Barbara at "Mommy Life" made me aware of this today. Mike Farris has been a true Blessing to the homeschooling community.
Please pray for his wife and their family.Mike and Vickie Farris need our prayers
Mike and Vickie Farris, who for years have given so tirelessly of themselves to minster to and advocate for homeschooling - and all freedom-loving - families, not to mention raising 10 beautiful children of their own - are facing a great challenge as Vickie's health has taken an unexpected turn.
Mike writes to their church family and has given me permission to share here:
Dear Blue Ridge family,Vickie went the Johns Hopkins on Tuesday and was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis--a disease that has no known cause and no known cure. It is in the family of auto-immune diseases. The main symptom is pain. It can be severe. Vickie says that her pain has been similar to the last hour or two of labor for several days in a row. Serious pain killers do little to help.
However, it is not life-threatening--at all. It is also episodic--meaning that the flare-ups come and go. Although we didn't know what this was previously, she has apparently had this for several years in a milder form. But this has been the worst flare-up by a long shot. Home cures like cranberry juice, etc. that work for ordinary urinary tract infections actually make the pain worse for interstitial cystitis.
As of now, Vickie is not really functional--she can't homeschool, she can't manage the house, etc. Just about anything she eats causes pain reactions. She has lost a lot of weight. But, we are hoping that this will turn around in a week or two--but it could last longer.
She has had some good days and bad days this past week. But, after a few good days, she had some very bad days that caused me to return early from the national homeschool convention. We would really appreciate your prayers for Vickie on an ongoing basis. And a note from Vickie -- "I really appreciate all the prayers, calls, and cards. I am deeply moved by the obvious love you all have shown to me."
