Knee Drain & Steroid Injection #3

I finally got some answers to all the questions I had yesterday! :)

Mia's rheumatologist responded and wants to act quickly to get the fluid off of her knee. The longer the fluid sits there, the more damage is causes to the joint, resulting in long-term damage to the knee. So, she will be going in next Friday for her third drain and steroid injection procedure. The last time she had this procedure done she was three-years-old and she had both her left knee and right elbow drained and injected. She will be sedated for the procedure and it is really quick....and provides instant relief to the joint.

In regards to medicine, her doctor said it is time she starts something stronger. She has been on Indocin (NSAID) for over a year-and-a-half. Before that, she was on Ibuprofen and before that she was on Naproxen. She has moved up through the NSAIDs family to the strongest "ibuprofen-like" medicine. And just like with the ibuprofen and the naproxen, we reach a point where the medicine no longer works and she need something stronger.

But, this is the first time we won't be doing NSAIDs. Mia's doctor wants to start her on methotrexate (MTX) - a chemotherapy drug. It is administered either orally by pill or by weekly injection. With every drug, there are always side effects. The most common side effects with MTX is nausea, hair loss, gastrointestinal upset, and mouth sores. Each child is different though, and some experience some of these side effects and some do not. We area believing that this medicine will do what it is intended to do, make Mia's joints happy again, and nothing else.

OH! And remember that "topical numbing gel" that the doctor wanted to give both kids? Well, our pharmacy called me yesterday and it is on BACKORDER and told me they can not get it. So, after all of that, the gel wasn't even a possibility!

In the meantime, she has been keeping her leg elevated and icing it. Most of the pain is directly behind the knee. She has also developed a fever that I am trying to keep down with Tylenol. She is still taking Indocin for now, but I have also doubled up on her cod liver oil, which is supposed to help keep joint happy. We are just doing what we know to do to keep the pain down as much as we can.

We have been down this road before, but it is never an easy road. Bottom line, though: we know God is in control. Mia will overcome this! She will have a testimony to share one day of how God healed her body from juvenile arthritis. Despite how grim things look right now, we know that God is at work and healing and wholeness flows through her body and her immune system lines up with God's Word.

And, sometimes we have to stop and remind ourselves of God's promises and go back to the beginning:

Mia Grace

“My Grace”

Our Confessions for Mia:

“He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone;

not even a finger gets broken.”

Psalm 34:20

“Your body will glow with health,

your very bones will vibrate with life!”

Proverbs 3:8 (Msg.)

“It shall be health to your nerves and sinews,

and marrow and moistening to your bones.”

Proverbs 3:8 (Amp.)

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones:

‘I will make breath [a] enter you, and you will come to life’.”

Ezekiel 37:5 (New International Version)

“’But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord…”

Jeremiah 30:17 (NIV)

“For He has fortified your gates against all enemies and blessed your children.”

Psalm 147:13

He who began a good work in MIA will continue until the day of Jesus Christ – developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to FULL completion in MIA’s body.

Philippians 1:6

You have given MIA abundant life. As your Word is spoken, life flows into

EVERY JOINT, TISSUE AND BONE of Mia’s body bringing healing and health.

John 10:10

Through Your Word, You have imparted life to MIA.

That life restores her body with every breath she breathes.

John 6:63

He sent His Word and healed MIA and delivered her from all destruction.

Psalm 107:20

…Himself took MIA’s infirmities and bore her sickness.

Matthew 8:17

…by His stripes, MIA was healed.

Isaiah 53:5

…for I will contend with him who contends with you and I will give safety to MIA and ease her.

Isaiah 49:25

I proclaim healing over MIA GRACE DEL TURCO. By Jesus’ stripes she was healed. The healing, life-giving, disease-destroying power of God is working in her body. It drives out all manner of sickness and disease. She is full of life, health, strength, and vitality. She is healed, healthy and whole from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. Every JOINT, TISSUE AND BONE in her body operates and functions the way God created it, with no disease or malfunctions. Every system in her body operates and functions with supernatural efficiency. Jesus Himself bore all sickness and disease; therefore, sickness and disease are not allowed to exist in MIA’s body.

She is free from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

The divine life of God flows through MIA, quickening and making alive her mortal body. She is free from pain, discomfort, distress, and all symptoms of sickness. God’s Word is medicine to her flesh. We are not moved by how she feels, how she walks, or any negative reports because we believe God’s Word and His Word says 
MIA GRACE DEL TURCO is healed! She is healed, healthy and whole in Jesus’ name.