Journal entry by Russell Davis —
Austen has been wrapping up tests this week and should be done with everything Friday. We are returning home on Saturday and will have a final plan for care at that point. The doctors have been ruling out cancer, and thankfully everything looks good on that end although Austen will have to more routine testing done to monitor her system. The tests have ruled it down to an auto-immune disorder which was initially caught in the bloodwork at Helena. The marker Austen has in more commonly associated with cancer but luckily that does not appear to be this situation. Unfortunately with the pandemic the treatment, which is immune suppressant therapy, isn't a viable option unless Austen gets even more ill. The doctors are hoping that with some medications her symptoms can be managed for long enough that a vaccine or other treatment for Corona is found. Until then it will be medications and lifestyle changes to try to manage things for as long as possible. While the answer isn't anything we had expected it does give us a plan that can be followed. The doctors are still sorting out her stomach issues as there as related and unrelated symptoms seen. Thank you all for the kind thoughts and messages, it has been an incredibly long few weeks but we do see the end of tunnel.
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