Re: Keri and Josh/Pancreatectomy

[Guest guest]

Hey there....I am so glad your computers fixed and to hear from you. I had

asked Shirley and she had asked me a few times if I had heard from you, we were

both wondering like so many how you made out with your visit to Dr.

Sutherland. He truly is an angel among us and Anne Marie is another. There

have been

so many " ANGELS' " that have walked this journey with us that I am thankful for

all of them! I was so very touched when I met you and your husband, I felt I

made a difference. I was overcome by emotion the whole time I was in

Indianapolis. I just felt for the first time like I belonged and that no one

was

judging me or my son, " ALL " understood and it was simply put " overwhelming " to

feel the compassion and understanding I experienced while there. I just got the

pictures back yesterday and was showing my family who you all are, they hear

me talking about you all, and were happy as I was to see the faces that have

become a part of our lives. PLEASE keep us updated on how things progress, I

can't say enough about Dr. Sutherland and what he and his colleges have done

for all of us suffering with this illness. I will be waiting to hear from you.

I wanted to share with you Brandans progress, although he did try to

attend school the first week of his senior year, unfortunately the " residual

pain " and fatigue he is still experiencing has hindered that progress. The

doctors where not sure here what could be causing this pain but after a recent

ultrasound a new Dr. that has seen him has found that Brandans spleen is

enlarged

and might be causing this pain? He is scheduled for a CT yet again next week

to see if this is the cause. Brandans spleen was not removed during the

surgery, in some cases if it can be saved they do so, everyone is different.

BUT

Brandan continues to be insulin free, sugars are normal, and he is eating like

any " normal " teen should be and enjoying every bite. But mostly there are not

anymore PAINcreatitis attacks, only pain that he says is not like the pancreas

pain but still pain that needs minimal amounts of medication to make him

comfortable compared to the enormous amounts he use to take. So compared to

where

he was a year ago he is so much better, we continue as we have to take it " A

DAY AT A TIME. "

Again " THANK YOU " and the many that continue to walk by our sides,

without you all I am not sure where we would be.

As always keeping you and yours in our thoughts and prayers...Keep

smiling(cuz sometimes its all one can do!) TTFN... : )

Peg Bates

Brwnbare9@...

Massachusetts State Chapter Rep.

Pancreatitis Association Intl.

" It truly is amazing how one person can make a difference. "