praying for Sophia

A friend recently asked me about Sophia and how she is doing – especially since that blue episode.  I was glad she asked, and I realized others might also be wondering how Sophia has been.  So here is a little update, a copy of what I sent my friend. 

You are so kind to ask about her;  thank you. Sophia is doing well.  She hasn't had another blue episode, praise God.  She had an appointment this past Monday with her pulmonologist - a regularly scheduled visit.  After she did her blowing tests, I talked with the doctor about them.  They measure how much air she is able to push through her lung in a big breath.  You may already know that the left lung has 2 lobes, while the right lung has 3.  Since her right lung is gone, the tests reflect the air going through the left lung's two lobes.  The test measures the ability in the upper lobe - which has larger, thicker bronchioles, and then the lower lobe, which consists of 23 "generations" of smaller, skinnier branches.  The 2 numbers for Sophia's upper lobe are in the 50's and 70's, while the lower ones are in the 30's.  The doctor's goal is to have all the numbers in the 80's, but she said she's not sure that is possible.  A normal child with 2 lungs would have all four numbers around 125-130. 

It really brought home to us how compromised she is on a day-to-day basis, as far as her ability to breathe is concerned.  In fact, when she had a virus last month, her lower numbers were 22.  But, God has really made her such a strong little girl in so many other aspects.  She is very skinny- but all muscle!  The girl will most likely never need to say no to chocolate chips.  :)

After the dr. visit, thinking about the numbers and about Sophia made me want to get down on my knees and thank God - for giving her to us, for taking care of her so well, for His kindness to her.  She doesn't know how different her "numbers" are - that she has to work so much harder to breathe.  She's just living life - and very happily at that!

But it does give us a good picture of how important it is to pray for her continually - and reminds us of how thankful we are when other people pray for her, too.  Thank you!

If you are one who has faithfully prayed for Sophia… Thank you.  I really can’t tell you how much we appreciate it.