Mei-Ling Update

Mei-Ling saw her nephrologist and he was satisfied that nothing had changed. He asked when her surgery will be, but no one knows until after her MRI in September. Last time she was tested, her kidney function was at 80%. It would be nice if it was a higher number since she has only one and that one is scarred.
It was strange taking her to this Doctors office. Its in the same office that we took Melanie for so many years as a child. Nephrology and Endocrinology are in the same office space at the Children's Hospital. I saw so many things to remind me of Melanie and I waiting to see the Doctor so many years ago. Insulated bags, in cute designs, that parents hope look "cool" so that the children don't mind carrying them. They are for keeping juice and insulin cool. Parents downloading the numbers from the glucose meters into daily journals. There were too many little arms, seemingly too small to be wearing medical alerts. Children with faces that showed they knew blood work was coming. Walking through the door to the exam area was painful for me. I remembered all too well, a little girls fear and pain and wondering why she had to be sick. I remember being so grateful for Doctors that restored life and maintained a level of health never to be taken for granted. Now, a second generation of all too often Doctor visits, and all the same feelings. Melanie knows...I understand.
It puts life in perspective....who cares about what kind of car your neighbor drives, or how big your house is, or how much more money you can make, when you know for sure, what really matters. Life.