Bring the Ritter's Home
Donation protected
It has been awhile since I posted on here...what a journey 2016 has been for us. Nearly one year ago, we came to you and shared our decision to move to North Carolina. We are confident that this was absolutely necessary for our lives. God has shown us so much and we are forever grateful for the many lessons that He has taught us. Since being here, we have learned countless things but the greatest lesson we believe God has taught us is the importance of a support system.
Our oldest daughter, Abby, has struggled immensely since moving to North Carolina both emotionally and educationally. Abby has been part of a pull-out program in California to help her with Math, however, NC did not offer her any assistance. She struggled throughout the year, and then we had to argue with the school to prevent them from holding her back.
Ayva, our spunky, loving, hilarious youngest child, has struggled with living here also, she has been very unhappy with the move and has struggled to connect with kids as school. It has been hard to watch them struggle, knowing we moved here for their sister.
Emma has had an extremely tough year...she was hospitalized three times in less that 2 months and spent what felt like countless weeks on home IV therapy. Emma was diagnosed with non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium Abscessus. This bacteria is extremely dangerous, and also begun a downward spiral at UNC. From the moment Emma was diagnosed, I had to fight with her doctor for her care. It has been frustrating, irritating, exhausting, and has simply felt hopeless at times. After weeks/months of fighting, Emma is doing well. However, she still has a long road ahead of her. UNC was supposed to be this amazing hospital, instead I was met by doctors who refused to listen to me, and who were uneducated with Emma's medical history (they never retrieved her medical records, until I threw a fit).
Watching Emma struggle emotionally through her three hospital stays here has been heart wrenching. I have had to dry more tears, comfort more broken hearts, and struggle to find the right words to help explain the new loneliness and heartbreak she was dealing with. Due to Emma's lack of support around her, she began to struggle with her complete healing. She had a very hard time trying to bounce back, and essentially it would lead her to tears and desiring to be home. Emma has never shared with a single friend in North Carolina that she has Cystic Fibrosis. She has refused to let anyone in.
Our time at UNC was not completely a loss, we were able to learn about the Mycobacterium Abscessus plus, we learned that Emma has been suffering from Chronic Cholecystitis. In March, Emma had her gallbladder removed, by an amazing surgeon. This finally gave us an answer to her life long stomach pain. We are forever grateful for this finding and solution.
However, this is become increasingly difficult for Matthew and I to watch. As we are balancing her health and emotional well-being, we have come to the realization that a decision had to be made on her behalf. We were faced with the decision... Quality of life versus quantity of life. Which one is more important in the life of a medically fragile, nine-year-old with a life-threatening illness?!?! After months of prayer, research, and heart-to-heart talks we have decided that QUALITY of life is MUCH more important for Emma. Our friends and family in California are who pushed and challenged her to feel better and heal faster. They are the ones that helped Matthew and I endure the weeks in the hospital, helped watch our other girls and helped make this impossible life situation...POSSIBLE!!!! Being 2,700 miles away from ALL support system while dealing with a terminal illness is beyond excruciatingly difficult...we have come to learn, it is IMPOSSIBLE for us. God has blessed us with such an amazing care-network, and this move has taught us the health benefit of that network for Emma's life and our own.
After months of prayer and consideration we believe our time here is done and we need to return home to Bakersfield, California. I'm sure many of you will ask what does this mean for Emma and her health...honestly, I don't know...but Matthew and I believe with everything in us, that God is in control and loves her more than we ever could. We are confident that whatever health issues come her way, we will be able to handle it with the love and support of YOU, our family and friends...our tribe!!
What is our plan!?!?
First: We believe this is the absolute best decision for our family and their physical and emotional well-being. We have covered in a lot of prayer and feel certain it is time for us to return home.
We would love to return in time to get the girls enrolled to begin school in August. But it is completely impossible without YOU!!! We can't accomplish this HUGE step without your help!! Please consider helping us financially. If that isn't possible, we would treasure your prayers for this transition. Also, we are looking for a home to rent, so please let us know if you have any insights on a rental. Here is our link for our gofundme account... HTTPS://www.gofundme.com/Ritterfamily2016
Upon returning home, Matthew plans to take his CBEST and become a substitute teacher, with the potential of getting his credentials to be a full-time teacher. He is also prayerfully considering returning to Worship Ministry part-time. I will return to my bows and clothes business, as well as begin teaching some Bible Journaling Classes. Emma will most likely return to Valley Children's Hospital and would love to be a Rockstar Cheerleader again!! Abby and Ayva will just be rejoicing in being California Girls again!! Haha.
