Graydon

Our little missionary (He is big in spirit, but underweight!) has had a terrible couple of weeks. His knees have hurt him so terribly. The doctors gave him medication, but it made him sick. He lost 10 pounds in 5 days. YIKES.

Last Saturday we get a call from the Mission President (New one Monte Holm). President Holm said, "Sister Bradbury, don't worry - everything is fine. Elder Bradbury is in the ER in Augusta, but his ward mission leader is an ER doctor and is with him." "We will call you and let you know how things are in about an hour." They gave me the Doctors phone number. Dr. Liljenquist is on a mission to the Southern States. He comes home in September. He is an Endocrinologist from Idaho Falls. Dr. Liljenquist called me and told me that Graydon was tested for diabetes at the ER--and he was severely dehydrated. Graydon was diagnosed with Type I insulin-dependent diabetes.

Graydons glucose was 680. They gave him insulin and IV fluids. Rechecked - glucose 780!!!! and then gave him another dose of insulin. After a few hours he felt so much better they released him. So he is on Novalog and something else. Two kinds. Randy and I were pacing and edgy waiting for another call...finally about 7:30 pm Utah time, the doctor calls. Apparently he had been calling Graydon for awhile, as Graydon was supposed to call as soon as he got home.

The conversation went like this:
Hello! This is Elder Bradbury.
Elder, this is Dr. Liljenquist. Weren't you supposed to call me when you got home and check in?
Elder: I just got to my apartment.
Dr.: Where have you been for the past 3 hours?
Elder: Tracting!!!!!

The doctor said that Graydon loves his work.
I said, great! Try not to send him home before December, because I know he does not want to come home early.

On Sunday, Bishop Peterson, Randy, Julie, and myself fasted and prayed for Graydon, that Heavenly Father will bless his knees and keep his spirits up, and help him to feel watched over.  We know that God knows each one of us and loves each one of us even though we don't know what his will is for us. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in what we feel instead of relying on what we know.

Got an email on Tuesday. Graydon said he woke up and couldn't see. So Elder Friel was driving. He sounds a little discouraged. (I know I was when I finally got my blood sugar straightened out and couldn't see for about 3 weeks. Choir practice was miserable.)

There is a mosquito buzzing me. ERG.

Anyway - no news yet about his knees. If he has to have surgery to scrape the inflamed lining under his kneecaps, they will send him home for the surgery and then send him back out. But I know he would rather work through the pain. I have no idea where he gets all this fortitude. Gee Whiz. His mom is a whiner!  But we'll keep him in our prayers....I'm sure that God's plan is much better than ours.