Storms - Aria MacDonald

Storms

UPDATE:  Scope looked beautiful- their words!  Nice and shiny and you could see the vili!  Aria did awesome too, really liked seeing the insides of her intestine, strange girl!  Lots of bloods taken today, will get results at clinic tomorrow

We sail along in our little boat.  Sometimes a storm comes along, perhaps it is just a rainstorm but it feels like a hurricane.

Today our concerns where confirmed.  Aria has been bleeding out of her bowel.  The past couple of days her stool output looked really black and today it looked red.  They did a test to see if there was blood in it and there was.  Also her iron count/hemoglobin has dropped quickly from last week.

It is really hard not to let this kinda news rock you to the core.  Based on all our experience this year we continue to be fragile people.  This bowel is very very precious and any concerns about it are scary.  There is not another shot at this.

Tomorrow Aria has a scope planned.  They put a camera thru her stoma and take biopsies.  Rejection is NOT on the list of concerns.  Her intestine continues to absorb very well, in fact she has gone down on some of her meds.  She isn’t vomiting.  But her intestine isn’t behaving like it used too and it will be good to know why.  Perhaps there is a little irritation and this caused a bleed.  Maybe we won’t find out the source at all.

So scope tomorrow and clinic on Thursday to find out the details.  We rest patiently in the arms of God knowing that He will continue to do miracles for Aria.

Have got a few emails saying the Sunday story link isn’t working anymore.  Sorry we are not sure why it has been geo blocked to NZ viewers only.  We hope to find out and get it working again.  We are quite disappointed.  After all these hours of filming it was great to have something online to show our friends and family overseas.

30 Responses to “Storms”

  1. Carolyn O'Cain says:

    Praying with all my heart for this unexpected “bump” in the transplant journey. May His peace and grace cover you all.
    In His love,
    Carolyn O’Cain

  2. Lisa Robertson says:

    Oh am so sorry to hear this, understandably very worrying for you. Will keep you all firmly in our thoughts xxx

  3. Kathleen and Anita says:

    The films were really worth all the hard work. And what shines out is that we have a great God who is intensely interested in a little person called Aria. Her parents testify to having put their whole trust in Him and that makes everything worthwhile.
    In this storm He is still there!

  4. Mary says:

    Yes, Thinking of Aria today (well, like every day really) and will offer many prayers. I exhaled again when I got to ‘Rejection is NOT on the list of concerns.’ Thank you God, but any problems scary for you all the same. Adding love to the huge amount being sent from NZ.

  5. joyce says:

    We will rally aound the prayer chain again and trust the Lord to keep Aria and you all in his care. He is ever faithful and will see this problem thru also. May they find a quick answer and get it corrected.

  6. Bracefield family says:

    Praying for you at this time of challenge.
    In Christ
    The bracefields

  7. Nola Young says:

    Praying that you can know His peace, calm and strength in the midst of this latest pressure. Ps 112:7,8. Praying for a clear and good outcome.

  8. Welshie says:

    Keeping our fingers crossed that it’s just irritation causing the bleed.

  9. Christine Blake says:

    Hoping that this “storm” will pass to and Aria is okay. Thinking of you all.

  10. kelli says:

    Cant imagine how hard it is to get news like that, my thoughts are with you all and you said it best “God will continue to do miracles for Aria” I truly believe that also, Much love and prayers

  11. Samantha Sutherland says:

    Thinking of you and hoping for a very positive result from the scope. You will live in deep fear for a long time I have to tell you, you have been through so much and have had to respond to emergency situations as part of your normal life for so long that it takes a long time for your heart to stop ripping each time that your child has a ‘bump’. Three years on Hamish and I have finally started looking at Lara as normal and stopped feeling so very sick inside when something is not right with her. It will come, but know that you will feel afraid for a very long time still, it is part of the course when you have what you have had. (Sorry not trying to frighten you but prepare you because your feelings have lived on the edge for so long that it will take a long time for you to come down and breathe properly again – this is from my experience anyway). Remember that Aria is amazing and will fight and fight and fight and will get through this.

  12. Steph VG says:

    Praying earnestly for you all that God will surround you with His comfort and grace as He has been doing. xxxxx

  13. Cork and Carol says:

    Praying!!

