P for over a year and I have seen so much improvement from the treatment he has given me. I have always felt safe and comfortable with him as my doctor and I will advocate for him.

 Please keep Dr. Piccirillo  in your prayers.  December 7 will reveal more of what is to come,  for now his office will be open for sure until December 7, his time in court will reveal if he can stay here. Please be praying for strength for Dr. P and the Lyme patients he treats and how we all react to whatever may happen come December. May the Lord use it that people may come to know God, the one thing that will never change or fade. Thank you for your prayers. 

Was, Is, Always Will Be

As summer has ended and fall begins, I have found myself in my favorite season.  The colors, temperature, football,  even school are all things I love about fall. I am now in week seven of this semester, the time has flown and although at times I get tired of doing all the homework it has been a joy being back with my classmates. I'm currently taking thirteen credits, which is the most I've taken since I've been sick, homework takes up a lot more of my time but I'm keeping up very well, by the grace of God!

In early August I started medication for a viral infection, this med ended up making me really sick and having to go on a medicine holiday. I began to get better just time for family vacation to Branson, I'm still in the process of getting back on my lyme medication but it's going well and I'm off the viral med which is a huge blessing. 

Our vacation to Branson Missouri was a blast!  We did a large amount of activities, and had a wonderful time together as a family. Here are some pictures of our trip.

  This is our family in front of the Titanic Museum, which is a must if you ever find yourself in the area!

 This is Tera and I parasailing, it was a blast! 

Aaron and my dad also parasailed, it was a first for all of us.

 This is Aaron, Tera, and I at Silver Dollar City. 

We have a picture of ourselves as a little kids on this chair the last time we were in town.  

I believe Aaron was 2, I was 5, and Tera was 7. We've grown just a little bit :)

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  My big struggle has come with my right hand.  I injured it the first time a month after surgery, and I re-injured it one month ago.  I'm still seeing symptoms worsen and we still don't know what is exactly wrong with it. I began seeing a new hand therapist, after the first didn't know what to do with me. I was just dismissed from the second therapist last week because they were also making the symptoms worse.

 I started getting new symptoms; numbness, tingling, and burning along with wrist pain in my hand. These symptoms point to carpal tunnel syndrome. My hand surgeon thinks that if I had carpal tunnel syndrome before surgery that could be what's causing lack of healing now after surgery.  Others think it's a problem with the ligaments and muscles, that's not related to the surgery but rather the injuries that I have had sense. I'm not exactly sure what is wrong so we're taking things one step at a time with lots of research before action. I have a nerve test on October 15 to see how the nerves in my hand look, so prayerfully this will help in some way.

 I've told you before I learn the most from pain, and I have found a lot from not being able to use my right hand but have also noticed it's not so much knowledge that I have gained.

"We are apt to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching, it is to be turned into something better than teaching, viz., into character. The mount is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something." ~Oswald Chambers

 I noticed that the change from my right hand is in my character rather than my knowledge. I've seen my trust go deeper into the Lord, my patience grow, and myself relying on strength of the Lord to a deeper level. This growth has been beautiful to see, many times it has been hard to live through but wonderful to see the faithfulness of the Lord. Right now I am still a lefty, and the Lord has been so gracious with legible handwriting and more natural movements of my non-dominant hand. My doctor is having me wear a brace on my right hand which is taking down the carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, which is also a huge blessing.

 One of the verses that I have clung to the last couple months is from Psalms.

"Before the mountains were born or you gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" ~Psalms 90:2

 I've been amazed by the fact lately that God has always been, is now, and will always be.  This truth is so refreshing, especially with difficulties we go through in this world; pain, school, family or friend troubles, even the unknown. We have a God who knows all things, He is a God who we can trust with all things. The difficulty is learning to trust and put our hope in Him alone. 

Prayer Requests: 

* Continued grace  school and being a lefty

* That the Lord will continue to refine my character

* That I would trust the Lord with the unknowns of this hand problems, and my hope would be in Him alone. Along with wisdom and what treatment to pursue.