Thank you for your love and support over the years. We are so grateful to each of you. Thank you for always making a way, when there seems to be no way...thank you for walking hand in hand, step by step with us. This road we are on is LONG, and we are encouraged by the strength you give us to keep pressing on!!!
Our oldest daughter, Abby, has struggled immensely since moving to North Carolina both emotionally and educationally. Abby has been part of a pull-out program in California to help her with Math, however, NC did not offer her any assistance. She struggled throughout the year, and then we had to argue with the school to prevent them from holding her back.
Ayva, our spunky, loving, hilarious youngest child, has struggled with living here also, she has been very unhappy with the move and has struggled to connect with kids as school. It has been hard to watch them struggle, knowing we moved here for their sister.
Emma has had an extremely tough year...she was hospitalized three times in less that 2 months and spent what felt like countless weeks on home IV therapy. Emma was diagnosed with non-tuberculosis Mycobacterium Abscessus. This bacteria is extremely dangerous, and also begun a downward spiral at UNC. From the moment Emma was diagnosed, I had to fight with her doctor for her care. It has been frustrating, irritating, exhausting, and has simply felt hopeless at times. After weeks/months of fighting, Emma is doing well. However, she still has a long road ahead of her. UNC was supposed to be this amazing hospital, instead I was met by doctors who refused to listen to me, and who were uneducated with Emma's medical history (they never retrieved her medical records, until I threw a fit).
Watching Emma struggle emotionally through her three hospital stays here has been heart wrenching. I have had to dry more tears, comfort more broken hearts, and struggle to find the right words to help explain the new loneliness and heartbreak she was dealing with. Due to Emma's lack of support around her, she began to struggle with her complete healing. She had a very hard time trying to bounce back, and essentially it would lead her to tears and desiring to be home. Emma has never shared with a single friend in North Carolina that she has Cystic Fibrosis. She has refused to let anyone in.
Our time at UNC was not completely a loss, we were able to learn about the Mycobacterium Abscessus plus, we learned that Emma has been suffering from Chronic Cholecystitis. In March, Emma had her gallbladder removed, by an amazing surgeon. This finally gave us an answer to her life long stomach pain. We are forever grateful for this finding and solution.
However, this is become increasingly difficult for Matthew and I to watch. As we are balancing her health and emotional well-being, we have come to the realization that a decision had to be made on her behalf. We were faced with the decision... Quality of life versus quantity of life. Which one is more important in the life of a medically fragile, nine-year-old with a life-threatening illness?!?! After months of prayer, research, and heart-to-heart talks we have decided that QUALITY of life is MUCH more important for Emma. Our friends and family in California are who pushed and challenged her to feel better and heal faster. They are the ones that helped Matthew and I endure the weeks in the hospital, helped watch our other girls and helped make this impossible life situation...POSSIBLE!!!! Being 2,700 miles away from ALL support system while dealing with a terminal illness is beyond excruciatingly difficult...we have come to learn, it is IMPOSSIBLE for us. God has blessed us with such an amazing care-network, and this move has taught us the health benefit of that network for Emma's life and our own.
After months of prayer and consideration we believe our time here is done and we need to return home to Bakersfield, California. I'm sure many of you will ask what does this mean for Emma and her health...honestly, I don't know...but Matthew and I believe with everything in us, that God is in control and loves her more than we ever could. We are confident that whatever health issues come her way, we will be able to handle it with the love and support of YOU, our family and friends...our tribe!!
What is our plan!?!?
First: We believe this is the absolute best decision for our family and their physical and emotional well-being. We have covered in a lot of prayer and feel certain it is time for us to return home.
We would love to return in time to get the girls enrolled to begin school in August. But it is completely impossible without YOU!!! We can't accomplish this HUGE step without your help!! Please consider helping us financially. If that isn't possible, we would treasure your prayers for this transition. Also, we are looking for a home to rent, so please let us know if you have any insights on a rental. Here is our link for our gofundme account... HTTPS://www.gofundme.com/Ritterfamily2016
Upon returning home, Matthew plans to take his CBEST and become a substitute teacher, with the potential of getting his credentials to be a full-time teacher. He is also prayerfully considering returning to Worship Ministry part-time. I will return to my bows and clothes business, as well as begin teaching some Bible Journaling Classes. Emma will most likely return to Valley Children's Hospital and would love to be a Rockstar Cheerleader again!! Abby and Ayva will just be rejoicing in being California Girls again!! Haha.
Thank you for your love and support over the years. We are so grateful to each of you. Thank you for always making a way, when there seems to be no way...thank you for walking hand in hand, step by step with us. This road we are on is LONG, and we are encouraged by the strength you give us to keep pressing on!!!
Organizer
Lisa Ritter
Organizer
New Bern, NC