Waiting

    Three weeks ago my husband and I, along with our daughter, sat in the waiting room at a clinic for special children.  This visit was occurring because her neurologist was questioning if she  may have a genetic disease called Rett syndrome (a regressive disease) and was recommending genetic testing as a source to possibly determine the cause of her developmental delays.  This was a situation I never imagined I would be in.  

   This clinic is a unique place in that they specialize in genetic diseases that occur in persons with Amish and Mennonite background (which my husband and I both have).  Her doctor seemed very knowledgeable and got right down to business.   He wanted to know last names/maiden names of our families to determine if there may be a genetic disease that run in those family names.  It was actually interesting listening to all of this, however reality set in and I remembered this was to determine if my daughter may have one of these diseases.  At the end of the hour and a half they took blood from her, my husband and myself with the plan to do three different genetic tests.  If those came back negative, then they could run a much bigger test looking at myself and my husband's blood work as well.  

    It was somewhat sobering on the ride home as I was scared and nervous but also relieved that we may find out some answers.  After the initial thoughts of this set in, the days that came were fairly normal as we waited.  I don't know if it was the next day or a few days later, but one day I realized that I was completely calm about this.  My husband can attest to the fact that I am a worrier and I surprised myself of this inner peace.  I can only explain it as the Lord granting me peace and patience in the waiting.  I decided that if we were going to get bad news then I was going to be thankful of this time of "not knowing".  Of course there have been times of weakness where I completely talked myself into "knowing" that she has Rett syndrome or another disease but thankfully those moments have lasted briefly and then the peace returned.  

    One week went by and we got a letter in the mail from the clinic.....my husband and I were both standing in the kitchen and we just looked at each other.  We opened it and had relief when the first test for HERC2 was negative!   About two weeks went by with no other responses.  At the three week mark from our visit (which is today) I needed to know what was taking so long.  I called the clinic after saying a short prayer and was told that the third test usually takes awhile and we would know by the end of the week.  I then asked about the test for Rett.  They had done the test and the result brought tears to my eyes: negative!  Just to confirm, I asked the secretary one more time and she said, yes, the test was negative.  Thank you God!

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   As a final note, I will say that I have appreciated the support, encouragement and prayers of our families.