  14. charleen says:

    the sunday item on your family was, i thought was very well presented, and sensitively filmed. i really enjoyed it.

    so sorry aria has hit a bit of a speed bump, i will be praying for her that this isn’t too serious, as well as for all the family.

    i know you want to come home, but i guess right now, it’s still best to be near the team.

    you will be home, when the time is right, and in the meantime, you have people who care, in omaha, in manurewa, and online strangers.

    god still has the situation under control, and i admire you, anita & hamish, for your strength & the courage your whole family has shown.

    god bless you all.

  15. Kay and Tom says:

    You’re in our prayers too. We greatly enjoyed the film. Such a testimony to how great our God is!

  16. Glenys says:

    Stay strong, strong like you have already been so far. You have a very strong little girls in Aria – don’t forget that. I will be praying and hoping that the scope test goes okay for you all.

    My love, and thoughts are with you all.

    Loved the doco you are an amazing family, and you are an amazing Mum with an amazing little girl.

    I know cause I had one too. A Mum’s love like yours is very special.

  17. Viv says:

    Prayers that it’s just a wee hiccup and something easily fixable.

  18. Tiffany Keller says:

    I’m sorry to hear about this latest bump in the road. I will pray that it’s nothing serious, & that the doctors can help her get back to doing well again. God Bless!

  19. Yvonne RRN says:

    I too thought the Sunday prog was very well presented, I was watching it from both the family & medical angle.
    Hope you never had any or not too many critics, those ppl only deserve the dump key. When it came to the subject of money I think you handled that tough question very well. Afterall the money has not only saved & helped Aria, but also helped the medical team & expand their knowledge, which one day will also save another life. Dr Botha looked so happy & proud & rightfully so as not only are you all so special to him, he has had the opportunity to practice & expand his skills. So altho the money granted to help Aria it has proved a twofold purpose & as a NZer taxpayer I’m very proud of that. Plus you guys shd not feel guilty as afterall you were all working hard on fundraising, not as if you were resting on your laurels in the easy chair waiting for this to drop in your lap! Plus the stress, emotion caring for a sick little girl. Well done to you all. We just chipped in via our taxes to help & boy has that paid off in multiples.

    Am sure sweet, determined Aria will jump over this latest bump. She is a trooper superkid as we’ve seen over the years of her short life. Plus with Dr Botha & his team alongside, no one will go down without a fight.

    Well done to you all

  20. jen says:

    praying hope it gets sorted

  21. Jeannie Overall says:

    Our prayers are for all to be well with Aria-That our sovereign Lord will continue to show His miracles working in her precious wee life-God be with you all – Jeannie

  22. Rod & Margaret says:

    The Sunday programme was very well presented and we were so proud of Aria – bless her! We will continue to pray for this latest hiccup believing for a touch from the Lord.

    “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
    when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
    For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
    Isaiah 43:2-3
    God Bless

  23. Christine MacDonald says:

    Praying this is just a little bump, love to all

  24. Stephanie says:

    Dear Aria and family,

    I came across your story on attitude TV and have been incredibly touched and humbled. I admire your courage, you have a beautiful family with so much love and such a fantastic view of life. You answered some very difficult questions so eloquently and with such a philosophical view and such poise. I do wish you all the best, may this be but a small bump in an otherwise smooth journey.

    I am only at the beginning of my medical career, but it is the amazing families such as yourselves and your courage and determination which is truly amazing and inspires me to go into paediatrics. I hope one day that i can help families, and remember the true heartache and enormous strength possessed by parents such as yourself, and amazing young people like Aria. Your journey has made a lasting impact on me and i hope that what i have learnt and seen will help me to help others. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Sincerely wishing you all the best. God Bless

  25. Maree says:

    Go straight to the TVone webpage and type in Sunday Arias story is still on the front then u should be able to play it from that link for your friends. Best wishes

  26. Viv says:

    Oh yipee! There just is nothing quite like healthy bowel, is there!

  27. Leticia says:

    Love that the scopes look good! Hopefully this bump will not be anything major. Although I don’t actually know you all that well, I just have to say that the sunday program has been so wonderful for your supporters. The kids have watched it twice now.. They pray for you regualarly adn it has been good for them to see you do exist! not just words on the interweb!
    Much love and prayers xx

  28. Nola Young says:

    yea for a healthy looking bowel with beautiful villi! Hope they can find the solution for the bleeding. We keep praying

  29. joyce says:

    What a little trooper you have there. May you get good reports and peace of mind. Will be praying.

  30. Refugio Hairell says:

    I never usually worry about leaving comments but I liked the post and wanted to say thanks. I’m sure other readers will enjoy it aswell. Thanks Again.

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”- Jeremiah 29:11