December 22 family Christmas in Aptos and a beautiful day on the bay ….

Colleen and Myrna Dias

Greg and Joe Dias

Matt, Megan, and JoAnna Dias

Matt, Colleen, Megan, and Jocelyn Dias

Dave, Matt, and Colleen Dias

Matt, Colleen, Megan, and Jocelyn Dias

…. and someone below hiding from the camera man ….

Irene

…. an extraordinary sunset concludes the day ….

Continue reading

Walking the journey of a disease can sometimes be very challenging.  Brief of moments of levity are cherished …. Here’s a recent photo of Jocelyn “rockin around” the Christmas tree at the West Marine Holiday Extravaganza!!!

Irene drove herself to and from dialysis today and the nausea remained at a low roar.  At dialysis treatment she learned the following about her blood values:

Albumin/protein 3.3; target is 4.8-5.4
Phosphorus 8.2; target is 3.5-5.5
Cholesterol 123; target is 100-200

We await the amyloid blood test results which we hope to obtain late next week.

We’re grateful for moments of levity and especially for His Spirit which enables us to sense His joyful Presence in our midst, even when, as a family, facing the challenge of Amyloidosis.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Continue reading

People who know Irene well appreciate her as one who has empathy and profound compassion for others.  It’s a large part of who she is.

Compassion is defined in dictionary.com as:

A deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

…. For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13b
© 2007 Hosannah Loh

Irene has been musing on and appropriating the lyrics of another Gloria Gaither song today ….

I Expect A Miracle

I anticipate the inevitable, supernatural intervention of God — I expect a miracle.
To anticipate …. to look forward to what is likely to occur
The inevitable …. that certain something bound to happen
Supernatural …. the power beyond all nature and divine
Intervention …. comes between me and my problems just in time

Encouraging words for today ….

We also consulted with Dr. Kumar, Irene’s kidney doctor, regarding the status of her dialysis treatment.  Irene continues down the path of the fistula placement sometime in January.

Hosannah Loh is a person who acts on her deep compassion for Irene.  The photo in today’s update is not public on her website, http://www.naturespraise.com, but given the current season of Irene’s journey, Hosannah felt compelled to allow use of the photo.  Wow!!  We’re so grateful for providing such encouragement!

…. and we are most encouraged by the God who created us and His promise to Irene during this season of her life from Isaiah 49:13 ….

For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones

We are thankful that God has a deep awareness of Irene’s circumstances and dispatches relief through the presence of His Holy Spirit.

Caminando con Fé

Dave

Continue reading