I Will Always Remember You!

In February/March 2007, I was blessed to go on a mission with a non-profit organization to China. Our very last stop was to New Hope Foundation in Bei Wu Township, Beijing.

I met and fell in love with little "Anna", a beautiful child who does not have the use of her legs, but has very strong arms and hands. She would not let go of my fingers, or my heart. :)

Since I returned from that trip, I have been Anna's monthly sponsor and was blessed to receive an update picture and report. She is very happy, loves to play with toys and playdough. She enjoys singing and can drag herself around and out of the playroom!

Here is a picture from February 2007 and two from March 2008.

I will always remember and love you Anna Gizella! I hope that one day you will be united with your forever family.

OFF TO CHINA!!

Hi Everyone:

Before you even ask, no, we are not adopting number six! However, I have once again been blessed with the opportunity to go on a medical mission with Operation Smile. Unfortunately, the student sponsor for the Qianxi, Guizhou Province of China Mission pulled out at the last minute. Fortunately, I was asked, at the last minute, if I could go with the students (Chelsea and Grace) as their sponsor! I met both girls at the Operation Smile Student Training back in January and they are both wonderful. Normally, sponsors only go on one mission per year, but knowing I have a multiple entry Visa, a passion for China and speak fairly decent Mandarin, I was asked if I could go. I am so blessed to have an understanding husband and family who said "go for it!" So, here I go!! I fly into Beijing on April 14th and will return home to the U.S. on April 26th. I am looking forward to once again serving Operation Smile; returning to the amazing country of China; and helping so many lucky children have a beautiful smile! Love always, Tracie xoxoxo

PRINCESS LUCY

Lucy and I enjoyed a nice evening with a friend and her two daughters at the Disney Princesses on Ice show. Since I have a house full of "tom girls," it is actually strange to have one daughter who loves to dress up and act like the princess she is! :) Having no previous experience, if my friend hadn't told me to dress Lucy for the show, I never would have taken these sweet pictures of

our little beauty.

Link to Cebu Mission Photoshow

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/hS7eD8XY

Click on the link to view a Photoshow I put together of the beautiful children of Cebu! Enjoy!

Anemia (I'd Rather Have an Anemone :)

Hi Everyone:

Dr. Gouw called me and had me come in today for more blood. I have learned that over the span of eight years (my blood draw history), I have progressively developed Chronic Anemia. It is not due to lack of iron, rather a lack of red blood cells, due to whatever autoimmune disorder is attacking and killing my cells. All of the obvious types of autoimmune disorders/diseases have already been ruled out - thank goodness! So, whatever I have has yet to be determined. Hopefully, it is something treatable or curable and my bone marrow can start properly producing and destroying cells again. I have lived in a "tired" state for so long that is has become the "norm" for me. Those who know me well, can you even imagine what I will be like running at 100% cell capacity??!! Who cares about whimpy 100 mile bike rides - I'll go for the 500 mile ride! Ha ha!!

To make a long story short, I have what is called Normocytic Anemia (normal shaped cells, just fewer of them.) Under NA, there are potentially four different sub-classes, or reasons why I might be Anemic. Under the four sub-classes, there are various causes. My form of Anemia is most likely either Aplastic Anemia or Chronic Disease Related Anemia. Neither sounds fun, so I have decided to call it Anemone instead, because they are pretty and flower-like sea creatures. Much more pleasant to think about.

The doctor is looking at my blood tonight under microscope, then I start my weekly draws on Wednesday. I have a feeling I will be seeing a lot of Dr. Gouw for a long time...

Overall, I feel good and am not worried because Dr. Gouw tells me not to worry. :) Easier said than done. Anemones, Anemones, Anemones. Happy thoughts!

More to come! Tracie

No New is Good News!

Hi Everyone:

I had a blood draw last night and another today...I will also be getting them weekly for the next six weeks. Oh joy! I met with Dr. Gouw (wonderful Hematologist!) First, the good news...he does not believe that my bone marrow issues are in any way related to cancer. Yahoo!

Unfortunately, he does not know what is causing the white blood cells to attack and kill the platelets and red blood cells before their "shelf-life" is up, or before my marrow has a chance to make more. Thus the reason for more testing...

My mom wondered if there was some way the white cells could attack the "aging cells." Ha ha!! Wouldn't that be cool??!! I will keep you all posted and thank you for your prayers!

:) Tracie

My Latest News

Hi Everyone:

I've been home over a week now and was so proud that I got over jet lag like a true champ! I was marveling at the fact that I am becoming a "professional International traveler!" Ha ha! Unfortunately, on Saturday I can down with a painful virus in my hips, spine, neck and skull. While in the Philippines, I was attacked by weird grass bugs, so my obvious options seemed to be Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, even Meningitis. I even wondered if I contracted some sort of weird "Monkey Virus" from the Tarsiers! Ha ha! Because I had just been on International travel, the Medical Instacare wouldn't even touch me! I was masked and immediately sent to the local emergency room where they took vials and vials of blood and gave me an IV of fluid and pain/muscle relaxant medications. I slept for three hours before being woken up by the doctor. Fortunately, the scary options I originally thought all came back negative. Yahoo! Unfortunately, I learned I have an infection in my bone marrow and that my white blood cell count, platements, and overall blood volume levels are excessively low. The doctor was very surprised how low my levels were and tried not to scare me, but I have to go back in for two more blood draws. Unfortunately, I am now praying for the best and hoping to rule out what the signs may be pointing to - Leukemia. Please pray that I do not have Leukemia and that I will always be here to raise my beautiful children and travel to help hundreds of other children that need me too. Love, Tracie

HOME SAFELY!

Hi! Other than a little jet lag, I am home safely from the Philippines and already back to work. I have to tell you the mission was such an incredible experience. I will never forget Sarah and Claire, and all the kind people I met in Cebu. I look forward to sponsoring students on another mission again in the future! I hope that I was able to make a difference in the lives of many children and their families. I will always remember the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Asilo de Milagrosa and the Colegio de Immaculada Concepcion and their warm hospitality. The children are so well taken care of. God bless you all.