New Update ~ Andrew in the News!

This is coming from my old email!  I have moved a lot of my contacts to my vandenbergwendi@gmail.com address, but it's been slow!

Andrew was named Sun Belt Runner of the Week by the other coaches in the Sun Belt Conference after his race at Panorama Farms.  He thought he was ASU runner of the week.  A man at church was trying to tell him differently.  Anyway, we were happy for him and happy that he was just happy with a good race.  http://www.appstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=211194592

I put a copy of both articles in the mail to two of his Charlotte doctors; and while they were still in transit, his doctor called and emailed to ask Andrew a question.  Would he be willing to come to Charlotte and be on Charlotte Today as a patient of Dr. Patel?  Dr. Patel is in infectious disease and immunology.  The story was to bring awareness to him and what he does to bring awareness to immune deficiency.  On average, it takes 12.4 years for someone to be diagnosed.  With the help of our pediatricians, Dr. Black, and Dr. Patel, Andrew was diagnosed fairly quickly.  We'll never know how long he'd had CVID.  But we know that the longer he went undiagnosed the harder it was on his body, especially his lungs in his case.

So Andrew and I took off last Tuesday for him to be on Charlotte Today live for an interview with Dr. Patel.  You can see it on WCNC.  Google Charlotte Today and choose the segment on the doctor who helps patients outside the office. http://www.wcnc.com/entertainment/television/charlotte-today/doctor-helps-patients-outside-the-office/333950047  Andrew got a taste of live TV and was rescued by the wonderful anchors!  But he did well showing his appreciation for his doctor, and they flashed up pictures of him running in his ASU uniform.  Everyone was so nice and kind, and his doctor really appreciated that he came.  He has tough cases, I am sure.  And we are so thankful for Dr. Patel.  We ate at Five Guys on the way home - after I just told Andrew we needed to keep him healthy and tried to get him to eat more meat.  So we learned, once again, that Five Guys is great but also a huge treat!  Huge!

One of Andrew's coaches notified Sports Information at Appalachian, and I emailed the contact the information on Andrew that I had given the TV station.  Andrew had also emailed some answers to questions to her.  From all of that, a sports writer from The Appalachian wrote an article that appeared online yesterday.  Here is the link:  http://theappalachianonline.com/2016/10/20/running-with-purpose/  I love that this reporter left in the important parts about how we really prayed for someone to help Andrew. 

This morning, Andrew texted me to ask me to get his medicine and mentioned he had talked to a reporter at the Winston Salem Journal.  Someone from Sports Info emailed me and asked me for some contact information.  So they may have an article on him in the next few days. 

Andrew does not love attention.  He loves having a great race and telling his dad about it, if he is not there.  But not long ago, we really started talking about how his life is his story that I have been telling.  And he needs to share when given the opportunity.  Not to lift himself up, but to show what God can do in your life.  We have also talked about if something happens to me that he needs to know his own medical stuff more and be able to do it without me.  Not in a bad sense, just that he is older and needs to start taking over.  I will always help.  I would not wish fighting with insurance on anyone!

Andrew runs next Saturday in Alabama. He ran in Kernersville last Friday and had an okay race.  He was tired, and it showed at the end.  So we will keep a close eye on him and keep praying he stays strong and healthy.  His team needs him, and he wants to be a part of what they do.  I will not put anything negative here about my insurance company even though I still can.  I think God is lifting that burden off of me.  Even when I have to fight, I don't want it to run my life!  Then he will run two weeks after that in VA again.  And then cross country in college is over.  I am sad to see it end, but I know Andrew has more in him.  One indoor track season and maybe marathons in his future!  He hopes to run the Hopebuilders Race in Charlotte on November 19th that was postponed, because of the hurricane.  His coach suggested that, since cross country will be over.

Our JDRF road race/walk went well.  We could not have done it without a team effort.  My friend Paula was invaluable to me.  She has our Relay for Life race down to a science, and she helped me get organized and stay that way!  We raised well over $8500 for JDRF and awareness.  We had over 170 finish, and we had lots that walked and never came through the chute.  It was a great day, and we appreciated all of the support that we had!  Sam ran the 5K with Andrew and Peter.  He did great!  Will walked, so everyone in our family was there.  I made Pete be the official timer, and that was fun.  We had friends and family, and that meant so much.  Thanks to all of you who helped or donated!

Sam ran the middle school cross country race Tuesday.  He ran 1.5 miles in 11:41, which was great with not having a clue about pacing!  He was 17th overall, so we left before awards to go to a cleaning job.  A dear friend from church heard he was 2nd in the 6th grade boys and got his medal for him.  He was so excited.  He did not mind missing the awards as long as he got his medal! 

Pete did get that new pair of shoes.  He tried to get pink and purple women's shoes, because they were cheaper.  I told him we were not buying those.  I walked away and just asked God to take care of it.  I knew he needed some good shoes for him - not just cheap.  Well, they pinched his toes badly; so he ended up with a great pair of Mizuno shoes- in blue and yellow.  Just what he needed.

Peter and Will are doing well, and we are thankful for that.  It's cold here today and feels like fall.  Sam and I are working on our Christmas list this weekend, so we can look for things when we stop next week to take breaks.  He is very thoughtful and always has great ideas for gifts.  It will be easier to do in hot chocolate weather!

We have so much to be thankful for, and we hope that is what others see when they see our family.  Only with God's help can we get through anything.  Thanks for reading this. 

I know I have shared this verse before, but it's a great reminder that God wants what is best for us.  He is not "out to get us".  He wants us to trust Him and turn to Him for help and direction. 

"The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

Love,

Wendi