Not ready to go home yet

So at last the doctor forbid the idea of sclerotherapy, because Jasmine's drainage output has decreased. Most importantly, Jasmine was actually so active that she had successfully detached the drainage tube from her body.
Without the tube, some of the fluid got collected and created a little bump on her chest. Surgeons and doctors want to keep an eye on it and make sure that it won't grow in size or cause infection. Then the doctors also mention that her immune protein is low and she would need to inject IVIG(immune protein) weekly. How long will the treatment last? We don't really know, as that have to depend on Jasmine's test result. Last but not least, specialist from infection team will try to switch Jasmine's antibiotics from IV to oral. We are not sure when will they begin that switch, but they would need to spend couple days to monitor Jasmine's condition after the switch 

With everything mentioned above, it comes to a conclusion that we have to remain in the hospital for a longer period of time.

Besides Jasmine's condition, there are more hardship that had happened recently in our family. Super tough time, but we as a family are keeping our spirit up. We learnt that although we might not understand God's plan, but we can 100% sure that He would only prepare the best things for us. Challenges are not blocking stones to us, instead they should be stepping stones to achieve higher things. Lee's family will not let the devil beat us so easily!!!!!

We are thankful thatJasmine is doing better each day. She is more like her old self now - happy, playful.  We are also super thankful that we have a lot of support from family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. I can never say enough "thank you" to all those lovely people. 

Happy Halloween

I'm feeling a lot better today, and mommy allows me to take over today's post.
Happy Halloween everybody, I'm all dressed up and ready for Trick or Treat.  Are you?

Updates 10/27/11

Haven't update Jasmine's condition for a while, because there aren't too much progress and I'm physically and mentally exhausted. Jasmine's potassium and sodium level are stable now with the help of medication. She is still on few kind of antibiotics; in order to fight off any potential infection that she might has on her mass. There were days that Jasmine's blood count was low and almost needed a blood transfusion. Fortunately, she is able to create more red blood cells on her own these couple days (although is still not in the normal range). 
The doctors and us had a conference last Wed and here's their plan:
--continue to perform blood draw and monitor Jasmine's blood test result
--if everything looks good through the weekend, then the doctors will move to the next step: sclerotherapy


Sclerotherapy : using medications to reduce swelling and infection. Sclerosing Agents are injected into certain large cysts to reduce their size. This mean the cysts is not removed, but scars down on itself son that growth stops. 

If everything goes according to the plan and no complications occur, it means--two more weeks and we could go home!

Jasmine's potassium level is stable

Jasmine's potassium level is finally stable with the help of medication. So why are we still in the hospital? 


1. There are still pending blood test results
2. Doctors still couldn't figure out the reasons behind all these (I doubt they will ever find out the reason.....and I surely hope this is not one of the requirement that is retracting us from leaving. Because if it is, we will be here forever)
3. Jasmine has been getting a lot of IV fluid, and it causes her mass on her chest grow bigger. Now the doctor is trying out a new medicine on her for three days, and hopefully it will help decrease the size of the mass.
4. If the medicine doesn't work, then they will perform a procedure on Jasmine. It involves poking several pin size holes on Jasmine's chest; in order to drain out fluid from the mass. (if we have to go to this step, it means we have to stay even longer!)

Is a mystery

We are still in the hospital as Jasmine's potassium level and blood count are not stable. Besides, we still have to wait for the blood test results to come back and hopefully the doctors could figure out the reasons behind all these. 
Jasmine is always a mystery to the doctors:
Unknown cause for her lymphatic malfunction 
Unknown cause for her unwillingness to eat orally
Unknown cause for her high potassium level and all the other wacky numbers from her blood tests
God's plan is always a mystery to us:
Unknown cause for giving us a baby with special medical need
Unknown cause for letting Jasmine suffer from all the medical procedures
Unknown cause for giving us challenge after challenge 
The only "known" factor is LOVE
-endless support and love from:
Family
Brothers and sisters in Christ
Friends.....BFF......
Jasmine....even though she has to go through so much, she is a true trooper as she would smile back to us and even comfort us by touching our faces
God.....even though He let us go through so much, He still provide us strength, peacefulness from time to time....Without him, I don't think we will still be alive......

Jasmine is back in the hospital

10/7 Friday 
10am:  Follow up appointment  & blood test @ Seattle Children's
1pm:  Blood test result is back--Potassium level is at risky level, sodium level is low, blood count is low, white blood cell count is super high
2pm: Doctor is very worried about Jasmine's condition and transfer us to the ER 
6pm: Have blood transfusion, transfer to ICU
10/7-10: Blood test every six hours.  Various tests followed and still couldn't figure out the reason behind the poor blood test result.

Children from our church are so thoughtful, they have sent us a lot of drawings for encouragement.










10/10 afternoon: Transfer to regular room.  Blood test twice a day, but still no answer


10/11.........still no answer

Luckily, our little warrior is still trying her best to keep her spirit up

Happy birthday, Mommy

 I'm so glad that I got to celebrate mommy's birthday in our own house.

Happy birthday!