A New Diagnosis

Back to School!
“Are your holes gone?” Jonah T. asked me as we walked my students to Spanish class last Monday. It took me a minute to figure out what he meant… It was my first full day of work since mid-November, and my brain wasn’t thinking quite as fast as usual. “Some of them are,” I replied as we walked down the hall. Though I was tired, I was so thankful to be back at work! I missed my kids! That afternoon one parent exclaimed, “The kids were glowing when they left school today! It makes a difference when you’re here.” It’s nice to know that they missed me, too.

I have felt deeply loved and supported by my students, their parents, other teachers, and my principal in the last weeks. My church in Florida, my church in St. Louis, and the folks at NMSI have also come alongside of me during this process. Thank you so much to all of you who have been praying! I have needed it, and still do!

I’m Confused… Why Weren’t You Able to Teach?
After an endoscopy and colonoscopy in mid-November, I was diagnosed with acute ulcerative colitis---a chronic, essentially incurable, auto-immune disease with no known origin. It is much like Chrone’s Disease, except the ulcers (or holes as Jonah T. called them) are superficial, only affecting the mucus layer inside my large intestine; whereas, Chrone’s Disease affects both large and small intestines and there are ulcers/holes in the intestinal wall as well.

A follow-up colonoscopy two weeks after my original visit to the hospital showed that some of the ulcers and inflammation have disappeared, meaning that this “flare up” is passing. This is good news! Additionally, biopsies from both colonoscopies showed no signs of cancer. Yeah! Thankfully, with medication and a restricted diet, my health is improving. I have another appointment with the gastroenterologist mid-January and hope it will include the words, “No more suppositories!” Ha ha!

What Does Life Look Like Now?
The nutritionist at the hospital gave me a basic list of foods that are hard to digest that I can not eat anymore: seeds, beans, nuts, green vegetables, berries, wheat bread/bran/granola/etc., milk products, caffeine, anything with carbonation, butter, oil, spices besides salt and cinnamon, peels/skins of fruit/vegetables, highly acidic fruits, refined sugar, beef, ham, pork, etc. I am considering trying to eliminate gluten as well, as I’ve read that this can also be a trigger for people with UC. I think it is more likely that I will need to eliminate yeast though, as this is also a problem for people with mold allergies (me) sometimes.

Currently, I am house sitting for various families that are out of town on vacation and staying with my student Andrew’s family (see attached photo of the Wheatons). They have been an incredible blessing and encouragement! I am thankful that I got to return to work for the last week of the semester, and I look forward to teaching full-time in January!

Pray that Christmas break would be a time of rest, hope, and clarity as I learn more about how my body tolerates different foods and determine what living environment would be best given these new dietary restrictions (for sure still in Costa Rica!). The last few weeks have been hard, but God continues to provide just what I need, and I trust that He will lead me.

God’s Provision:
*I had written lesson plans for November and December pre-hospital visit.
*I completed most student assessments to compile grades pre-hospital visit.
*We found a substitute who spoke English and was able to stay with the kids over an extended time so they didn’t have a new teacher everyday.
*I had TONS of visitors at the hospital and did not feel alone.
*My school was incredibly supportive and flexible during my time away.
*I got to spend a few days as Miriam’s teacher before she moves to Ecuador (end of December)!
*I have gotten more involved in the youth group at church on Saturday nights. We went Christmas caroling in Spanish together last weekend!

God’s Beauty:
*The kids wrote Miriam notes and gathered around her to pray on her last day at school, before we sent her off to Ecuador. Every single one of them contributed words of blessing, protection, and faith. They were so thorough and compassionate! Wow!
*My friends Matt Boden (Kylee’s husband) and Erin Schwend are getting married in January!

“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” –Psalm 36:5

Other Happenings:
*A consistently cheerful and well-loved man, the principal of my school was let go on the first of December. Leadership has decided to pursue accreditation through Costa Rica’s MEP program more aggressively, and he did not have the appropriate academic degree for this process.
*Several of my friends have disaffiliated from NMSI.

Please pray for the leadership at both institutions.