IT'S A WINNER!!!!

Nick entered this picture in a photo contest....and WON!!!
It will be published in the Nov./Dec. issue of Image Magazine.
He also receives $25.
Congratulations Nicholas!!!

Thursday

Nick left this morning headed to Florida.
Here are a few pictures along the way.
They have arrived safely and are already
having a good time. He will be returning home
Sunday evening before church.
Tonight they are going to be
rock climbing and bowling.
Tomorrow is the water park!



Jacob, Esther, Nick, Ryan
Gabriel, Caleb, Athena

Athena, Esther,Gabriel,Jacob
Caleb, Ryan, Nick

Caleb,Gabriel,Nick
Athena,Esther,Jacob

Space

As you are all aware, there are seven people living in our home. Thus, space is a precious thing.
Nicholas has his own computer but not really space for it. This is where and how he usually works.
Notice the very nice mouse pad.

Thursday

Ok, so you all know about Nick's possible trip to the Denver Children's Hospital to participate in a research study. Well, we got a phone call yesterday from our local newspaper and they are coming over tomorrow morning to do an interview and discuss the possibility of following Nick through this journey. This is very exciting and we are praying this will in some way help raise awareness about PKD. The reporter requested permission to contact our doctors and to also bring his photographers. We are still waiting to hear back from the Denver team (paperwork). They are however staying in contact with us.

Nicholas

Colorado PKD called back today to get more information. There are 23 spots still available and as long as Nick's nephrologist can get the paper work submitted in a timely fashion we are in. Tentatively we will fly out the end of April/first of May. Three days and two nights.

PKD

We are asking for prayers regarding the following information. Basically, Nicholas has been invited to participate in a research study for young PKD patients. The medication involved in the study is actually the medication that he is currently taking and is not a research drug.
There are a lot of factors involved and we truly want the Lord's will in all this. The following is the information about the study.

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Polycystic Kidney Disease Research Group
13001 E. 17th Place Mail Stop C283
P.O. Box 6508
Aurora, CO 80045


Colorado Children's study currently enrolling

Read a recent news release about a Seattle 7th grader taking part in this study.Children and young adults between the ages of 8 and 21 with ADPKD and normal kidney function are eligible for the research study at the University of Colorado in Denver. The study is exploring the use of two medications, pravastin and lisinopril, to slow the growth of cysts in PKD patients. Researchers there believe that early intervention in young people may help preserve kidney function and avoid complications from PKD in later life.

Both pravastatin and lisinopril are currently on the market.Pravastatin has been used to treat high cholesterol levels, while lisinopril is commonly used to treat high blood pressure. Participants do not have to have high blood pressure or high cholesterol to participate in this study.

The study is taking place at The Children’s Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

The study will involve three hospital visits over a three-year period at the study site, The Children’s Hospital in Aurora, CO. Each hospital visit will last two days and involve blood pressure measurement, blood and urine testing and radiology (x-ray) studies. Between hospital visits, participants will be asked to take medications and to record blood pressure measurements at home on a regular basis. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and there is no cost for participation. Travel to Denver is paid for young adults ages 18 years and older. For children under 18 years of age, travel to Denver is paid for the child and for one parent. In addition, study medicine and home blood pressure monitors are provided free of charge to participants.

The principal investigators are Robert W. Schrier, MD and Melissa Cadnapaphornchai, MD. For more information, please call 303-724-1690 or toll-free at 1-877-765-9297 or email PKD.Nurse@ucdenver.edu.

PKD Update

Today was Nick's echo cardiogram. Other than seeing an unborn baby in the womb via ultrasound this was one of the neatest things I have ever seen. The human heart!!! We should have the results the early part of next week. Christian had his 12 year old check up today as well. We did blood work and an EKG. Those results are all in but..we were in Houston when they called so I have to call them back in the morning. Christian is also scheduled for an ultrasound on September 18th. That was our day in a nutshell.

