On Tuesday evening I was watching my favorite smart alec doctor, House, and working on my student's grades when the phone rang. I though it was 1 of three people: mom, my sister Dayna, or my friend Jenn. To my surprise, it wasn't one of them. There was a woman on the other line telling me about reading my blog. Reading my blog.....is my phone number posted on my blog? No, keep listening...............
Brittney, the woman on the other end of the phone, explained that she had spent a couple hours reading my blog and viewing all of the pictures. Although she was hesitant about calling, she gave it a go. As you read on you will realize that God works in mysterious ways..........His work is never "Just a coincidence!"
Go to google, type in 'infants with cystic fibrosis in gainesville, ga'. Choose the 'images' button and our photo appears in the middle of the screen. Choose the 'blogs' button and we are the first blog listed. This is how the God's plan began to touch our lives.
Brittney has a 3 year old son, Landon, who seems to be in good health. On February 18, 2009 her daughter, Lanie, was born. YES, her name is Lanie! Sounds just like my Lainey, but spelled differently. A couple weeks after Lanie was born, Brittney and her husband received a call about the concerning results of the newborn screening. She took Lanie to have several sweat test, only to receive the confirmation that she indeed does have Cystic Fibrosis. As any mother, Brittney was concerned, overwhelmed, grief stricken, scared, and looking for answers. It is at this time when her mother-in-law did a google search for 'infants with cystic fibrosis in gainesville, ga'. After finding our blog on Lainey's cystic fibrosis, Brittney's mother-in-law insisted she check it out.
Brittney spent several hours checking out our blog and pictures, when she realized something for the first time. She knows my husband, Sid. Brittney and Sid worked together at the nursing home and he had trained her! She had also seen him at the hospital a week prior. She came to our house for Logan's baby shower! She knew she could call us!
Our phone conversation went on for about two hours. We had so much to share, so many similarities. Both of our precious girls are named Lainey or Lanie! Our boys also have "L" names! She lives in Lula which is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Gainesville! We both are committed to finding a cure for CF! I felt the presence of God within our conversation. He brought us together for the much needed support we both desperately need.
Lanie, Brittney's daughter, has had issues with foul smelling and loose stools. Lanie is also constantly looking for more food! After having her stool tested, she was told that there was no fat found! This is awesome for Brittney and Lanie! She knows that Lanie has Delta F508, but the other mutation is unknown. I shared as much information with her that I could think of.........I just had so many questions for her! Although we live very close to each other, we see different pediatricians. Her pediatrician sent Lanie to the Scottish Rite Cystic Fibrosis Center, while our Lainey goes to the Egleston Cystic Fibrosis Center. We spoke about trying to get her Lanie changed to the Egelston location because it is closer, but we aren't sure if Dr. Caplan would be able to keep Lainey and Lanie straight!
Brittney and I plan on working together to raise money for the Great Strides Walk in Athens, Georgia on October 17th. I feel so much better now that I have someone to help me! Any ideas on a team name for our Lainey and Lanie?
God is so good! HE has so many ways, some subtle and other grandiose, to show his love, care, guidance, support, and commitment. I am truly blessed to be HIS child and to have benefited from his sacrifices. Thank you God for bringing Brittney's family and our family together. Through HIM and my blog, I am thankful our story has provided comfort to others as well as created new friendships. HIS plan will bring great things!
DeAnn
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