Update to Madelyn's health journey

We have been on this journey with our precious Madelyn for six years now...in fact, it was six years ago last Friday night, June 5, that started our first trip to the hospital.

God gave us Madelyn and we are thankful.  Here's a bit of her story, if you aren't familiar with it.

Since we relocated to Texas, Madelyn's GI physician at Children's Hospital Colorado, Dr. Kramer, recommended two doctors in Texas for us to become established with in case of emergency.  We live closer to Houston, so Dr. Fishman at Texas Children's Hospital it is.  We will continue Madelyn's primary care (for her esophageal varices) at Children's Hospital Colorado with Dr. Kramer.

This leads us to a July appointment with Dr. Kramer and an upper GI endoscopy.  And a new physician with the Liver Clinic at Children's Hospital Colorado, as requested by Dr. Kramer.

So, we await those two mid-July days of appointments and scope.  The day after Madelyn's endoscopy, we will ride the 2015 Courage Classic (benefitting the Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation), July 18-20.  We will ride on 'Team Madelyn' this year with some incredible friends! We have nine team members this year and are thrilled!!!!  Six adults and three children will take on the Rocky Mountains and are riding for Team Madelyn while many more 'Team Madelyn' members will take care of our children, be our sag wagon (if needed), pray and be there cheering us on at the finish line with the best smiles and hugs!  And still other 'Team Madelyn' members will be wearing shirts, praying and cheering us on from afar.  We are grateful for everyone's encouragement and continued prayers.

For more on our team of friends we are joining, check out Team Madelyn at the Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation Courage Classic website.

Another fun way to join our fundraising efforts is with 'Team Madelyn' shirts.


Thank you for praying for this journey and for our team of riders as we train and tackle the 2015 Courage Classic.
- Meredith

2014 Courage Classic

It's been a long time since I have blogged but I have so much to share here right now, so get ready for more posts.

The 2014 Courage Classic was incredibly hard, emotionally and physically.  The three day ride gave us over 150 miles of the gorgeous Rocky Mountains.

We climbed multiple passes and mountains and enjoyed the finish line each day.  Collin and I rode together...he stayed with me and I am so grateful for his encouragement.  By staying with me, I mean he rode next to me, right in front of me or right behind me for about 90% of the three days!  He 'climbs' mountains differently (read quicker) than I do so he would climb and wait for me some.  It was incredible!  AND we got to ride with our friend, Matt.  He rode with us some and climbed faster than I did too so we caught him at the rest stops at the top of each pass, visited, fueled up with delicious foods and sailed down the mountain.

I can't describe the feeling of accomplishing this...although I must admit that I called our 'personal sag wagon' (my Dad and Collin's Dad) to come get me and I plan to ride more this year.

If you are new to our story, here's our 'why' we do this, her name is Madelyn.

Below are some of the pictures from last year, enjoy!
- Meredith

At the Courage Classic, you can add your 'why' to the 'Why I ride' board.  It's incredibly overwhelming to see the many reasons (general and specific) why people participate in the ride.  Everyone from patients to family members of patients, medical staff and friends ride.  It's amazing to see over 2,000 people ride for children.  

Life right now...

Life, for us, has been humbling lately.  We are thrilled to be together and plan to close on our home in just 15 days!  

God has brought us through some situations we would have not chosen but we are thankful for His provision and mercies through it all.  

So, what have we been up to lately...

Madelyn visited Dr. Fishman at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston and the visit went well.  Dr. Kramer (Children's Hospital Colorado GI that has cared for Madelyn for 6 years), recommended two pediatric GIs in Texas for our 'emergency' care while we continue care with him in Colorado once or twice a year for upper GI endoscopies and follow-up care.  

The appointment was to make sure all of Madelyn's records were in Texas and meet Dr. Fishman.  We hope to never utilize Texas Children's Hospital but are prepared if Madelyn needs care there.  

For the trip, Coleman got to play with my parents while Collin and I focused on Madelyn.  She enjoyed going to dinner and getting frozen yogurt afterwards with us.  We stayed close to the hospital for our morning appointment the next day.  God blessed the appointment, it was a fun time and we realized how fast our little girl is growing up!  

She tried a new flavor of frozen yogurt and loved it.  

Daddy and Madelyn enjoying frozen yogurt together.

Selfies while waiting are always important.  

These dancing cows in tu-tus are at the elevator to the GI clinic at Texas Children's.
And they are noted in the directions from the referral specialist.  :) 

We have visited a church here and enjoyed the sermons and people.  Coleman wants to go to church and 'play cars with kids'!  And Madelyn went to Sunday School on her own this past Sunday and LOVED IT!  We are so thankful and amazed at how the sermons speak right to us (we know it's not a coincidence but God teaching and encouraging us) and we discovered Backyard Bible Club was this week.  So, we found the one closest to our new home (with the help and invitation of some lovely ladies at church) and went last night. We were welcomed and Madelyn enjoyed it.  Coleman did too but he's a little young so we aren't sure how he will finish the week out.  

Summer dance starts today and our girl is ready!  What a busy week, this summer is already flying by!  

More updates soon...

Meredith