Friday

I have had a looooong day. First stop of the day was to see Dad's endocrinologist. Not to much to mention about that visit other than they checked thyroid, hormone function, and B-12. We will have those results within a week or so. Next stop was to the neurologist. He then told us that the 'metal' the tech mentioned last week is actually a clamp holding two titanium plates together on Dad's skull. Then came the whopper...Dad's pituitary brain tumor has returned. At this point it is very small. We have already been advised against another brain surgery. Dad will be 73 in a few months and is weak in health overall. We have been advised to just sit back and wait. Sit back and wait!!!! The GREAT news in all of this is that Dad is saved and will spend eternity with our Lord and Savior. On another note we finally recieved an appointment for Nick's echo. September 9. Please continue to pray for our family.

Tuesday Update

Well, we are home and the day went fine. We arrived at 2 p.m. as scheduled and the called us back around 2:30 p.m. They started the IV on the third try. Then during the preprocedure exam determined that there was 'possibly' something wrong with his heart. (Remember we are still waiting for an appointment for an angiogram.) Therefore it was to risky to go ahead with the sedation. After talking to Nicholas for a while it was decided to try and do the MRI without the sedation at all. They gave him some goggles to wear and watch a movie while they performed the MRI. That helped and he made it through the entire exam just fine. We arrived home around 6:30 p.m. Thanks for all your prayers on Nick's behalf.

Welcome New Blogger

Our middle son, Nicholas, has decided to start blogging. I hope you will all welcome him. He will mostly be posting pictures for now. He really enjoys taking pictures and is rarely without his camera. http://www.nicholas-sanchez.blogspot.com/ Now I don't know where I will get the pictures for my own blog (:

Nicholas

This is Nicholas. He is our second son. He will be 15 next month. Most of the pictures on my blog are 'Nic's Pic's'. Nicholas has really taken to the camera and is constantly taking pictures. I will post some of his creation shots later.



Nicholas and his mom (me).
Right after coming out of the lake.

Thursday

WOW!! Talk about a busy week. We have been busy all week in preparation for the upcoming surprise 45th anniversary party we are having for my in laws. The video presentation was just finished. To y'all who know me that drives me crazy because it is very last minute. The nurse called today on Nicholas. No results just more waiting. We have been waiting for a month now for a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. Today the nurse said they would like to schedule a MRA of the brain. There are two problems with this. One is if this is not performed next week it will have to wait until the second week of June. We will be gone on vacation from May 23 through June 1st. Second, unfortunately this will require sedation which is very hard for me to endure as it is quite unpleasant for Nicholas to go through. Please pray for our family during this time. I must go now as I still have plenty I could be doing. Thanks to all who take the time to read what I have to say.

Tuesday

Today was a fun day. This is our son Nicholas or
as we usually call him Nick. Yeah I know he is only 15 (almost)
and already has his own cafe. What can I say other than he is
brilliant.






Here are Catie and I as well as our daughter Victoria acting silly at the party supply store.

Busy Week

WOW!!! What a week. No terrible news just busy. Monday my 14 year old son, Nicholas, had an appointment with his nephrologist at Texas Children's. Blood pressures are running quite high. We are waiting for a 24 hour blood pressure monitor as well as an echo cardiogram. My 8 year old daughter had her appointment on Wednesday did basic blood work and urine. No results as of yet. Today was my turn. Due to no health insurance I go to Galveston UTMB for any kind of specialty care. Today I saw my nephrologist. BP's slightly high (already take meds for that) gained 2 pounds since last visit and had a rather elevated white blood cell count. Several possible reasons for that, but for now we have scheduled an upper quadrant ultrasound that will look at the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, spleen, etc. Then return to Dr. in June. So no one got bad news just things to wait on. Next week on Tuesday our baby, Isaiah, goes for his 18 month check up. He will probably get a round of vaccinations but hopefully the crankiness will be over by Friday which is our semi-annual church camping trip. I have slacked this week so tomorrow I will catch up on all my school grading for the week. I hate it when I fall behind. It is so much easier to do daily but sometimes things get in the way.