Adding Asthma for Connor .....

Today was the long awaited Appointment with the Pulmonologis! But first we got to see our beloved Michelle Sutter at TCH who looked over Connor and his progress when it comes to his JDM :)
She was very impressed with his strength and how well he looked. She asked about Mouth sores and when we told her how Connor had them continuously she said she would ask Dr. Soep and see if she be willing to stop the daily Folic Acid Pill Connor is one and switch instead to Leucovorin one a week, to be taken the day after Connor's Methrotrxate/Chemo Shot :) Dr. Soep gave the all clear and Connor is happy to give this a try :)
After we finished there we had 10 minutes to go up one floor and check in with Dr. Stillwell, the long awaited Pulmonary Appointment.
We might not be the happiest about the diagnosis but Connor and I were very impressed with the visit. Dr. Stillwell was very throughout in his questions and his team that worked with us was very nice and attentive. We are so lucky when it comes to the medical teams we find in, first Chicago, and then Denver!
First Dr. Stillwell asked a lot of questions and then Connor was handed off to a lady that took him to complete three lung/breathing tests. This took about 30 minutes and then he came back after receiving an inhalation with Ventolin. Connor then had to wait for 10 minutes before they got him again for one more test.
The tests went very well and the reason why Dr. Stillwell is pointing towards Asthma is due to his breathing improving by a big margin after taking the inhaler.
So we are now adding to the medical lineup:
Ventolin HFA 90 mcg per actuation  and 
QVAR 40 mcg

Of course I looked it up and it is such a common thing to have... 24 Million people in the USA have it and 7 Million of those are children...

I am sad because it just adds one more disease/illness on Connor's pretty impressive lineup already...
Tether Spinal Cord Syndrome, which he had surgery for at age 2 but we were told then that reattachment's can happen at any time in his life, which could cause him to be paralyzed and the loss of all his bladder and bowl movements..... 
Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) ... we already know there is no Cure for this, and now
Asthma. Fairly easy to control but also no Cure.

8 years old and what a weight to carry! He is at an age where he wants to know everything and research everything and I try to not let him as I think it is very hard for a child to look at the what could be but as we know might never come to term ...

The best news of the day and that had us all smiling was the compliments the boys got left and right about their manners, and on how handsome they both were. I tell you, emotionally we got spoiled today tenfold :)
The lady that gave Connor the lung function test told Dr. Stillwell that she had never worked with a young boy that was that polite! The Gentleman that explained to us how to use the Inhalers also told us what amazing young men they were and how polite they both were. I was so proud to see them use the, Yes Ma'am, Yes Sir, Thank You and looking people in the eyes. They shook hands and thanked everyone for their time and I was just smiling so much at them!
I am very proud of both my dumplings tonight! They both commented on this when we had lunch on how they usually get those compliments when we travel, in Airports and in Airplanes, from passengers and flight personal :) and now they can add The Children's Hospital as well :)

Hugs,

R A C A